NRL 2021: Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos, round 14 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 12 Jun 2021, 06:43 PM

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.

Round 14 - Round 14 - Saturday 12 Jun

Full Time

Raiders

Broncos

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Highlights Latest

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.

Round 14 - Round 14 - Saturday 12 Jun

Full Time

Raiders

Broncos

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: 9/7/2024 12:26:51 PM

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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