SATURDAY,APRIL 20th,2024 SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE
BRONCOS DOMINATE DOLPHINS IN SEASON OPENER
A surprising contender for the highlight of the round features the Brisbane Broncos facing off against the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium as the centerpiece of Super Saturday.
Brisbane maintained their unpredictable streak in 2024, opening the season with a dominant 28-14 victory over the Dolphins.
The Broncos set aside a poor opening forty minutes to capitalise on every Dolphins mistake to blow the Phins back to Redcliffe.
Reece Walsh sealed a remarkable comeback from injury with a sensational length-of-the-field effort, though he faced consistent pressure from the opposition throughout the match. Pat Carrigan and Corey Jensen spearheaded the forward push, with Xavier Willison delivering his standout NRL performance.
BRONCOS FACE TOUGH CHALLENGE AGAINST RAIDERS
Facing the Raiders, the Broncos must match the opposition’s forward intensity from the opening whistle. Papali’i and Tapine pose significant threats, while Morgan Smithies is adapting well to the rigors of NRL competition. Any lapse in focus could prove costly, as momentum can swiftly slip away. With a perceived advantage in the backline, the Broncos will look to exploit opportunities on the edges. Additionally, Jock Madden’s kicking game will be pivotal, particularly targeting rookie Chevy Stewart.
On the team front, the Broncos line-up remains unchanged. Payne Haas and Adam Reynolds are set to earn another week on the side line as they recover from injury.
Broncos.
1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Tristan Sailor 18. Martin Taupau 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jordan Pereira 21. Blake Mozer 22. Josiah Karapani
RAIDERS SEEK TO CAPITALIZE ON ATTACKING OPPORTUNITIES
Canberra has emerged as one of the unexpected success stories of the competition, displaying dominance against most opponents this season and remaining competitive in every match they’ve contested. Their performance has defied many preseason predictions about the green machine’s prospects in the 2024 season. Despite a grueling 90-minute battle against the winless Titans raising questions about their attack, it’s worth noting that it was NRL debutant Stewart’s first appearance, allowing some leeway for evaluation.
The Titans were robbed by officials not doing their job. The referee was terrible as was the bunker. Even Graham Annesley game out on Monday, AGAIN, and said the officials got it wrong. But that’s no help to the Titans. They did not get any points when they should have.
To overcome the Broncos, Canberra must capitalize on their attacking opportunities. Against the Titans, the Raiders enjoyed ample possession due to the Titans’ poor discipline. However, despite the Titans’ defensive vulnerabilities, scoring only three tries may seem underwhelming. Defensive lapses on the edges need addressing, and with more consistency, these issues can be rectified. With the attacking prowess of the Broncos, swift resolution is imperative; otherwise, Brisbane will exploit these weaknesses to their advantage.
On the team front, Zac Hosking’s absence sees Ata Mariota stepping in as his replacement. Simi Sasagi joins the bench. Once more, James Schiller takes his place on the wing in lieu of Albert Hopoate, who remains sidelined for another week following burns sustained in a cooking mishap last month.
Raiders.
1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Ata Mariota 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Emre Guler 20. Zac Woolford 21. Nick Cotric 22. Peter Hola
Referees: Chris Butler; Side line Officials: Jon Stone, Jarrod Cole; Video Referees: Kasey Badger;
Expect anything from Badger. You may as well put Stevie Wonder in the bunker.
PREDICTION
I will go with the Broncos in this one, but it could be tight. The Raiders are no push over.
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