In 2023 they have Brendan Piakura. Cann was a pocket rocket in the second-row. Piakura, in the same position, is a lean and mean machine.
Broncos legend Trevor Gillmeister, who played with Cann in the second-row in the club's 1992 and 1993 grand final wins, noted one key similarity.
"They are completely different body shapes but do exactly the same job," Gillmeister told AAP.
"Canny had a great step and that was evident in the 1992 grand final when he scored that fantastic try against St George.
"He was light on his feet, built like a tank and strong as.
"Piakura is taller but he busts tackles and makes line breaks regularly for the Broncos. He is strong through the hips, like Canny was. Pulling through tackles is a lot to do with leg strength and core strength and they both have that."
With Jordan Riki back in the starting team, former Australian Schoolboys star Piakura will come off the bench in Friday night's NRL clash with Parramatta at the Gabba with a remarkable record of line breaks
In seven NRL games this year the 21-year-old has made 19 tackle busts and six line breaks, with three of those games played coming off the bench.
To put that in perspective there is only one forward in the NRL top 30 for line breaks this year and that is Cronulla's Briton Nikora with 17 in 20 games. Piakura has a slightly better strike rate.
"Brendan has done a great job since he's had his opportunity and we expect that of him," Broncos second-rower Kurt Capewell said.
"He has been training the house down all year and playing well in (Queensland) Cup so it was good to see him get his opportunity.
"With Riki back it obviously strengthens us in that position but Brendan still has a vital role in our team.
"He can play anywhere. He can cover anywhere. It is very handy to have him on the bench in case anyone goes down and you have seen the impact he can have in attack. He has got pretty good feet."
Piakura played just one NRL game for the Broncos in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons with a calf injury and concussions limiting his opportunities.
"He has had an indifferent start to his NRL career, but he has strung the last six or seven weeks together and he has played some really good football which we certainly appreciate," Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.
"We need more of that from him."
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