Broncos v Roosters preview

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Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters Thursday 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium, Milton / Yuggera-Turrbal

Kicking off Round 4 is a battle between two contrasts - a well drilled Roosters line-up filled with experience and talent against a raw but talented Broncos side unsure about its identity - all up it makes for mouth-watering footy.

The Roosters swept aside their traditional rival in the Rabbitohs to pick up their first points of the 2020 season - it was a ruthless performance which never gave them a sniff. The Tricolours are crowing for a three-peat and the addition of Josh Morris in the COVID-enforced break added another string to their bow.

The halves pairing of Luke Keary and Kyle Flanagan looked crisp and with the talent beside them in both the back and forward ranks makes them a tough prospect. Fullback James Tedesco served a reminder of his talents in the 16-point result and might haunt Queenslanders again.

For the home side, it is back-to-back games at a venue which is usually a fortress - but last week they wilted under the pressure from a premiership heavyweight Eels side. Now, faced with injuries and suspensions piling up might see the Broncos drop to .500 for the season.

With such a talented forward pack, Brisbane need their halves to step up to give them a chance against the defending Premiers. Brodie Croft - the new signing from Melbourne - sliced through for a solo try and ran out as captain in the second half after injury to second rower Alex Glenn, but his combination with Anthony Milford remains a mystery that needs to be solved by coach Anthony Seibold.

Last meeting: Round 10 2019 - Broncos 15 Roosters 10

Who to watch: Thursday marks a big test in Brodie Croft's fledging Broncos career, coming up against the defending premiers off a below-par performance with a young, inexperienced side. Croft took a majority of the kicking against the Eels with most being ineffective. A similar performance will gift the talented Roosters backline room to cut the Broncos to ribbons, so there is a heavy workload on the shoulders of Croft to kick off the round.

Coming off his last few seasons at the struggling Bulldogs, Josh Morris looked revitalized in the star-studded Roosters backline. The veteran once again alongside his brother will bring experience to the side and he will thrive against his Brisbane counterparts on Thursday evening... and might get his elusive premiership this season.

The favourite: The Roosters will start overwhelming favourites for this contest.

My tip: This is a simple one. Not only due to their last-start result and taking the same 17 into this contest, but due to the strike weapons across the park, this is the Roosters' game to lose. The Broncos showed in patches they can compete but just competing isn't enough against the back-to-back Premiers. Roosters by 16.

1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Corey Oates 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Darius Boyd 5. Herbie Farnworth 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Thomas Flegler 18. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Ethan Bullemor 12. Jamil Hopoate 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tesi Niu 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Matthew Lodge

5. Brett Morris 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 20. Ryan Hall 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 18. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley 14. Lindsay Collins 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Nat Butcher

Referees: Grant Atkins; Sideline Officials: Chris Butler, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Video Referees: Steve Chiddy, Ben Galea;