Lodge set to give Brisbane trifecta of big boppers for first time

The Broncos are set to field their trifecta of big boppers Matt Lodge, Tevita Pangai jnr and Payne Haas for the first time this season against the Sharks on Saturday night in a major boost to their hopes for a much-needed win.

Lodge missed the 26-22 loss to the Raiders with a throat injury suffered the previous week against Wests Tigers but trained strongly on Thursday with the rest of the squad.

Pangai returns from a two-week suspension to give their middle-forward rotation more punch.

Haas, who missed the opening four rounds due to a club-imposed suspension, played 80 minutes against the Raiders last week and was Brisbane’s best after starting in the middle along with fellow 19-year-old Thomas Flegler.

Lodge has been named on an extended bench but the way he moved at training suggested to veteran forward Matt Gillett that he would be on deck for the clash with the Sharks to help the Broncos end a four-game losing streak.

"It is good signs," Gillett said.

"He got a hit in the throat a couple of weeks ago but he’s been out there training well today so fingers crossed he can get in the side. He’ll be a great addition."

Gillett said Pangai would be "out to prove a point" against a Sharks side, and with Haas and Lodge also charging into the fray he said the halves and hooker Andrew McCullough should reap the benefits

"Tevita is pretty disappointed with himself after missing a few games so it will be good to have him back," Gillett said.

"He should be fit and raring to go and hopefully he can bring another performance like he did against the Cowboys [in round two] where he went to the next level and brought us home the win.

"He brought a lot of energy to the side when he was on the field and hopefully he can do that again. As an older fella, we love to see younger fellas come out there and blast people off the park with that energy.

"Having experience and big bodies up front is going to be beneficial for our halves and hooker to get out and run. They make a lot more metres and it is easier to make decisions on the back of their fast play the balls. It is something we can use as a weapon against a strong forward pack like the Sharks."

The Broncos have identified Sharks prop Andrew Fifita as the man they must nullify.

"Andrew Fifita has been their best every week with the way he carries the ball, his quick play-the-balls and offloads. He is a talent for us to try and contain. We can sit here and talk about it but we need to go out and do it on Saturday night," Gillett said.

Five-eighth Anthony Milford added: "They have got weapons everywhere.

“Fifita is their go-to man and creates a lot of second phase through the middle and generates a lot of ruck speed which allows the likes of Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend to come into their own."