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Thank God it's Friday night footy: Bulldogs v Broncos

6th March, 2014
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Josh Hoffman had his best game of the season last week - playing fullback. (Photo: www.photosport.co.nz)
Roar Guru
6th March, 2014
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Des Hasler has kept his Bulldogs largely undercover in the preseason with limited exposure and commitment to the Nines, but with a good trial win 20-10 against the Storm in Brisbane.

The Broncos in contrast have been on full display this preseason. In the Nines, the Broncs were led by Ben Barba all the way to the grand final of the Nines, where they were defeated by the Cowboys.

New recruit Barba missed the final, but showed enough throughout the tournament to suggest he hasn’t lost the form that won him the Dally M.

Then came their disastrous final trial against the Warriors when they were comprehensively defeated 48-4. The Broncos had also previously trialled against to the Cowboys losing 32-8.

As for this clash, the teams met twice last year with the Bulldogs wining 24-10 at home but going down 16-11 away.

Many including the bookies have the Bulldogs firm favourites to win well against a Broncos side which has also been predicted by many to struggle this season.

But although the Bulldogs have named a strong side, they are missing regular first graders forward Sam Kasiano with a foot injury (expected back in Round 4), Krisnan Inu with a broken jaw (expected back in Round 6), Greg Eastwood with a foot injury (expected back in Round 3) and Tim Lafai with a broken hand (expected back in Round 2).

Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds will start after an off-season shoulder reconstruction despite not figuring in any trial matches. Sam Perrett is Ben Barba’s replacement at fullback.

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So if the Broncos and Ben Barba are going to beat the Bulldogs in 2014, Friday night is the night.

With Ben Barba’s return to the Bulldogs home ground as Broncos fullback bound to get the crowd jeering, the Broncos are reported to have devised a plan to relieve the pressure on Barba and give him some room to move.

Kiwi international Josh Hoffman has been named at five-eighth alongside Ben Hunt in the halves.

With an untried halves pairing to start the season, the Broncos coach will also be giving his international backrow greater playmaking responsibilities with a view to breaking the Bulldogs defence.

The Bulldogs are expected to blood Moses Mbye an exciting prospect who has been named on an extended bench.

Despite Ben Barba for the Broncos, it will be the battle of the forwards that will decide the game. I am going for the Bulldogs, despite a number of missing players, to win comfortably.

Fri 7 March Bulldogs v Broncos ANZ Stadium Nine 8:05PM

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Teams
Broncos

1 Ben Barba 2 Daniel Vidot 3 Jack Reed 4 Dale Copley 5 Lachlan Maranta 6 Josh Hoffman 7 Ben Hunt 8 Josh McGuire 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Corey Parker (c) 11 Alex Glenn 12 Sam Thaiday 13 Matt Gillett Interchange 14 Ben Hannant 15 Martin Kennedy 16 Todd Lowrie 17 Jarrod Wallace 18 David Hala

Bulldogs
1 Sam Perrett 2 Mitch Brown 3 Josh Morris 4 Chase Stanley 5 Corey Thompson 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Ennis (c) 10 James Graham 11 Frank Pritchard (c) 12 Tony Williams 13 Dale Finucane Interchange 14 Josh Jackson 15 Pat O’Hanlon 16 Tim Browne 17 David Klemmer 19 Moses Mbye

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