A cruel truth is beginning to set in that a Broncos star will be axed for the NRL Grand Final after a morning of drama.
The cruel truth is beginning to settle in that a Broncos star is going to be axed for the NRL Grand Final.
The club is heading into Grand Final week with fans still trying to pick their jaws up off the floor following Sunday’s thrilling comeback win over the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.
The club was given good news on Monday morning when the NRL announced Xavier Willison has avoided suspension for his ugly tackle on Luke Garner.
The giant forward has been charged with a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact offence, but will only be fined $1000 if he accepts an early guilty plea.
The 28th-minute tackle looked ugly but Willison was allowed to stay on the field, with the towering forward scoring a crucial try in the second half as the Broncos roared home to end Penrith’s premiership streak.
The cruel twist from the NRL Match Review’s verdict is that somebody else from Brisbane’s 17 will have to make way so star forward Pat Carrigan to return to the side after serving his suspension, NewsWire reports.
That person is likely to be Cory Paix.
Playing 22 games, including Sunday’s preliminary, may not be enough for the Broncos hooker to keep his place in the side, according to Broncos great Corey Parker.
Parker said that with coach Michael Maguire having to make room for Carrigan, Paix could suffer the heartbreaking chop.
The Broncos are expected to shift Ben Hunt to No. 9 and promote Ezra Mam into the starting side.
Ben Hunt (left), Xavier Willison (centre) and Cory Paix (right).
“The way I see it right now is Ben Hunt goes from six to nine, (he) created a try for the Broncos coming out of dummy half,” Parker told SEN on Monday morning.
“Reynolds will hold seven, Ezra Mam; I thought he was very good when he came onto the field. He’ll stay at six.
“Now if Hunt goes from six to nine, then that goes Paix from nine … does he go to No. 14 or do you hold a Tyson Smoothy, who can play nine, can play 13, and he played exceptionally well this afternoon.
Ezra Mam traded shots with Nathan Cleary. Picture: NRL photos.
“So, Paix has the probability of starting No. 9 for Brisbane in a prelim final and playing the majority of the games for Brisbane to then potentially being rolling out the back door.”
Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters and NSW coach Laurie Daley also predicted Paix will be the odd man out.
When asked about Mam’s return, Walters told Sky Sports Radio: “I thought it was a good tactic.
“He looked a bit rusty at different times, but he’s obviously a world class player. He’ll probably start this week and Ben Hunt will shift to No. 9, that would be my thinking.”
In the aftermath of the win, Maguire said there was “so much more in the group” after fighting back from a 14-0 deficit to win.
“The fact they are buying it at a high level, that’s the special part,” he said.
“It’s how the boys have been.
NRL Grand Final expected teams
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 12. Eliesa Katoa 15. Shawn Blore 13. Trent Loiero 11. Ativalu Lisati 14. Tyran Wishart 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald. 18th man: 20. Joe Chan
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Ben Hunt 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Ben Talty. 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Cory Paix
