Young pack must muscle up: Seibold
BRISBANE coach Anthony Seibold has urged his rookie forwards to muscle up against the Roosters as the Broncos prepare to face the premiers without key duo Alex Glenn and Kotoni Staggs.
The Broncos’ back-row stocks have been decimated with Glenn joining David Fifita (knee) and Tevita Pangai (suspension) on the sidelines for Thursday night’s blockbuster against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.
Glenn had surgery yesterday for a severe leg gash, while centre Staggs is facing a one or two-match ban for a high shot on Dylan Brown in the Broncos’ dismal 34-6 loss to the Eels on Thursday night.
Staggs was hit with a grade two careless high-tackle charge. He will miss one game if he takes the early plea, or risks a two-match suspension if he chooses to fight the charge at the NRL judiciary.
The Broncos’ hopes of breaking a 14-year title drought received a reality check in the wake of their capitulation against red-hot title contenders Parramatta.
The Broncos were torn apart in midfield by a monster Parramatta pack.
Now they must face the two-time premiers without Glenn, Fifita and Pangai, placing even more pressure on rookie forwards Payne Haas, Tom Flegler, Pat Carrigan and Jamil Hopoate.
Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will be buoyed by the sight of six Eels forwards each charging for more than 100m at Suncorp and Seibold challenged his emerging pack to step up.
“I’m sure teams will try to aim up against our forward pack that’s for sure,” Seibold said as he digested Brisbane’s first loss of the season.
“Defending 16 or 17 tackles in a row will be a test for any team in the competition. The better teams can come out the other side of that and that’s what we want to be.
“This is a test for our young blokes. They are learning every single week … but they will have a test every single week.”
THE Roosters will go into next week’s match against the Broncos full of confidence after beating South Sydney 28-12 at Bankwest Stadium last night.