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The Raiders passed another test with flying colours last week against Parramatta but you can be sure that Sunday's home clash with the struggling Broncos will have a wary Ricky Stuart warning his team to stay on top of their game.

The Raiders' assured performance against the Eels buried any lingering doubt that they're the real deal and they should take loads of confidence into their meeting with the slumping Broncos.

Brisbane have been scrutinised, analysed and criticised, but that comes with the territory when you're losing games in a one-team town, despite having a star-studded roster and the coach you wanted.

Anthony Seibold is doing his best to keep a lid on the simmering frustration but it might soon boil over if they don't start winning.

The Rundown

Team news

Raiders: Canberra will start 1-17, with Jack Murchie and Bailey Simonsson the two men dropped from the squad an hour before kick-off. Injured back-rower Joe Tapine has been replaced on the bench by Junior Collins. Aidan Sezer and Corey Horsburgh were cut from the reserves on Saturday. 

Broncos: In changes made an hour before kick-off, Thomas Flegler (No.16) will start at lock with David Fifita dropping back to the bench. James Roberts (No.20) will start on the interchange bench with Gehamat Shibasaki joining Shaun Fenson as the two players omitted 60 minutes before game time. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
    Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius Boyd
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
    Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
    Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Joseph Leilua
    Centre for Broncos is number 4 Jack Bird
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony Milford
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Sam Williams
    Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Kodi Nikorima

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
    Prop for Broncos is number 8 Payne Haas
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
    Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Andrew McCullough
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis Lui
    Prop for Broncos is number 10 Joe Ofahengaue  
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Matt Gillett
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
    Lock for Broncos is number 16 Thomas Flegler

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
    Interchange for Broncos is number 13 David Fifita
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Hudson Young
    Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Jaydn Su'a
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Iosia Soliola
    Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Patrick Carrigan
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 JJ Collins
    Interchange for Broncos is number 20 James Roberts

Match Officials

  • Referee: Matt Cecchin
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell

Last updated:

Key match-up

The obvious area is the halves battle, with the Broncos needing Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima to out-play Jack Wighton and Sam Williams. But it's through the middle where the Raiders are still strong and someone for Brisbane is going to have to take it upon himself to shut down powerful prop Josh Papalii.

For the Raiders to win

Papalii needs to maintain his outstanding form and Stuart will be counting on his English backrowers to continue their good work in the middle and on the fringes. If they defend as well as they did last week, the Raiders should have too much confidence and skill in attack for the Broncos to handle.

For the Broncos to win

There are a few areas the Broncos need to fix and it all starts with their under-siege halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima. No-one questions their respective talents, but the Broncos need them to take charge when the game is on the line. Both need big games to silence their growing legion of critics.

Brett Kimmorley says

The Raiders are flying. The mobile Englishmen are creating a great style of play for Ricky Stuart. They’ve got everything across the park. Jack Wighton hasn’t had to do a lot, that has helped him to settle in to five-eighth. The Broncos leak a lot of metres, they’ve got no game management and they look out of sorts. They need a game management halfback. They look a little unhappy at the moment. Raiders by 12

Raiders Stat Attack

The talk around Jack Wighton's much-publicised move to five-eighth has died down as the Raiders continue to impress, but Ricky Stuart would love to see him cut down the mistakes. Wighton leads the NRL in errors (8) and negative plays (12). By holding Parra to nil on Sunday the Raiders are conceding an NRL-low average of 8.8 points per game.

Broncos Stat Attack

Andrew McCullogh has made the most tackles in the NRL (239) but Matt Gillett (17) and Jack Bird (15) are ranked one and two for ineffective tackles. As a team the Broncos have a league-high 113 ineffective tackles.

And another thing ... 

Those who questioned Ricky Stuart's desire for four Englishmen on his playing roster aren't saying much now. The Raiders have won four of five - their only loss was to Melbourne - and the UK quartet has been instrumental in Canberra's flying start to the season. John Bateman and Josh Hodgson are early Dally M contenders, while Ryan Sutton gets better each week and Elliott Whitehead has been typically consistent.

 

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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