Sad news: Two most informed Broncos star men ruled out due to injury
Both players will not be participating in this weekend’s match.
Coach Kevin Walters of the Brisbane Broncos has announced that standout five-eighth Ezra Mam and center Selwyn Cobbo would each miss just one week of action.
When Brisbane’s team for their match against the Wests Tigers was announced on Tuesday afternoon, the two were unexpectedly left off. The Broncos will be welcoming back veteran halfback Adam Reynolds, as well as State of Origin prop Payne Haas from the New South Wales Blues, winger Deine Mariner, and young second-rower Brendan Piakura.
However, Cobbo and Mam’s absence is due to injuries they sustained during last weekend’s decisive victory over the Canberra Raiders.
“Scans on Selwyn and Ezra revealed injuries that would be better off being missed this week. In a club release announcing the squad for Round 8, Walters stated, “We anticipate both of them returning the following week.
FULL NRL TEAMS FOR ROUND 8
Due to Mam’s absence, Jock Madden slides into the number six shirt, replacing Reynolds, who would have otherwise taken Mam’s spot on the squad.
Jaiyden Hunt loses out to Piakura’s comeback, and Tristan Sailor is also out of the 17; Corey Oates will be joining Mariner on the wing. Fletcher Baker returns to the bench as a result of Haas’s return.
At 5:30 p.m. (AEST) on Saturday, Campbelltown Sports Stadium will host Brisbane’s matchup against the Wests Tigers.
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As the Broncos ride to face the Tigers, the cavalry arrives.
In advance of their encounter with the Tigers, who have had their impressive start to the season somewhat reversed in recent weeks, the Broncos have welcomed four players back into their lineup.
Brisbane had defeated the Raiders 34-10 last week and the Dolphins 34-10 the week before, both of which were impressive victories. They prevailed in those games in the absence of Payne Haas, Deine Mariner, Adam Reynolds, and Brendan Piakura—all of whom are scheduled to return this week. They are not, however, at full strength since the squad has chosen to rest Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam in order to allow them recover from minor ailments, as has been the norm this season.
The Tigers, who appeared to be clicking at Easter, suffered their third straight loss last week despite a creditable 22-6 loss to Penrith in Bathurst. To exacerbate matters, Solomon Alaimolo has been selected to make his NRL debut as Junior Tupou is probably going to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time due to a foot injury.
Brisbane has a distinct advantage when it comes to statistics. They entered the “Danger Zone” after their victory last week, and they currently have a top 8 attack and defense. The Tigers’ attack ranks just 15th in the NRL, while their defense is barely over that threshold. And failing to fight fire with fire is a big disadvantage when facing a team like the Broncos, who can score from almost anywhere on the field.
Last meeting: Broncos 46, Wests Tigers 12 in Round 5 of 2023
Who to watch: Adam Reynolds, the Broncos’ captain and halfback, who is returning from a two-week layoff due to a hamstring injury, will be by far the most crucial player. Both their excellence in the two games he missed and his control over the team seem nearly miraculous. His kicking ability will be crucial as the Broncos attempt to capitalize on their advantages in all areas.
Reynolds’s return will likely have the most impact on back rower Jordan Riki, who made headlines last year when he scored two goals in this match. Even though he will only have one chance to begin 2024, running off Reynolds should cause that number to increase rapidly. Brisbane will also want to make the game a contest of inches because Riki has a significant edge in this area and because Payne Haas is back and Pat Carrigan is a constant (iykyk).
The forward pack must perform better if the Tigers are to have any chance of winning. Stefano Utoikamanu, who was limited to just 75 meters during the match against Penrith last week, will have to lead that. Origin discussions are starting to get intense, so Utoikamanu needs to step up and perform at least as well as Haas will for the Broncos.
Lachlan Galvin might provide the much-needed points that the Tigers will also need. He proved his mettle against the Eels edge defense, and now he has do it again against the Broncos edge, which has played with some doubt this season. An 18-year-old is under pressure, but if he rises to the occasion, the payoff can be an unexpected victory that lands him a spot in all the season reviews.
Brisbane is the favorite. By a significant amount.
My advice: There’s no way you can beat Brisbane in this one, given their current form and the names they have back. Broncos, 14 points up.
