Brothers on Raiders’ radar
CANBERRA: Canberra is set to start Josh Papalii to combat South Sydney’s Burgess brothers in its soldout NRL preliminary final tonight.
Papalii came off the bench in the Raiders’ qualifying final victory against Melbourne but Canberra cocaptain Jarrod Croker says they will need their star prop from the opening minute against Souths.
Canberra is expecting an emotionallycharged performance from Sam, Tom and George Burgess, who could be playing their final NRL game together.
‘‘It worked well [against Melbourne] but I don’t think we’ll be able to hold Papa back this week, especially with the Burgess boys there,’’ Croker said.
‘‘I’d say he’ll want to start and be amongst it all from the getgo.’’
Raiders cocaptain Josh Hodgson has played for England alongside the Burgess trio and said Souths’ inspirational skipper Sam Burgess was the man to stop.
‘‘Sam goes about his business the same every single week. He’s aggressive, he likes to lead his team from the front,’’ Hodgson said.
‘‘We saw the difference in the side from when they played the Roosters [without Sam] to Manly.
‘‘The difference in the aggression, the difference in the line speed and everyone really came off the back of him leading the charge.
‘‘They have got a big forward pack and they can get that roll on when they need to.’’
Campbell Graham will start in the centres for the Rabbitohs after James Roberts was a late scratching yesterday, and Corey Allan will come on to the wing.
Croker said it was ‘‘scary’’ the Rabbitohs had been without players and below their best in recent weeks but had still clawed their way within one win of the grand final under Wayne Bennett.
And the centre backed seventimes premiership coach Bennett to have his men firing on all cylinders for their biggest game of the season. — AAP