KAHU TO MISS EELS CLASH
RUGBY LEAGUE THE Broncos have suffered a blow with in-form winger Jordan Kahu ruled out of tonight’s blockbuster clash against the Eels after succumbing to a groin injury.
The Kiwi Test utility has played through the pain barrier for weeks but failed to appear at Brisbane’s captain’s run yesterday ahead of the Broncos’ final regular-season home game at Suncorp Stadium.
Kahu will be replaced on the right wing by David Mead, who has impressed in the Intrust Super Cup since his own return from injury three weeks ago.
It is Brisbane’s second setback this week, with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett opting for 19-year-old young gun Jaydn Su’A on the bench after Tevita Pangai Junior injured his hamstring against the Dragons last week.
Parramatta shocked the Broncos 28-14 at ANZ Stadium in Round 21 and Bennett is wary of the fifth-placed Eels without Kahu and Pangai Junior.
“Jordan has a groin problem that he’s had most of the year and he needs a week off, he will be back next week,” Bennett said. “Mead has been very good for us this year and Jonus Pearson is here too.
“Parramatta have had a couple of losses since they played us but they got some form back last week. It will be a really good game of football with quality players.
“We know they can play, that’s the only handle I need to know. We respect them.
“They are obviously a much better team than they were last year, they will be in the playoffs, so we have our hands full (tonight).”
Kodi Nikorima faces one of the biggest tests of his NRL career when the Broncos halfback squares off against Parramatta sensation Mitchell Moses. Nikorima finetuned his playmaking skills at the captain’s run after Bennett declared he was “off the pace” in last week’s hard-fought defeat of the Dragons.
Nikorima was comprehensively overshadowed by Broncos scrumbase partner Anthony Milford, who put the Eels on notice with a sizzling display against the Red V to keep Brisbane in the top two.
But the quick-stepping Broncos halves face a formidable Parramatta pairing in Corey Norman and Moses.
Bennett insists he is picking and sticking with his halves.