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Broncos v Dragons: Staggs back on deck; RFM returns to start

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The Dragons fell out of the eight on the back a loss to the Roosters and now head to Brisbane to face a desperate Broncos outfit searching for the form that carried them all the way to last year's decider.

Both sides will be weakened by the absence of Origin stars, with the Dragons missing Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax and the Broncos without Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Reece Walsh.

A hamstring injury to halfback Jock Madden has further complicated matters for the Broncos, who have dropped five on the trot to plummet from fifth on the ladder after Round 11 to 11th going into Round 19.

They could welcome Kotoni Staggs and Jordan Riki back this weekend in a boost to their chances while Jack Bird looks set to slot back in for the Red V after making a comeback from an ankle injury in NSW Cup on Sunday.

With matches against the Panthers and Storm to follow their Round 20 bye, it's imperative the Dragons chalk up a win at Suncorp Stadium to stay in touch with the eight and give themselves a realistic shot at a first finals berth since 2018.

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Team News

Broncos: Brendan Piakura (ankle) will take his place in the second-row after hobbling from the field at Queensland Origin training on Thursday. Kobe Hetherington will start at lock with Tyson Smoothy shifting to the bench. The hamstring injury to Jock Madden sees Josh Rogers take over at halfback. Tristan Sailor joins the starting side and Xavier Willison moves to prop in the absence of Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas while Kotoni Staggs is back from personal leave to partner Deine Mariner in the centres with Selwyn Cobbo on Origin duty. Jordan Riki returns from suspension in the back row. Blake Mozer is the new man on the bench.

Dragons: Jack Bird will join the bench after making his comeback from an ankle injury via NSW Cup last week. Ben Murdoch-Masila moves to 18th man. Mikaele Ravalawa returns on the wing with Zac Lomax on Blues duty while Jesse Marschke takes over from Ben Hunt at halfback. Raymond Faitala-Mariner returns after missing last week's game due to back spasms so Luciano Leilua goes to the bench alongside Bird, Toby Couchman and Hame Sele, who is back from a shoulder injury.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tristan Sailor
    Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
    Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Deine Mariner
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse Arthars
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Josh Rogers
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Jesse Marschke

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Xavier Willison
    Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua
  • Lock for Broncos is number 15 Kobe Hetherington
    Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 13 Tyson Smoothy
    Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Blake Mozer
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Josiah Karapani
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben  Murdoch-Masila
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Martin Taupau
    Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Jack Bird

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Va'a Semu
    Replacement for Dragons is number 21 Ryan Couchman

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Broncos have won only one of their past five games at Suncorp Stadium.
  • The Dragons have won six of their past eight games against the Broncos.
  • Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored five tries in his past four games against the Dragons.
  • The Dragons have won only one of their past 11 games without Ben Hunt.
  • The Broncos have averaged less than 12 points per game since Round 14.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.