Along with Payne Haas (knee), Deine Mariner (back), and Adam Reynolds (hamstring), these two are the newest Red Hill players to be sidelined for extended periods of time.
Jordan Riki rolled his ankle during practice on Wednesday, according to The Courier Mail, and he is questionable for Friday night’s game against The Dolphins.
Despite the fact that the injury is thought to not be serious, he will miss Round 6 and the team will need to significantly rearrange their forward pack.
Given that Kobe Hetherington has surfaced as a possible lock option, Patrick Carrigan is expected to be moved to the outside. Either youngster Benjamin Te Kura or seasoned Martin Taupau would be brought up to the interchange bench as a result.
In more bad news for the club, the publication reports that utility back Delouise Hoeter has suffered a knee injury and may require surgery, which would see him ruled out for the remainder of the year.
This may not only be the end of his season and career at the Broncos, considering he will be out of contract at the end of the season.
The Broncos big-guns are closing in on a return from injury but coach Kevin Walters is confident his side has what it takes to bring down the high-flying Raiders without the cavalry arriving this week.
Brisbane host Canberra without their two key leaders in skipper Adam Reynolds and star prop Payne Haas, with Walters counting on improvements from the players named this week to get the job done against the third-placed Raiders.
“(We are) 1-17, same as last week, so it’s really good for us,” Walters said. “The combinations are still coming with this group, and it’s good that they’re getting that opportunity.
“Certainly, our discipline has got to be a lot better. Just little things like offside from kicks, sloppy around the ruck and the play-the-ball. All those little discipline areas we need to be better this week, which we’ve spoken about and also in our drills are training this week as well, that’s a big one for us to do.”
The Raiders forward pack, although also missing some of their own stars, will present a challenge to the under-strength Broncos with Joseph Tapine, Josh Papali’i and English import Morgan Smithies starring for Ricky Stuart’s side so far this year.
“They’re a really good side, well coached and they’ve got some really good players in their in their group as well,” Walters said.
“They’ve had a good start of the season, but we’re up for the challenge.
“It will be a great contest, and one for us to really look forward to, especially our forwards. Canberra have got a tough side, very gritty so it would be a good experience for our forwards.
