Things are dire at the Broncos and the noise will only get louder if they fall to a seventh straight defeat.
Brisbane could very well find themselves swapping with the Bulldogs in last place if Dean Pay's men can get their second win of the season.
Canterbury tried their guts out against the Rabbitohs but lacked the polish to secure the two competition points.
Anthony Seibold appears set to resist the temptation to make mass changes while the gritty Dogs have lost a gun forward.
Match: Broncos v Bulldogs
Round 9 -
home Team
Broncos
14th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: Cory Paix replaces Tom Dearden on the bench, with Rhys Kennedy the other player omitted from the squad on game day. Kotoni Staggs and Matt Lodge were the two players left out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off, with Staggs' return from a hamstring injury delayed for another week.
Tevita Pangai jnr has been shifted to prop, Thomas Flegler to the bench and Corey Oates to starting in the second row. The Broncos will aim to avoid seven straight losses for the first time since 2005.
Bulldogs: Sione Katoa starts at hooker with Jeremy Marshall-King moving to the bench and Kerrod Holland out of the side. Chris Smith was the other player to drop out an hour before kick-off, after Lachlan Lewis and Jack Cogger were the two players omitted the day before the game.
Lock Adam Elliott is out with a dislocated shoulder, with British recruit Luke Thompson making his club debut in the No.13 jersey. The Bulldogs have not defeated the Broncos at Suncorp since 2015.
Match: Broncos v Bulldogs
Round 9 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tesi NiuFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Winger for Broncos is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Meaney
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Centre for Broncos is number 3 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Reimis Smith
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Centre for Broncos is number 4 Darius BoydCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Marcelo Montoya
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Winger for Broncos is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Christian Crichton
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Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony MilfordFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Brodie CroftHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Brandon Wakeham
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Tevita Pangai JuniorProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden Tolman
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Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Issac LukeHooker for Bulldogs is number 21 Sione Katoa
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Corey Oates2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
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Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Luke Thompson
Interchange
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Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Thomas FleglerInterchange for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Ben Te'oInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Renouf Atoni
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Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Cory PaixInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Sauaso Sue
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Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Jamil HopoateInterchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Ofahiki Ogden
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Key match-up
If there was a shining light in last week's loss to the Warriors for Brisbane, lock Pat Carrigan worked himself to a standstill on return from suspension. He then showed impressive leadership and maturity speaking to the media afterwards. He will match motors with Bulldogs workhorse Aiden Tolman in the middle. Neither player will give an inch or stop moving while they're on the park.
Stat attack
Unfortunately for these sides, they lead the league in two key negative statistics. Canterbury have produced the most errors (100) and Brisbane have made the most ineffective tackles (155).
