Broncos v Raiders: On a roll at Red Hil; Tapine out, Hola in
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.
Match: Broncos v Raiders
Round 6 -
home Team
Broncos
1st Position
away Team
Raiders
16th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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.
Match: Broncos v Raiders
Round 6 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Jesse ArtharsWinger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn CobboWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra MamFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Brad Schneider
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Thomas FleglerProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy WaltersHooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory PaixInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Keenan PalasiaInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey JensenInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Martin TaupauInterchange for Raiders is number 20 Peter Hola
Reserves
-
Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Jordan PereiraReplacement for Raiders is number 18 James Schiller
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
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 official annual of the NRL.
