Joshua Knox previews the Sunday afternoon clash between the Brisbane Broncos and the St George-Illawarra Dragons. Here’s what we have to look forward to.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Brisbane Broncos Vs St George-Illawarra Dragons
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Sunday July 10, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesBroncos: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Ryan James 11. Zac Hosking 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Gamble 18. Delouise Hoeter 19. Jake Turpin 20. Deine Mariner 21. Tyrone Roberts 22. Logan Bayliss-Brow
The Broncos have made a number of changes due to origin and injury with Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell and Selwyn Cobbo headlining the outs for Brisbane. Zac Hosking will make his NRL debut in the second row replacing Capewell.
Embed from Getty ImagesDragons: 1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tariq Sims 14. Moses Mbye 15. Francis Molo 16. Aaron Woods 17. Michael Molo 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Tautau Moga 20. Josh Kerr 21. Billy Burns 22. Jonathon Reuben
Ben Hunt is the only omission for the Dragons due to origin duties with Jayden Sullivan replacing him at halfback.
Referee: Grant Atkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Broncos are coming into this one off the back off a 40-26 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys giving them back-to-back losses for the first time since rounds five and six respectively. Missing a host of origin stars and losing other top 17 players to injury sees a somewhat unrecognisable team roll out for this important clash. All eyes will be on Adam Reynolds after his return from injury last round and he will be the key orchestrator if the Broncos are to get the two points on Sunday.
The Dragons will enter this clash full of confidence after a 12-10 victory over the Canberra Raiders in Wollongong last round giving them back-to-back wins and leaving them inside the top eight. Despite only losing one player to Origin, it will be a big loss for the Dragons with captain Ben Hunt being the standout for the side this season. It gives Jayden Sullivan an opportunity in the starting line-up and many Dragons fans will be excited to see what he can produce in the halves alongside Talatau Amone.
In what shapes as an important two points for these top eight sides, it will be which spine shows up on the day and provides most for their outside backs. The battle of the five-eighths will be one to keep an eye on with young guns Ezra Mam and Amone both looking to cement their positions in the starting side for their clubs.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The Broncos copped a hammering at the hands of the Dragons in 2021, going down 52-24 in what was a tough year for the Broncos. Mikaele Ravalawa loves a match up with the Broncos, scoring four tries in his three NRL matchups with the Brisbane side and will be hungry for more against a depleted Broncos side.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 2.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook
