Josh Mercer Previews the Saturday afternoon match between the Bulldogs and the Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney.
Date: Saturday, July 15, 3:00 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Braidon Burns 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Corey Waddell 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Jayden Okunbor 19. Fa’amanu Brown 20. Jeral Skelton 21. Reece Hoffman 22. Paul Alamoti 23. Chris Patolo
Broncos: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Corey Jensen 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Jesse Arthars 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Patrick Carrigan 20. Jock Madden 21. Delouise Hoeter 22. Jordan Pereira
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Bulldogs needed to bounce back after the big loss to Newcastle Knights in Round 18, and they certainly did that against the Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs struck first, and it looked like it may have been another long night for the Bulldogs, but they composed themselves and hit back.
Winger Blake Wilson had an excellent game for the Bulldogs – scoring three tries. Matt Burton, Reed Mahoney, and Jake Averillo all stood for their side, which showed that on their day they can score points themselves; the worry is defence, as the Rabbitohs came storming home and could have stolen the victory.
There is no better time to face the Broncos than after Origin, and while they’re not exactly sitting ducks, they are vulnerable. The Bulldogs will have to play like last week and shore up their defence to win. Josh Addo-Carr is under an injury cloud after coming off in the final moments of Origin 3 with a hamstring injury.
The Broncos were lucky enough to have last weekend off but had to fight to get the win over the Dolphins in Round 18. They ran out to a 10-nil lead before the Dolphins hit back through Kodi Nikorima. Herbie Farnworth would score a second try before half-time.
The Dolphins came out firing in the second half, and with two tries, they found themselves in the lead. However, the Broncos weren’t about to let the new kids on the block get the win, as Selwyn Cobbo scored two brilliant tries to ensure the victory.
The Broncos will be missing Payne Haas, and Pat Carigan has been named as a reserve, he may be slipped into the side, but it depends on how sore he pulls up from Origin. It was around this stage last year when everything went wrong for the Broncos, and they missed out on the top eight; they will want to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and it starts with a good win here over the Bulldogs.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Broncos 7, Bulldogs 3.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 16 points.
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