A word in Wayne Bennett's ear from Anthony Mundine and some eye-catching trial form has rookie flyer Reece Robinson on the verge of an NRL debut for Brisbane against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday week.

World boxing champion Mundine - who played for the Broncos 18 times in 1997 - has booked a ticket to Brisbane to watch his talented cousin.

"He's a great player with terrific potential," enthused Mundine, from Sydney.

"He could be an exceptional utility back. He's explosive and I thought Wayne Bennett was the man who could get the best out of him."

The 20-year-old is tipped to be named on the wing for Brisbane's NRL season opener following another stylish trial against Redcliffe last weekend.

He can thank his famous cousin Anthony's persistence in convincing Bennett he was worth taking a gamble on after spending a few years in the Souths system in Sydney.

Mundine telephoned Bennett late last year, insisting Robinson should be given a chance. It took a few more follow-up calls to his former coach before Brisbane finally invited him to Brisbane for a two-week trial period in January.

Bennett told Robinson there was a spot going on the wing and he should take the opportunity to grab it. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, especially with such a great football club," said the young winger whose grandfather, Eric Robinson, used to play on the wing in the Brisbane competition.

Robinson thought his opportunity to be coached by Bennett had gone when Brisbane failed to contact him late last year.

"Anthony made a few calls around and rang Wayne (Bennett) and asked if they'd be interested," he told AAP.

"They hadn't seen me play or anything and Ivan Henjak and Andrew Gee said they'd get me up here at the end of last year.

"When they didn't call, I was pretty down but they called me early this year and got me up here.

"I'm really close with Choc (Mundine), he's helped me a lot.

"I wasn't even thinking about the Broncos and I really had nowhere to go but Anthony said `Don't give up'." Robinson said it would be special to make his debut at Suncorp Stadium in front of a massive crowd.

"I've played a couple of trials with Hodgo (Justin Hodges) and K (Karmichael Hunt) and I'm still getting used to the way they play," he said.

"But I'm really looking forward to the chance to play outside of them because they're all such great players." Mundine and his family telephone Robinson almost every day, which makes it a little easier being away from home.

Robinson may not have Mundine's gift of the gab.

But he has enough of his cousin's footwork and balance to make it in the NRL.

Asked if he'd inherited the speed of cousins Mundine and Nathan Merritt he said: "They say I do."

When asked how quick he was, he flashed the family grin but displayed a little more humility than cousin Anthony by replying: "I've got a bit of speed."

He's likely to get better chance to answer the question against the Panthers on Sunday week.

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