PRE-GAME Round 23 - Broncos vs Dragons

[Super Freak]

Sounds like Benji won't be playing.

Lara Pitt on the Matty Johns Show stated that the Dragons said his injury won't sideline him in the long term. A comment from Gordie suggesting he is out..

No official source as of yet, though.

 

[Unbreakable]

Pretty confident we'll win this one with Benji out, Blair back is a big boost, and potentially Copley back in the centres might add a bit of life to our right edge. Should be a good game.

 

[jarro65]

This is the game that we really need to get everything back on track ... probably our best chance of a win in our final few games.

Hopefully Blair makes a difference in the middle and we can get back to our winning ways.

 

[bb_gun]

BRONCOS

1. Darius Boyd
2. Lachlan Maranta
3. Jack Reed
4. Dale Copley
5. Jordan Kahu
6. Anthony Milford
7. Ben Hunt
8. Sam Thaiday
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Adam Blair
11. Alex Glenn
12. Matt Gillett
13. Corey Parker ©

Interchange:
14. Jarrod Wallace
15. Mitchell Dodds
16. Joe Ofahengaue
17. Kodi Nikorima

 

[Unbreakable]

Wayne must be a BroncosHQ lurker, glad Dale gets a crack.

Edit: Oates out injured?

 

[AceAv]

Knee soreness apparently

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Knee soreness apparently

Considering we've had 2 Achilles injuries and 1 ACL in the space of a year, I think the club are playing it very safe. Also I'm thinking Wayne was really keen on giving Joe O some more game time to reward his solid performance against the Dogs.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Considering we've had 2 Achilles injuries and 1 ACL in the space of a year, I think the club are playing it very safe. Also I'm thinking Wayne was really keen on giving Joe O some more game time to reward his solid performance against the Dogs.

And why are you thinking Wayne was wanting to do that? Anything he said or you just protecting. .?

 

[K-Style]

Wayne must be a BroncosHQ lurker, glad Dale gets a crack.

Edit: Oates out injured?

I hope Copley doesnt try TOO hard this week. He was rushing a million miles an hour last game but forgot the basics then decked himself with the head collision.
Im still hoping for a good game from him but at least nail the basics.

Oates went off at half time last game with a knee injury.
We'll miss that try he usually provides.

Niko needs to run a bit more from dummy half. Dont think he ran once from there last week. Its not like we were defending the whole time and never had the ball.

 

[Alec]

Nikorima should be running in support heaps. He's not a very good hooker, and we lack a good support runner.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

And why are you thinking Wayne was wanting to do that? Anything he said or you just protecting. .?

I'm sorry. protecting?

 

[K-Style]

I'm sorry. protecting?

Projecting?

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Projecting?

Yeah that's probably it. No, I don't have any inside info other than speculation as to why Oates is out and Joe is in.

 

[Sproj]

That's a big bench!

 

[I bleed Maroon]

That's a big bench!

Going up against a bench that is comparatively light. Looks like Bennett wants to make like the Roosters and belt them up the middle

 

[jakepearce94]

Nikorima should be running in support heaps. He's not a very good hooker, and we lack a good support runner.

Not a natural hooker, like Benny Hunt a couple years ago, Natural Half and not too shabby at the back.

 

[Super Freak]

WAYNE Bennett has settled on his team to take on the Dragons tomorrow night and there will be no surprises – unless Dragon Benji Marshall runs out on the field.

Bennett confirmed Corey Oates would not play because of a knee contact injury.

Bennett used Oates as some firepower on the wing against the Bulldogs last week, but there will be no repeat this week.

Dale Copley will start in the centres as named for the suspended Justin Hodges, with Lachlan Maranta to start in his usual wing spot.

Bennett said he didn’t expect Marshall to play for the Dragons after he left the field against the Warriors early last week.

“Well, he had a hamstring only last week so you wouldn’t expect him to play,” said Bennett.

His hunch might be right after Dragons’ coach Paul McGregor spoke in Brisbane this morning and also poured cold water on any hopes of the Kiwi international making a miracle recovery.

However Marshall has stayed in Brisbane all week after the Dragons arrived straight from New Zealand on Monday, rather than returning to Sydney.

“He’s very unlikely to play - that’s the total truth,” said McGregor.

“He will come to training today and have a light jog, but he hasn’t been on the grass yet this week.

“A week’s a really short turnaround for a hamstring strain, especially when you leave the field with one.

“I would think at this stage he won’t be playing.”

Although they did not name him, he Dragons have under-20s half Drew Hutchison on standby, who would be making his NRL debut.

The match will kick off at Suncorp Stadium at 7.45pm.

Benji Appearance A Mystery - Broncos

 

[I bleed Maroon]

No excuses now. Without Marshall they will struggle to find points, which leaves the door wide open for us to take command early