Just when you thought Brisbane's season couldn't get any worse it has – coach Anthony Seibold and powerhouse back-rower Tevita Pangai jnr are out of action due to COVID breaches.
Pangai broke the regulations by attending the opening of a barber shop on Saturday while Seibold had to attend to a "serious family matter" in Sydney on Friday night.
When added to just one win since the resumption of the competition the trip to Canberra could not be any tougher.
The Raiders head into the match having won three of their past five to remain firmly in the top eight.
Match: Raiders v Broncos
Round 14 -
home Team
Raiders
5th Position
away Team
Broncos
15th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
The Rundown
Team news
Raiders: A match-day change at lock for Ricky Stuart with Ryan Sutton coming into the starting side and Hudson Young dropping back to the bench. Matt Frawley and Harley Smith-Shields drop out of the squad.
Hooker Siliva Havili has been cleared to play despite a triceps strain. Reserve utility back Michael Oldfield is out after breaking his thumb at training this week, with surgery putting him out for 6-7 weeks.
The Raiders have won four of their past five games at GIO Stadium.
Sam Williams and Kai O'Donnell were the two players left out 24 hours from kick-off.
Broncos: Reserves Ethan Bullemor and Jordan Kahu were the final cuts from Brisbane's match-day squad. Matt Lodge (leg fracture), Xavier Coates (leg) and Issac Luke were all left out 24 hours before kick-off. Jesse Arthars (No.21) has been named to start on the wing.
With Tevita Pangai jnr under a COVID hold, Ben Te'o comes into the starting side and 22-year-old Jordan Riki has been named to make his NRL debut from the bench.
Cory Paix joins the bench for his seventh game of the season. The Broncos have won six of their past seven games against the Raiders.
Match: Raiders v Broncos
Round 14 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius Boyd
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Jordan RapanaWinger for Broncos is number 2 Richard Kennar
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod CrokerCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis ScottCentre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Nick CotricWinger for Broncos is number 21 Jesse Arthars
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Brodie Croft
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George WilliamsHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Tom Dearden
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'iProp for Broncos is number 8 Thomas Flegler
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Siliva HaviliHooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake Turpin
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis LuiProp for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 David Fifita
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Ben Te'o
-
Lock for Raiders is number 16 Ryan SuttonLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Hudson YoungInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory Paix
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Jordan Riki
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Joseph TapineInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-NaeraInterchange for Broncos is number 20 Rhys Kennedy
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Last updated:
Key match-up
Payne Haas v Josh Papalii: Haas hasn't been attracting the rave reviews he did in 2019, but he remains one of the hardest-working props in the NRL. He is running second in the competition for post-contact metres.
Papalii's continued improvement in recent years has him pushing for the mantle of best front-rower in the NRL.
Stat Attack
Both of these sides could do with improvement in the discipline department. The Broncos (87) have conceded more penalties than any other side over the opening 13 rounds and the Raiders (75) are also in the top five of that category.
