The Broncos’ key players are nearing a return from injury, but Coach Kevin Walters is confident that his team can defeat the high-flying Raiders even without their reinforcement this week. Brisbane will face Canberra without skipper Adam Reynolds and star prop Payne Haas, yet Walters believes that the current squad can step up and deliver against the third-ranked Raiders.
“We’re sticking with the same 1-17 lineup as last week, which is a positive for us,” Walters stated. “Although the team is still developing its chemistry, it’s encouraging that they’re gaining more opportunities to play together.”
Walters emphasized the need for better discipline, focusing on areas like avoiding offside penalties from kicks and improving efficiency around the ruck and play-the-ball. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the Raiders’ formidable forward pack, which includes standout players like Joseph Tapine, Josh Papali’i, and Morgan Smithies.
“They’re a well-coached team with quality players,” Walters commented. “They’ve had a strong start to the season, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
The coach highlighted the importance of tomorrow’s match for Brisbane’s forwards, noting the gritty nature of Canberra’s playing style and urging his players to excel and maintain discipline on the field.
While injured players like Reynolds, Haas, Brendan Piakura, and Deine Mariner are expected to return in the next round against Wests Tigers, Walters emphasized the team’s focus on the current game and expressed confidence in the abilities of the current squad to perform well.
“We’ll deal with next week when it comes. Right now, we’re fully focused on delivering a strong performance at home with the 17 we have,” Walters affirmed. “I’m comfortable with this week’s lineup, and I’m expecting to see improvements from every player tomorrow night.”