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Match Preview

Broncos v Sharks: Lodge starts; Dugan a late out

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pan66.com
Timestamp

Using up one of their 'get out of jail' cards last week, the Sharks will be looking for your old fashioned 'get in front and stay there' type of wins against the Broncos.

Still, coming from 20-6 down to win 24-20 against the Panthers must have instilled a new lease of life in John Morris' men, who were due for a little injection of faith considering the side's mounting casualty list of rep players.

The Broncos meanwhile are well outside the eight from a 1-5 start to the year. But they are back at Suncorp Stadium and they are third in the NRL for kick-return metres, behind the Storm and Rabbitohs.  

Still the Broncos are only averaging three tries a game, which seems at odds for a side with Corey Oates, Darius Boyd and Jamayne Isaako as their back three.

The Rundown

Team news

Broncos: James Roberts returning to the starting side and Kotoni Staggs heads to the bench. Tevita Pangai is back from suspension as the starting lock, while Matt Lodge starts at prop and Joe Ofahengaue joins Thomas Flegler and David Fifita on the bench. 

Sharks: A late change with Josh Dugan scratched before kick-off and Ronaldo Mulitalo making his debut. With back-rower Briton Nikora suspended Scott Sorensen gets the nod to start in Nikora's place, while Jayson Bukuya has been elevated to the bench after being overlooked for last week's win over Penrith. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius Boyd
    Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sosaia Feki
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 James Roberts
    Centre for Sharks is number 3 Bronson Xerri
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Jack Bird
    Centre for Sharks is number 4 Josh Morris
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
    Winger for Sharks is number 18 Ronaldo Mulitalo
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony Milford
    Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Shaun Johnson
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Kodi Nikorima
    Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Payne Haas
    Prop for Sharks is number 8 Andrew Fifita
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Andrew McCullough
    Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Brailey
  • Prop for Broncos is number 21 Matthew Lodge
    Prop for Sharks is number 10 Matt Prior
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Scott Sorensen
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Matt Gillett
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Kurt Capewell
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Tevita Pangai Junior
    Lock for Sharks is number 13 Paul Gallen

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 10 Joe Ofahengaue
    Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Blayke Brailey
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Kotoni Staggs
    Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Jayson Bukuya
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 David Fifita
    Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack Williams
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Thomas Flegler
    Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden  Hamlin-Uele 

Match Officials

  • Referee: Henry Perenara
  • Referee: Tim Roby
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell

Last updated:

Key match-up

The Sharks premiership-winning centre Jack Bird, now at the Broncos on the left edge, taking on the new Shire sensation in Bronson Xerri, who scored his first NRL try on the right side last weekend. The pair would be very familiar with each other from opposed training sessions in the past, but this is a whole new ball game.

For the Broncos to win

Second rowers Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett are starting to assert their authority in organising the Broncos defence, and providing a little attacking sting on the edges. Gillett has already scored two tries, with Glenn crossing for one as well. The Sharks have lost backrower Briton Nikora to a one-game suspension, with Scott Sorensen named as his replacement.

For the Sharks to win

Shaun Johnson is third in the NRL for line break assists, and his halves partner Chad Townsend is second to Rooster Luke Keary in support plays. It makes this energetic pair the source of much of their side's spark, so they just need Matt Prior and Andrew Fifita to continue charging up front.

Brett Kimmorley says

Mr Seibold is asking for patience in the process going forward, but at some stage you have to start looking at how many games can they drop and still go on and make the top eight. The Broncos aren’t a rebuilding club. The Sharks were tough at the end of the game last week and Shaun Johnson was really good. Please give the ball the Bronson Xerri in some space. Sharks by 4

Stat Attack

The Sharks lead the NRL in line breaks with 31, ahead of the Warriors and Roosters. But they are in equal fourth place in the number of tries they score. It's clear the Sharks can be a menace for defenders but as a team they keep hopping and out of the eight. It's been a long time since the Broncos didn't lead any team stat in attack or defence with a quarter of the season played - but that's the case for 2019.

And another thing ...

Anthony Milford will play his 150th game when the Sharks come to town. The majority were with the Broncos after 42 games with the Raiders.

 

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