Broncos suffer two huge injury blows ahead of Knights clash

Brisbane Broncos have to win all of their remaining games to stand any chance of making the finals, starting this Saturday against the Newcastle Knights.

Michael Maguire’s side have lost 9 of their last 10 games and even a perfect record from here will probably see the reigning premiers fall short of the top eight.

It’s been a season like no other at Suncorp, with a never-ending injury crisis putting to bed any hopes the Broncos may have had of going back-to-back.

After having the luxury of naming a near full strength team over the last two weeks, Maguire’s side have been hit by two more big blows.

Preparing to face the Knights at Suncorp on Saturday night, the Broncos must do so without Gehamat Shibasaki and Preston Riki.

Shibasaki left the pitch with a lower leg injury during last weekend’s defeat to the Cowboys, while the club confirmed Riki has been sidelined with a syndesmosis injury.

They are replaced in the squad by Jaiyden Hunt and Hayze Perham, both come onto the six-man bench with Shibasaki named in the reserves.

Maguire has shuffled around his backline and pack following the injuries, with Deine Mariner to start at centre, Grant Anderson is named on the wing, and VJ Semu comes into the front row.

Broncos team: Reece Walsh, Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner, Grant Anderson, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Va’a Semu, Cory Paix, Payne Haas, Xavier Willison, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan.

Interchanges: Billy Walters, Ben Talty, Jaiyden Hunt, Ben Hunt, Luke Gale, Hayze Perham.

Reserves: Gehamat Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, Joshua Coric.