Broncos v Dragons: Milford replaces Croft; Vaughan returns
Embattled Brisbane, fresh off a calamitous second-half collapse against Canberra, face an uphill battle to avoid their second six-game losing streak of the season.
The Broncos host a Dragons team fresh off a morale-boosting 14-12 victory over competition heavyweights Parramatta, their fifth and by far biggest scalp of the season.
While Brisbane have been locked in a death spiral after beginning the season with back-to-back wins St George Illawarra are much-improved since a 30-16 derby win over Cronulla snapped a season-opening four-match losing streak.
While their finals hopes are all but gone the Dragons will be setting their sights of finishing as the best of the rest under the guidance of Dean Young who took on the interim head coach role following Paul McGregor's exit.
Match: Broncos v Dragons
Round 15 -
home Team
Broncos
15th Position
away Team
Dragons
10th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17. With Payne Haas suspended and Tom Flegler out with a shoulder injury, Joe Ofahengaue and Rhys Kennedy form a new front-row pairing. Anthony Milford returns from a hamstring injury in the halves with Brodie Croft dropped. Jordan Kahu replaces Jesse Arthars in the backline with Herbie Farnworth shifting to wing.
Issac Luke starts at hooker for Jake Turpin, who has a broken hand. Ethan Bullemor and Jamil Hopoate are the new faces on the bench. Fullback Darius Boyd has a 25 percent winning record against the Dragons.
Sean O'Sullivan and Croft were omitted from the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off. Arthars and Pride Patterson-Robati were cut an hour before game time.
Dragons: Interim head coach Dean Young was forced to rejig his first team sheet after second-rower Tyrell Fuimaono was suspended at the judiciary on Tuesday night. Jacob Host moves from the bench into the starting side and Trent Merrin comes onto the interchange.
Star prop Paul Vaughan has been recalled after his quarantine period ended for a COVID breach, taking Tristan Sailor's bench spot. The Dragons have won their past three games against the Broncos.
Eddie Blacker was cut from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off while Sailor and Brayden Wiliame were the last two omitted an hour before game time.
Match: Broncos v Dragons
Round 15 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Dragons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius BoydFullback for Dragons is number 1 Matthew Dufty
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Richard KennarWinger for Dragons is number 2 Jordan Pereira
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Dragons is number 3 Euan Aitken
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Jordan KahuCentre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Herbie FarnworthWinger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony MilfordFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Tom DeardenHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Adam Clune
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Joe OfahengaueProp for Dragons is number 8 Blake Lawrie
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Issac LukeHooker for Dragons is number 9 Ben Hunt
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Rhys KennedyProp for Dragons is number 10 Josh Kerr
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 David Fifita2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tyson Frizell
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Ben Te'o2nd Row for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Host
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Dragons is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory PaixInterchange for Dragons is number 15 Kaide Ellis
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Jordan RikiInterchange for Dragons is number 16 Korbin Sims
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Dragons is number 17 Paul Vaughan
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jamil HopoateInterchange for Dragons is number 18 Trent Merrin
Match Officials
- Referee: Henry Perenara
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Kotoni Staggs v Zac Lomax: They play on opposite sides of the field but both centres are certain to play pivotal roles in determining who takes home the two points. Lomax has been a revelation, scoring 10 tries (including a pair of doubles in his past four games) and sitting second on the point-scoring list behind Rooster Kyle Flanagan.
His combination with fullback Matt Dufty has been particularly potent. Staggs has been one of Brisbane's best since returning from a long-term injury in round 11. He scored a double against Cronulla in round 12 and played a leading hand in building the Broncos' surprise halftime lead over Canberra last Saturday.
Stat Attack
Brisbane are the worst defensive team in the NRL. The Broncos have conceded 34, 59, 30, 48, 46, 36, 28 and 36 points in losing 11 out of their past 12.
Rock-bottom Brisbane have conceded 63 more points (437) than Queensland rivals North Queensland and 70 more than Gold Coast, making the Sunshine State home to the competition's three worst defensive units through 14 rounds.
