Star recruits Blake Green and Tohu Harris reveal why the team are playing like champions-elect.
The Broncos have suffered twin injury blows with halfback Kodi Nikorima and back-rower Matt Gillett ruled out of tomorrow's NRL clash with the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.
Nikorima has failed to recover from a corked thigh suffered in last week's 15-10 loss to Newcastle, with the 24-year-old Kiwi internationalunable to pass a fitness test in Auckland this morning.
Nikorima's scratching follows confirmation yesterday that Broncos, Queensland and Kangaroos back-rower Gillett is facing up to three months on the sidelines with a fractured neck.
Broncos halfback and Kiwi international Kodi Nikorima will miss Saturday's clash against the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images.
Gillett sustained the injury during Brisbane's season-opening defeat to St George Illawarra, but remarkably, he played on over the past month believing he had little more than a sore neck.
Following last week's defeat to the Knights, concerned Broncos medical staff sent Gillett for scans which revealed the true extent of the problem.
The 29-year-old has three fractures in his neck but does not require surgery and only needs time out to ensure the injury heals properly.
Gillett did not make the trip across the Tasman and remained in Brisbane and met with a neck specialist, who confirmed he will spend between eight and 12 weeks out of the game.
He remains a chance of being available for the second State of Origin match on June 24, although he could miss the entire series.
"It's one of the hardest things from our point of view, that he doesn't complain," Broncos high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said.
"He basically been whinging about a sore neck but essentially he's got a broken neck.
"It's hard sometimes when you look at it, you've got to take the player's word for it but it's worse than we realised.
"It's lucky we looked at it and wanted to investigate more and we found these issues."
Highly rated back-rower Jaydn Su'A was listed on the Broncos bench but will start in Gillett's place against the Warriors, while coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Nikorima would miss the match.
Five-eighth Anthony Milford is expected to shift to halfback with Jack Bird switching from centre to cover the No6 role.
"Kodi is out, we will give him a week to rest his leg," Bennett told Brisbane's Courier Mail.
"This is a good opportunity for Jack. He is getting better each week, but I hope he grabs this chance and shows us what he has got."
Tom Opacic will start at left-centre, with Cronulla recruit Sam Tagataese coming on to the bench along with Korbin Sims, Sam Thaiday and Joe Ofahengaue.
The Broncos have been below their best so far this season with three losses leaving them down in 12th spot on the premiership ladder, while the second-placed Warriors are looking to continue their unbeaten run with a sixth-straight victory.
Updated Broncos team to face Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday 5pm
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd (c), 2. Corey Oates, 3. James Roberts, 18. Tom Opacic, 5. Jamayne Isaako, 6. Anthony Milford, 4. Jack Bird, 8. Matthew Lodge, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Tevita Pangai Junior, 11. Alex Glenn, 17. Jaydn Su'A, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Sam Thaiday, 15. Joe Ofahengaue, 16. Korbin Sims, 20. Sam Tagataese.
