Fast thinker - and runner: Bullemor to debut

Broncos prop Ethan Bullemor - the fastest and smartest forward at the club - will make his debut off the bench against South Sydney on Friday night.

The 20-year-old replaces the suspended Tevita Pangai jnr. With Alex Glenn also out injured Jamil Hopoate moves up from the bench to start in the second row in the clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Bullemor, who was 18th man for the showdown with the Cowboys last Friday night, is a development list player this year and usually would not be available until July 1. 

 The Broncos have been given special dispensation by the NRL for him to play due to the injuries to Glenn, Matt Lodge and Keenan Palasia.

Bullemor had a superb pre-season and got his chance in the trials. He is as quick across the park as he is between the ears.

He achieved an OP 1 at St Joseph's Nudgee College, the highest score possible, and is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Economics at university. Bullemor has been described by Broncos officials as "a genius".

The course he is studying often leads to graduates securing jobs in leading investment banks around the globe.

It is his strength and speed for a big man that is one of his great assets. Playing against Townsville Blackhawks for Norths Devils last year, Bullemor raced 60 metres to score, leaving former Cowboys and Raiders flyer Zac Santo and other outside backs in his wake.

The 2019 Queensland under 20s representative is faster than behemoths David Fifita and Payne Haas and some of the GPS data the Broncos have recorded is through the roof.

Bullemor and 21-year-old back-rower Jordan Riki, also on the development list, are the next two Broncos forwards coming off the production line.

Bullemor has been signed to the Broncos since he was 13 and was recruited by Brisbane’s elite player development manager Simon Scanlan.

Bullemor was co-coached in the Queensland  20s last year by Scott Prince, who finished his 300-game career at the Broncos.

Prince said Bullemor had earned his NRL debut and would only benefit from getting some first grade experience, just as a suite opf young Broncos forwards did last year.

"Ethan is certainly talented and his leg speed is one of his strengths," Prince told NRL.com.

"He is a tough, uncompromising forward and it is great to see all his hard work and effort pay off with this opportunity. He certainly has a bright future in the game.

"Last year there were a few players thrown in the deep end but now when you look back you can see how beneficial it was for them to have had those games under their belt, and that was witnessed against the Cowboys."

Meanwhile, Broncos veteran Darius Boyd said Hopoate would do the job in his first game as a starter after impressing off the bench in the 28-21 win over the Cowboys.

"Jamil had a great game I thought. He had a tough journey to get to his first NRL game and I was very happy for him to get that opportunity," Boyd said.

"To get win as well, he was pretty happy. He will be part of our squad for the whole year and we are going to need him because we’ve had a few injuries and setbacks."