Brisbane Broncos team news: James Roberts to play against Cronulla

BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed star centre James Roberts will be a certain starter against the Sharks, while two other Broncos compete for a bench spot.

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BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed star centre James Roberts will be a certain starter for Saturday night’s clash against the Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Roberts is battling an ongoing achilles injury he has been managing since the pre-season, but Bennett says the newly-crowned NSW Origin flyer will take his place at right centre against Cronulla.

The only change could be to Brisbane’s bench, with Bennett to decide between young gun Kotoni Staggs or former Sharks premiership-winner Sam Tagataese for the final spot on interchange.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett at training today. Picture: Darren England

Kotoni Staggs is in contention.

The presence of Roberts is a boost for the Broncos ahead of a crucial road trip as seventh-placed Cronulla (18 competition points) look to push eighth-placed Brisbane (16) out of the top eight.

“James will play, he is good to go, we are all fit,” Bennett said.

“I’m still undecided about our bench, it will either be him (Tagataese) or Kotoni on the bench.

“We’ve had some bad experiences on a Saturday night down there but we’ve had some good ones too.

“The Sharks are playing good footy _ they are a tough football team.”

Bennett lashed his side’s poor second-half in last week’s 32-16 loss to the Storm and is banking on skipper Darius Boyd to spearhead a better 80-minute performance against the Sharks.

Boyd dropped a representative-retirement bombshell on Monday, quitting Queensland and Australia immediately, and Bennett applauded his captain’s decision.

“I’m happy for Darius because it was his decision and he’s happy with it,” he said.

“After that, it doesn’t matter what I think.

“The decision is not for me. Darius doesn’t have to worry about game two now, he has made his decision, he is control of his own life, he is not sitting around waiting to see if he is in or out or in between.

“He didn’t have to have the club in mind. We don’t tell anyone when they should retire from rep football, I’ve never done that and Darius is comfortable with his decision.”

Bennett confirmed injured utility Jack Bird will undergo a second operation, this time on his sternum, and admits there is no guarantee he will return this season.

“It has been a poor year by his standards,” he said.

“None of it in his control. We probably won’t see much of him now, we’re talking six weeks out, but we’re not going to rush it, we have to get by without him.”