Brisbane Broncos return to Suncorp Stadium this Friday night looking for their second win of the season when they take on last up winners Canberra Raiders.
LAST TIME OUT
Brisbane have an eight day turnaround heading into this clash with the Raiders having played at AAMI Park last Thursday against Melbourne Storm. ย At times the clash was fiery as shown in Sam Thiaday being found guilty at judiciary for contrary conduct. ย With a bit of luck falling to Josh Addo-Carr four minutes from time it was the home side which scraped home 14-12. James Roberts finally finding some value for money with three tries in three games after only crossing nine times all last season.
Canberra were under pressure to make up for a poor home effort against Cronulla a week earlier when they took on Wests Tigers on Sunday. ย The much publicised 46-6 victory was overshadowed only days later when the Tigers sacked Jason Taylor. ย With player power winning, it’s hard to determine whether it was the Raiders who played out of their skin or whether the Tigers players didn’t commit to the task. ย A double to Jordan Rapana and eighteen points to Jarrod Croker highlights on a successful afternoon at home.
KEY BATTLE
The game will be one out wide. ย There’s a perfect mismatch in the centres with ‘Jimmy the Jet’ taking on the hard to handle BJ Leilua. ย The other match up is young up and coming Tautau Moga taking on the experienced Jarrod Croker who’s a few weeks back from injury. Both sides will be keen to spread the ball wide and it will come down to how well each side contains these key players that will go a long way to deciding the result.
A good battle at hooker with Josh Hodgson returning to form and recently re-signed Broncos for life Andrew McCullough going head-to-head.
PREDICTION
Canberra will need to break a seven year drought at Suncorp Stadium to win this one. ย A little more power out wide from the Broncos might be the difference between the two sides.
Broncos by 10
SQUADS
Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, 8pm (AEDT) Friday
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd 2 Corey Oates 3 James Roberts 4 Tautau Moga 5 Jordan Kahu 6 Anthony Milford 7 Ben Hunt 8 Korbin Sims 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Adam Blair 11 Sam Thaiday 12 Matt Gillett 13 Josh Mcguire 14 Alex Glenn 15 Tevita Pangai 16 Herman Essese 17 Jai Arrow 18 Benji Marshall 19 George Fai 20 David Mead 21 Jonus Pearson
Raiders: 1 Jack Wighton 2 Nick Cotric 3 Jarrod Croker 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Jordan Rapana 6 Blake Austin 7 Aidan Sezer 8 Junior Paulo 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Shannon Boyd 11 Josh Papalii 12 Elliot Whitehead 13 Luke Bateman 14 Adam Clydsdale 15 Iosia Soliola 16 Clay Priest 17 Dave Taylor 18 Jordan Turner 19 Scott Sorensen 20 Dunamis Lui 22 Joseph Tapine
