Round 7: Broncos v Bulldogs preview
COVID-19, it's still a thing!
Contrary to the view that the health of the economy is more important than the health of the public, life has not returned to normal because COVID-19 remains a pressing danger occurring throughout society.
With that in mind - let's talk about the match that puts the bust in blockbuster: the Brisbane Broncos playing host to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Coming into the annual ANZAC Round in 14th and 16th with attacking records among the worst in the league, Friday's contest shapes as a must-win for both teams after promising much yet delivering little on the premiership table.
Beginning the year with hope for better days before slumping to four losses in succession, the Brisbane Broncos will be aiming to bounce back on home soil after being outclassed by the reigning premiers on Good Friday.
Going down to the Panthers in a willing contest unbecoming of the final 40-12 score line, coach Kevin Walters has received mixed news on the selection front with returning prop Payne Haas offsetting the loss of fullback Tesi Niu.
Handing the vacant fullback jersey to Te Maire Martin - three years after being forced to retire due to bleeding on the brain - Tyson Gamble will play his first match of the season as part of a reshuffle that sees Cory Paix move to hooker and Jake Turpin left out of the squad entirely.
Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler will also return from injury and suspension respectively at the expense of Delouise Hoeter and Ryan James.
Averaging just shy of 13 points per game so far this season, the Broncos struggles to score points have extended throughout the pandemic era with the side registering 20 points or more on a mere 17 occasions during the course of their past 50 matches.
Forced to contend with the on-going impacts of the pandemic after several players tested positive two days before game day, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will be up against the odds in their pursuit of breaking a five week run of losses.
Holding a dismal record in Brisbane against all opponents with a single win from their past 12 visits, captain Josh Jackson is the only remaining member of the squad that narrowly defeated the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in the final rounds of the 2015 season.
Starting with confidence against South Sydney before capitulating to go down 36-16 in the traditional Good Friday fixture, coach Trent Barrett has been forced to blood Jacob Kiraz and Billy Tsikrikas in first grade, along with calling up Jayden Okunbor and Bailey Biondi-Odo after Brent Naden, Jake Averillo, Ava Seumanufagai and Brandon Wakeham were ruled out on Wednesday.
Friday night will mark the second time the Bulldogs have been severely impacted by COVID-19 following five players being stood down for breaching biosecurity measures last year; the side, fielding three debutants, subsequently suffered a 66-0 humiliation at the hands of Manly.
Barely improving their attacking record over the first six rounds - 56 points for an average just over nine each week - from twelve months earlier, the Bulldogs have scored 20 points or more in 11 of their past 50 matches.
Last meeting: Round 2 2022 - Bulldogs 10 Broncos 16
Who to watch: Regarded as one of the highest profile signings made in the history of the club, Brisbane supporters will be looking for Adam Reynolds to stand up and deliver on Friday evening. Missing the opening round after contracting COVID before triumphantly debuting against Canterbury the following week, the 31-year-old halfback has yet to reach expectations with four try-assists, four forced restarts and a 75 per cent conversion rate over the past five rounds. Holding a strong record against the blue and whites with 14 wins from 21 clashes dating back a decade, Reynolds will need a strong showing if the Broncos hope to defeat the Bulldogs twice in a season for the first time in eight years.
Few players experience such a vast disparity between their best and worst performances quite like Matt Dufty. Capable of leaving opponents clutching at thin air with blistering pace and a volatile passing game, the 26-year-old has come under fire on occasions for his involvement in matches and defence close to the line. Averaging 142 running metres and 36.5 post-contact metres in his first six matches with the Bulldogs, Dufty has the potential to single-handedly determine the course of the game - for better or worse - on Friday night and break a ten match try-scoring drought dating back to last June.
The favourite: Having shown signs of promise over the past fortnight without getting results on the scoreboard, the Broncos are expected to post four consecutive wins over the battling Bulldogs for the first time since 2015.
My tip: Even before the raft of positive cases within their ranks, the Bulldogs were going to be up against it. Right now, it's hard to see anything other than the Broncos posting a comprehensive win. Broncos by 20.
