Brisbane have continued their winning ways over the Raiders with a 30-20 victory at GIO Stadium.
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Final score
Canberra Raiders 20
Brisbane Broncos 30
Ricky’s Raiders will be out for redemption when they tackle the Broncos at GIO Stadium. Join The Roar for a live blog from 5:30pm AEST.
Both sides kicked back during the bye, while the Round prior delivered differing results for the two clubs.
The break would have been more enjoyable for Brisbane having enjoyed a somewhat scrappy win over South Sydney, while Canberra’s hearts are still on the mend following that unbelievable loss at the hands of Penrith.
Australian front rower Shannon Boyd returns to the starting side for Canberra as one of their noticeable changes, making Royce Hunt the likely casualty.
For the Broncos, Ben Hunt is one step closer to regaining the No.7 jersey after being named on the interchange bench. With Milford ruled out for six weeks, the Kiwi connection of Marshall and Nikorima will feature in the halves.
Two weeks must feel like an eternity for the Green Machine following their loss in Bathurst.
They finally get the chance to put those horror remaining minutes behind them and lift the spirits of the Canberra faithful on their own home turf.
‘Leipana’ still remains the most potent combination so far with Rapana bagging 14 tries this season, and Leilua chipping in with eight of his own.
Roberts and Oates will need to be on their toes if they’re to stop these numbers from growing.
Canberra’s starting 17 will also be looking to put a smile of the face of Ricky Stuart following the announcement that he’ll be with the club until the end of 2020.
For the Broncos, Gillett, McGuire and Boyd are expected to back up following Origin 2. The fact that Walters choose not to include Thaiday and Oates in that side will be a blessing to Bennett knowing that his squad won’t be completely overcooked leading into this match.
Benji Marshall’s comparisons to a fine wine must be due after the mercurial five-eighth’s performances continue to wow onlookers and rugby league fans alike.
His record against Canberra is likely to get the same reaction following the revelation that he’s only lost once in 17 matches against the Raiders. No doubt Broncos fans will be wanting that to continue.
Prediction
The Raiders are ranked second for most points so far this season while the Broncos are fourth.
Put two and two together and it sounds like we’re in for a high scoring affair even though the history books don’t necessarily agree.
Things don’t get any easier for Bennett’s Broncos with a reshuffled lineup and a few stars backing up from Origin.
It’s going to freezing, it’s going to be physical and it’s going to be close. On a harsh cold night I’m tipping the Raiders to get home and get their season back on track.
Canberra by 2.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Its time for Ricky to try something. The current combination just isn't working. He needs to do something before the season completely slips away. I'd swap Cotric and Wighton for a start. To me Wighton is not a natural FB and Cotric looks as though he could play anywhere - he's safe under the high ball and has good return metres. Jack always worries me under the high ball and gets caught out of position. Put Jack out on the wing. He is great in defence and could still contribute in attack. Rapana would also be an option at FB but it doesn't make sense to break up his combination with BJ. I'd also start Baptiste at 9 move Hodgson to 7 and put Sezer at 6 with Austin going to the bench. Austin had a great 2015 in his first year with the Raiders but has done virtually nothing since. He might be useful coming off the bench in the last 20 minutes.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I didn't say he way the best player, just that he was close to the best recruitment, without him the broncos would be in all sorts of trouble with both of their starting halves out for a big chunk of the season. When he was signed I didn't think he'd see a game but the way things have panned out might see him playing the rest of the season and stops the broncs from having to shuffle their entire back line to put someone at 6
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
No complaints from Raiders fans last and now they want to get rid of the coach and bag the players - Amazing what a year can do - Maybe they(Raiders) over exceeded last year as it was the Bradbury year- 2016 - Leicester City winning the EPL/ Chicago Cubs winning the WS/Cronulla Sharks winning the NRL/ Ireland beating the All Blacks/Brexit/Trump etc- Normality has resumed I would say in 2017 that is all that's happening.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
He also had a good game against the roosters and did well coming off the bench against the Rabbitohs effectively icing the game. He's in good form. That pass to put Glenn over was pure class.
sham
Guest
Sure he looks good against the Raiders which says a lot more about the Raiders than it does about him.
sham
Guest
He looked good tonight but that just illustrates how pathetic the defence from the Raiders was. If he repeats this against a side who defend well it may mean something. He was a great player but sadly a halve doing well against the Raiders means little this year.
sham
Guest
I was shattered after the loss to the Panthers but this game just showed that the Raiders have very poor defence at times. Some of the tries from the Broncos were incredibly soft and the Raiders made Benji look great. That says it all really he would not look good against any other team apart maybe for the Knights. The Raiders may come good next year but they have to tighten up their defence in the middle and Ricky needs to build their confidence
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Story came out recently that he was all set to go back to the Tigers mid season until Tui was released by the warriors. They pretty much told him to shove it after that.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I think the Raiders would have Benji in a heart beat.
Swannies
Guest
They'll bounce back next year so nothing to worry about. Knock-ons/dropped ball at crucial times is shooting them in the foot. Think they also thought it might come easy for them in 2017 after last year. A gruelling pre-season will have them primed for a full on assault next year. As I've said before, 2018 will be make or break for Stuart and whether the team has levelled out.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Your dreaming
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
No excuses for the Raiders tonight - virtually at full strength against a Broncos team missing Boyd and Milford. Game went right down to the 75th minute but again the Raiders are found wanting. Sezer and Austin just aren't cutting it in the halves and Hodgson bites off far more than he can chew. Marshall and Hunt were light years ahead with their kicking and running game. Austin made a break in the second half and all he had to do was pass to 3 unmarked players on his right but instead cuts to his left and gets cut down. He was lucky that Leilua eventually scored on the right through brute strength. The Raiders players were giving it to Austin for not passing. Wighton still makes far too many mistakes to be called a qulaity full back. The Raiders are exactly where they should be - 10th. I have no idea where the Raiders go from here. They are a shadow of where they were last year. They have no confidence, appear to be leaderless and being poorly coached. Ricky Stuart is very lucky to be extended based on their performances this season. The Raiders faithful have had a gutful.
Jono
Guest
Raiders season died weeks ago so any signs of life you see is just escaping gas. Not much I can say about them right now. Apart from they deserve to be where they are on the ladder.
thomas c
Guest
I'd love to see Benji continue to fire and really rub it in the faces of all who passed on him. Yep, you let the broncos get him for basically nothing.
Matthew Lucas
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
Cugel
Roar Rookie
The Raiders of 3-4 years ago are back baby, the endless succession of one-out hitups, the aimless kicking and retreating defence line. And of course, the constant dropped ball - It's all there.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Tough to go past Hunt I think. But there were some terrific performances. Papalii never stopped. Gillett looked like he was on something. Benji, as wrong as I was about him season start, was fantastic at managing the game. The Raiders outside 4 were all fantastic. This was an incredibly high quality game. That second half was absolutely brutal.
Emcie
Roar Guru
he's just about been the buy of the season with both starting halves being injured for long stints. He seems to be enjoying his footy a lot more now that all the pressure is off him
souvalis
Guest
Can't fathom why clubs rewarded Hasler and Stuart with contract renewals with both clubs plummeting...
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good game. Both teams wanted to win but Broncos just more disciplined. Broncos halves also were a big point of difference. Gillette outstanding considering he played Origin 3 days ago. In fact all the Origin players played well.