Broncos team news: Michael Maguire’s includes three hookers in team to face Warriors
In one of the biggest gambles of his career, Broncos coach Michael Maguire has swung the axe and dropped a selection bombshell for Brisbane’s New Zealand road trip.
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Broncos coach Michael Maguire has dropped a selection bombshell by picking three hookers for Saturday night’s clash against the Warriors.
Stung by last week’s 26-16 loss to the Roosters, Maguire has wielded the axe and shaken up his interchange bench for Brisbane’s tricky round 7 road trip to New Zealand.
Maguire has dropped veteran prop Martin Taupau to the extended 22-man squad and recalled Tyson Smoothy, Brisbane’s 2023 grand-final super sub, to his top 17.
That effectively gives the Broncos three dummy-half options, with Smoothy joining fellow hooker Billy Walters on the bench, while Cory Paix remains in the No.9 jumper.
It represents one of the biggest selection gambles of Maguire’s decorated career, but the Broncos coach clearly wants more mobility in his pack after losing the territorial battle against the Roosters.
Taupau struggled to handle the pace of the Roosters’ line speed and while Smoothy is traditionally a hooker, he has the size and agility to operate as a running forward.
The Broncos were soundly beaten in midfield by the Roosters and Maguire has challenged his pack to lift against the Warriors as Brisbane look to remain in the top four with a 5-2 start to the season.
“We weren’t physical enough last week, so we need to be better there against the Warriors,” Maguire said.
“We need to improve in the forwards and that’s what I’m expecting this week.
“We put too much pressure on ourselves and we’re still finding our style of playing.
“We’ve addressed a few things this week and it’s important we get it right.”
The Broncos have received a boost with an NRL downgrade clearing concussed winger Jesse Arthars for the Warriors showdown.
Arthars was originally expected to miss the clash against his former Warriors club after suffering a category-one head knock in last Friday night’s loss to the Roosters.
Under NRL protocols, Arthars was facing the prospect of an 11-day stand-down period, which would have ruled him out of the Warriors clash.
But after discussions with Broncos medicos, the NRL has agreed to a rare downgrade, revising Arthars to a category-two head knock _ making him available for the trip to New Zealand.
“Jesse has a plate in his jaw and he copped a whack on that,” Maguire said. “That’s what initially worried him but our doctors presented the facts to the NRL and they agreed to a downgrade which is good news.”
In other selection news, Brisbane’s back-row merry-go-round continues with grand-final second-rower Jordan Riki returning to the starting side after a two-week suspension.
His comeback is timely, with his back-row colleague Jack Gosiewski rubbed out after a suspension arising from the Roosters clash.
With Brendan Piakura also suspended for another week, Maguire will welcome back Riki to start alongside Jaiyden Hunt as Brisbane’s back row stocks are tested.
“It’s great to have Jordan back,” Maguire said. “He is one of our fittest players and he does a lot of work that people don’t always see, so it’s good to have him back in the team.
“We have a few Kiwi boys in the squad and that’s the culture I want to build here.
“I want our boys to turn out and get a win for our New Zealand guys like Jesse and Jordan.”
FULL NRL ROUND 7 TEAMS HERE
DOLPHINS V STORM
Friday 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jere
my Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Max Plath
Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr
Reserves: 18. Ray Stone 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Francis Molo 22. Junior Tupou
Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Jack Howarth 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero
Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick
Reserves: 18. Joe Chan 19. Kane Bradley 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Stanley Huen 22. Lazarus Vaalepu
WARRIORS V BRONCOS
Saturday 5:30pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Warriors
1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Edward Kosi 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Bunty Afoa 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Te Maire Martin
Reserves: 18. Tanah Boyd 20. Tanner Stowers-Smith 21. Samuel Healey 22. Freddy Lussick 23. Morgan Harper
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington
Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Smoothy
Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Martin Taupau 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer
TITANS V RAIDERS
Sunday 2pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Titans
1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Interchange: 14. Chris Randall 15. Klese Haas 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui
Reserves: 18. Arama Hau 19. Allan Fitzgibbon 20. Josiah Pahulu 21. Tom Weaver 22. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsurgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies
Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota
Reserves: 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Simi Sasagi 20 Jed Stuart 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
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