Broncos v Sharks: Staggs, Oates back; Chambers on family duty
The headlines may focused on next season's roster changes at Cronulla but in the meantime they are well in the finals hunt for 2021, winning their past four games to propel themselves into the top eight.
A halfback apparently unwanted next year and a coach warming the seat for Craig Fitzgibbon's arrival have helped guide the Sharks to wins over the Dragons, Titans, Panthers and Cowboys in the past month, and they are the favourites to make it five from five here.
The Broncos are in a battle to avoid a second straight wooden spoon, with star forward Tevita Pangai jnr told he can leave and the club parting ways with recruitment chief Peter Nolan and head of performance Andrew Croll.
No team is more in need of a morale boost than Brisbane, and despite the form line there is enough talent in the home team to spring an upset here.
Match: Broncos v Sharks
Round 16 -
home Team
Broncos
15th Position
away Team
Sharks
9th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Broncos: A late switch an hour before game time wiith Jordan Riki added to the bench and Cory Paix going back to 18th man.
Matt Lodge won't play after making an immediate switch to the Warriors on Thursday. His place in the front row is taken by Rhys Kennedy.
Kotoni Staggs replaces Jesse Arthars in the centres for his first game this year, with Arthars dropping to the interchange, while Jamayne Isaako and Corey Oates come in for Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo on the wings.
With Tevita Pangai jnr suspended, rookie TC Robati shifts to the second row and Kobe Hetherington is lock. John Asiata (neck) is replaced on the bench by Keenan Palasia while Ethan Bullemor also joins the bench.
Brodie Croft (knee) comes in at halfback with Tyson Gamble switching to five-eighth and veteran Karmichael Hunt sidelined by a calf injury picked up at training.
The Broncos have won six of their past seven games against the Sharks.
Sharks: Matt Moylan injured his calf in the warm-up and is out of the side, with his place taken by Braydon Trindall.
Will Chambers will miss the trip to Brisbane to be with his wife in Melbourne who is due to give birth. The backline reshuffle sees Connor Tracey move to centre and Sione Katoa come in on the wing.
Teig Wilton has been promoted to the starting side and Siosifa Talakai goes to the bench.
Andrew Fifita was cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Mawene Hiroti joined the bench when Moylan dropped out. Bill Magoulias is 18th man.
The Sharks are aiming for five straight wins for the first time since 2018.
Match: Broncos v Sharks
Round 16 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tesi NiuFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey OatesWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Sharks is number 2 Connor Tracey
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Sharks is number 4 Jesse Ramien
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Sharks is number 19 Sione Katoa
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 14 Braydon Trindall
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Brodie CroftHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Sharks is number 8 Aiden Tolman
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake TurpinHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
-
Prop for Broncos is number 19 Rhys KennedyProp for Sharks is number 10 Aaron Woods
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Teui Robati2nd Row for Sharks is number 15 Teig Wilton
-
Lock for Broncos is number 15 Kobe HetheringtonLock for Sharks is number 13 Toby Rudolf
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Keenan PalasiaInterchange for Sharks is number 12 Siosifa Talakai
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jesse ArtharsInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Jack Williams
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Jordan RikiInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 22 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Sharks is number 21 Mawene Hiroti
Reserves
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 14 Cory PaixReserve for Sharks is number 18 Billy Magoulias
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Key match-up
Herbie Farnworth v Jesse Ramien: Both these clubs are already looking to the future and there's plenty of potential in these talented young centres, with Farnworth making a club-high seven line breaks this season while Ramien's 53 tackle breaks are the most of any centre in the NRL. If the game is in the balance either one of these wide men is capable of producing something out of nothing.
Stat attack
He's still without a contract for next year but Shaun Johnson remains one of the league's most well-credentialed playmakers – with the former Four Nations and Golden Boot winner providing 26 try assists from 22 games across the past two seasons. The main downside for the Kiwis star has been durability, with Johnson playing 20 or more games in a season just once since 2015.
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