Martin Taupau has signed a one-year extension but fellow Brisbane prop Payne Haas will not play in the NRL again until round 21.
The 33-year-old Taupau has been a revelation at the second-placed Broncos on the field, while his off-field mentoring of the next rising crop of front-rowers is held in high esteem by the club.
The former Canterbury, Wests Tigers and Manly enforcer will be invaluable in the weeks ahead, in the wake of news that NSW prop Haas will be unavailable for Brisbane until at least the July 21 clash with South Sydney at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Broncos performance chief Dave Ballard said Haas had ankle tendon inflammation, the same injury that ruled him out of State of Origin III.
Ballard also provided an update on injured Brisbane forwards Kurt Capewell, Tom Flegler and Jordan Riki, with better than expected news on Queensland prop Flegler.
"Kurt has been progressing well with his quad tendon and is on target to return against the Bulldogs (in round 20) after our bye this week," Ballard said.
"Tom Flegler has had some positive news from scans and reviews of the lisfranc injury in his foot, and he could return as early as the Rabbitohs game depending on how his running program tracks along in coming weeks.
"Jordan Riki will continue his rehab from a foot injury, with the intention of him returning for the final rounds of the regular reason."
Taupau's arrival at the Broncos this season has coincided with the club trailing Penrith only on points differential at the top of the ladder.
The Samoa international has played all 17 games in 2023 and averaged 25 minutes per match. He is running for 80m each game and his impact has included 29 tackle breaks and 13 offloads. His defensive numbers are also elite, clocking up 308 tackles so far at a 93 per cent efficiency rate.
Head of recruitment Simon Scanlan told AAP it was also his outstanding example to the younger players that had impressed.
Brisbane will lose props Keenan Palasia (Titans) and Flegler (Dolphins) next year.
"Martin brings great experience to the group and he plays a key role off the bench when we rest some of our starting players," Scanlan said.
"He has been extremely good for the younger guys in showing them how to be a professional football player.
"We have recruited (prop) Fletcher Baker from the Roosters next year and we have young guys Xavier Willison and 19-year-old Ben Te Kura who we expect to step up.
"Ben is a starting front-rower for Souths Logan and Martin will be really great for him and Xavier to learn off."
Taupau said his transition to the Broncos had been seamless.
"Every very single week I have to repay (the Broncos) by training really hard and performing every week," Taupau said.
"The culture here is just phenomenal. The minute I walked through the doors, I felt this is my family and this is my home."
