BY VIV

Friends, this is not going to be a good weekend.

The Raiders are back at home (good!) and last week’s loss wasn’t completely demoralising (good!). It’s a big week for the team, celebrating Indigenous round with their first NRLW specific jersey for the occasion. It is also Madi Bartlett’s 40th game in her 7th season of NRLW.

However, this week’s assignment is the Brisbane Broncos. The Broncos have only one loss this season against the Roosters in what might have been a grand final preview. The Broncos are favourites to take out the competition and will be coming to Canberra with the expectation of bringing home points.

The Raiders see some familiar faces return this week: Monalisa Soliola and Hollie-Mae Dodd return from injury, forcing Jordyn Preston to the bench and Lili Boyle back to the reserves. Soliola has had a quiet season so far, and she will need a big game this weekend. The Broncos’ Lauren Dam is having her first season in the forwards after previously playing in the outside backs and would be a good target for our pack.

Grace Kemp and Chey Robins-Reti are missing from this week’s squad. The Raiders confirmed that Kemp has injured her hand. The club has provided no injury confirmation for Robins-Reti, who has struggled this year at fullback and her preferred position of centre. This makes way for the return of Relna Wuruki-Hosea. Hosea has been playing for Mounties this season, scoring a hat-trick in Mounties’ 28-6 win against the WV Magpies, and deserves the opportunity this week. 

Readers might recall last year when we made the bold suggestion, “And for the love of all that is holy do not give Tamika Upton time and space with the ball.”  Upton returned to Brisbane for this season, but the advice is the same. She scored a hat-trick last week against the Sharks, and Elise Simpson will have her work cut out for her this week.

The Broncos have threats across the park. Julia Robinson and Mele Hufunga are big, fast and will run riot if the Raiders let them. Up front, Jada Ferguson has had a great season in the number 9 jumper. And just when you think you can breathe as the starting props have a rest, the Broncos have Chelsea Lenarduzzi in their second rotation.

The Raiders are going to want to build on last week’s performance and put together two good halves of footy. They will have to be truly exceptional over 70 minutes to take down this Broncos team.

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