It’s a Friday night blockbuster as the Broncos and Roosters collide at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos were embarrassed 38-24 by Manly on home turf last week, and now sit a full game outside the top eight, 5-5, as their season starts to enter a critical month with Origin just around the corner.
Wayne Bennett has swung the axe, with Jack Bird training in reserves as he deals with poor form and a sternum injury. Tom Opacic takes his place in the centres.
As for the Roosters, last week they put in by far their best 80-minute performance of the season, with a stunning 32-0 defeat of the Warriors. It outlined their premiership credentials, and they now sit at 6-4, despite having played nowhere near their best football all season. Key signings James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk look to be finding a bit of rhythm as we head towards the halfway point of the season.
The Roosters are further strengthened with the return of Victor Radley, who missed last week’s big victory through suspension.
The visitors should be wary of a Broncos bounce-back, given how ordinary they were last week, particularly defensively. However, the Roosters would have gained enormous confidence from the way they played last week and, if they play anything like that again, they should win.
Verdict
Expect an early Broncos ambush, but for the Roosters to weather the storm and come out on top.
Roosters by 1-8 in a high-scoring game.
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