ROUND 11, FRIDAY,MAY 17th,2024 SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE
Late Mail: Reece Walsh injury and Changes for Both Sides
LATE MAIL. Reece Walsh is out of Magic Round with a minor knee injury, which will see Selwyn Cobbo likely shift to fullback while Joseph Karapani, a former Rabbitohs development player, makes his NRL debut in the centres. Karapani has six tries so far playing for the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup and has averaged 153 run metres. Walsh, meanwhile, is only expected to miss one game.
Manly’s Challenge without Trbojevic
Manly faces the challenge of overcoming the absence of star fullback Tom Trbojevic as they return to Suncorp Stadium for the second consecutive week to take on the Broncos.
Magic Round: Tough Test for Sea Eagles
After staying in Queensland following last Thursday’s loss to the Dolphins, the Sea Eagles face another tough test during Magic Round.
Bittersweet Team List for Manly
Reuben Garrick and Tolu Koula are both contenders to fill Trbojevic’s shoes in the No.1 position as Anthony Seibold’s side aims to break a two-game losing streak.
It’s a bittersweet team list for the Sea Eagles.
Losing Tom Trbojevic is undeniably a significant setback for the club’s hopes of reaching the finals. Nevertheless, they are familiar with playing without him, having navigated stretches in the past few years when he was unavailable.
They’ll have to adapt swiftly if they’re to pull off an upset against the Broncos at Suncorp.
Positive News for Manly with Olakau’atu Return
In more positive news, they get Haumole Olakau’atu back on the right edge, who will cause headaches for the Broncos’ defence and create plenty of attacking opportunities.
Manly will also be missing winger Jason Saab, but they’ll receive a significant lift with Haumole Olakau’atu returning from a two-week suspension. Additionally, Nathan Brown is in contention to make a comeback from a quad injury that sidelined him in last week’s loss.
Manly. 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic , 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Matthew Lodge, 18. Aaron Woods 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Dean Matterson 21. Brandon Wakeham 22. Toafofoa Sipley
Broncos Ready for Magic Round
For the Broncos, Jock Madden returns at halfback in place of Josh Rogers, who drops out of the side. Billy Walters is out with a wrist injury, which sees Tyson Smoothy start at hooker and Blake Mozer named on the bench for just his second game.
The Broncos may be playing as the away team at their home ground of Suncorp for Magic Round, but they likely won’t mind the change in status. In the absence of Adam Reynolds last week, Ezra Mann took up lead playmaker duties and played arguably his best game of the season, along with standout efforts from Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo.
With Madden’s return, Mann should be able to maintain his excellent form. We can anticipate a high-scoring match and even more attacking flair from the Broncos as they aim to entertain the large crowd expected for Friday night’s Magic Round.
The Broncos bounced back to form on Friday night with a convincing 30-14 victory over the Eels, and they’re keen to maintain momentum as they return to Brisbane.
In their history at Magic Round, Manly and the Broncos have clashed in all four editions, with Brisbane emerging victorious in three out of four encounters, including a commanding 32-6 win last year.
High Expectations for Broncos’ Madden
Coach Kevin Walters is optimistic about the return of Jock Madden from a pec injury that sidelined him since round eight. Madden will slot in at halfback, while the absence of hooker Billy Walters due to a wrist injury sees Tyson Smoothy stepping up to the starting No.9 role.
New Addition to Broncos’ Bench
A new addition to the bench is Blake Mozer, who is set to make only his second career appearance and his first of the 2024 season.
BRONCOS. 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Tyson Smoothy 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan , 14. Blake Mozer 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Jack Gosiewski, 18. Joshua Rogers 19. Martin Taupau 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Josiah Karapani 22. Cory Paix
Referee. Todd Smith ,Touch Judges, Drew Oultram, Liam Kennedy, Bunker, Grant Atkins
The Sea Eagles have lost their past four games at Suncorp Stadium.
Broncos centre Selwyn Cobbo has scored six tries in his last two games against the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles have won only one of their four Magic Round games.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has scored five tries in four games at Suncorp Stadium in 2024.
Prediction
The Sea Eagles have had a string of disappointing performances lately, including surrendering a sizable lead against the Raiders and falling to the Dolphins last week. Conversely, the Broncos showcased their prowess with a commanding win over the Eels, bouncing back strongly from a heavy defeat by the Roosters the week prior.
This game holds significant importance for the Sea Eagles, who must halt their slide and demonstrate to themselves that they are indeed capable of contending for the title. The Broncos, at home on this special occasion, in front of a near full house should be too good.
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