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Match Preview

Raiders v Broncos: Simonsson new No.1; Kelly out, Hunt returns

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Someone will have some good news on Saturday night as these two down-on-their luck sides clash at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

Not that home ground advantage has been any help to the Raiders this year. They haven't won at the venue since round one's 30-12 victory over Wests Tigers.

Since then it's been losses to the Warriors, Eels, Rabbitohs and most recently the Storm. They even lost a "home" game at Wagga Wagga to the Knights.

But while their home record isn't too flash for the Raiders (1-5), the away record for the Broncos is worse (1-7). 

They are still scratching their heads over how a six-point difference at halftime turned into a 28-point defeat by full-time at the hands of the Dragons last weekend.

The Broncos do hold a 20-14 win-loss record over Canberra so that's something Brisbane fans will be clinging on to as they search for win number four for the season.

The rundown

Team news

Raiders: A late switch an hour before kick-off with Sia Soliola moving to the starting side at lock and Ryan Sutton going to the bench.

Blues interchange player Jack Wighton will back up for Canberra.

Bailey Simonsson replaces Caleb Aekins at fullback, Semi Valemei is the new winger, Josh Papalii returns from suspension at prop and Joseph Tapine (knee) makes his comeback on the interchange.

Matt Frawley and Harry Rushton were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Raiders are aiming for three consecutive wins over the Broncos for the first time since 1994-95.

Broncos: Albert Kelly has a hamstring injury and will miss the trip to Canberra. Tyson Gamble has been brought into the squad to replace him at halfback.

A late change an hour before kick-off with Cory Paix added to the bench and Keenan Palasia dropping to 18th man. 

More reshuffling by Kevin Walters on Tuesday will see Karmichael Hunt play his first NRL game since 2009.

Origin representatives Payne Haas and Xavier Coates are set to play, as does Kobe Hetherington (ankle).

David Mead and Jordan Riki were the first two players cut from the squad on Friday. Tesi Niu was the last man cut an hour before game time.

The Broncos have lost 16 of their past 17 games away from home.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Bailey Simonsson
    Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Herbie Farnworth
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Semi Valemei
    Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn Cobbo
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Broncos is number 3 Dale Copley
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Broncos is number 4 Jesse Arthars
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Broncos is number 18 Tesi Niu
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Karmichael Hunt
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Sam Williams
    Halfback for Broncos is number 22 Tyson Gamble

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
    Prop for Broncos is number 8 Matthew Lodge
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
    Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake Turpin
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis Lui
    Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
    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 Tevita Pangai Junior 
  • Lock for Raiders is number 16 Iosia Soliola
    Lock for Broncos is number 15 John Asiata

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
    Interchange for Broncos is number 13 Thomas Flegler
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
    Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Kobe  Hetherington 
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
    Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Teui Robati
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Joseph Tapine
    Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Cory Paix

Reserves

  • Reserve for Raiders is number 18 Elijah Anderson
    Reserve for Broncos is number 16 Keenan Palasia

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Key match-up

Josh Papalii v Matthew Lodge/Tom Flegler: Veteran prop Papalii ends his three-game suspension this round and will relish the chance to run at Brisbane front-rowers Matthew Lodge and Tom Flegler.

"Papa" should be as fresh as a chilled glass of Canberra Milk so you'd expect his average 13 hit-ups and 135 metres a game to be topped. 

Lodge makes 12 hit-ups and 127 metres on average so he can keep pace with the dual Samoan-Australian international, while Flegler hasn't missed a game this year, with 19 tackle breaks showing how hard he is to pin down.

Stat attack

Brisbane lead the league for offloads - new coach Kevin Walters has got the team slipping passes away more in 2021. They've made 161 so far to shade the Titans (159) and Tigers (157) with the Storm (150) and Panthers (143) rounding out the top five.

 

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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.