The Broncos have started a season 5-0 for the first time since 1998 and look to hold all the aces against a Raiders team missing main man Jack Wighton and coming off a 41-point defeat at home.
With forwards Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan setting a platform for Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh to express themselves the Broncos have piled on 29 points a game to exorcise the demons of last year's late fadeout.
On top of the humiliating scoreline against Penrith, the Raiders also lost stand-in five-eighth Matt Frawley to a hand injury so the playmaking stocks look thin as they embark on a daunting road trip to Brisbane.
No such dramas for Broncos coach Kevin Walters who has the experienced Reyolds playing some of the best football of his career and forming a potent spine combination with Mam, Walsh and Billy Walters.
With games against the Raiders, Titans and Eels to come in the next three weeks, the Broncos can set their sights on going 8-0 before a testing month against the Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm and Panthers between Rounds 9-12.
This article contains content that is only available on pan66.com
Team News
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. Stability has been key to Brisbane's success across the opening five rounds and coach Kevin Walters has gone with the same 17-man squad. Jordan Pereira is 18th man.
Raiders: Pasami Saulo has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Emre Guler going to the bench. Peter Hola will make his Raiders debut from the bench. Joe Tapine remained in Canberra for the arrival of his first child. Club great Jarrod Croker has earned a recall in the centres for his first game since Round 9 last year. With Jack Wighton facing one more week on the sideline due to suspension and Matt Frawley suffering a hand injury against the Panthers, Brad Schneider comes in at five-eighth for his first game since Round 11 last year. Corey Horsburgh has been named to start at lock with Corey Harawira-Naera on the bench.
This article contains content that is only available on pan66.com
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have won their past six games against the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium.
- The Raiders have won only two of their past 12 games at Suncorp.
- Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored six tries in his past four games.
- Raiders fullback Sebastian Kris will make his 50th NRL appearance.
- Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo has scored 13 tries in his past 14 games at Suncorp Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .