NRL 2025, round 2 preview, Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, official team lists, injuries, updates

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 15 Mar 2025, 06:38 PM

The Raiders and Broncos launched their 2025 season with convincing wins and square off in a showcase of some of the NRL's best attacking weapons.

From Seb Kris, Matt Timoko and Kaeo Weekes to Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Jesse Arthars, there's speed across the park, while the forward battle also promises to be a beauty.

The Raiders are without the suspended prop Joe Tapine and thar's an area the Broncos will look to exploit through Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Xavier Willison, who ran for a combined 552 metres against the Roosters.

Corey Horsburgh and Hudson Young were immense for the Green Machine in Vegas and they'll be out to fill the void left by Tapine, who won't return until the Round 4 clash against the Sea Eagles.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 15 Mar

Full Time

Raiders

Broncos

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Highlights Latest

Team News

Raiders: Englishman Matty Nicholson has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with countryman Morgan Smithies reverting to the bench. Skipper Joe Tapine and winger Xavier Savage will sit out the match through suspension, with Albert Hopoate to return on the wing following the birth of his son. Trey Mooney is the 18th man.

Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. Jock Madden was among the three players to drop out when the squad was trimmed 24 hours before kick-off. Madden is yet to play this season after suffering a hamstring injury but has now recovered. Michael Maguire sticks with the same line-up which produced last weekend's dominant win over the Roosters. Tyson Smoothy is 18th man.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 15 Mar

Full Time

Raiders

Broncos

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes

Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale

Winger for Broncos is number 2 Selwyn Cobbo
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko

Centre for Broncos is number 3 Deine Mariner
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris

Centre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Albert Hopoate

Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse Arthars
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange

Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ben Hunt
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii

Prop for Broncos is number 8 Patrick Carrigan
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling

Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Corey Horsburgh

Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young

2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Jack Gosiewski
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking

2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
Lock for Raiders is number 16 Matty Nicholson

Lock for Broncos is number 13 Kobe Hetherington

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Billy Walters
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie

Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Corey Jensen
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi Sasagi

Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Xavier Willison
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Brendan Piakura

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Trey Mooney

Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Tyson Smoothy

Match Officials

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 3/24/2025 4:10:30 AM

Stat Attack

The Raiders have won only one of their past four games against the Broncos.
Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo has scored six tries in four games against the Raiders.
The Raiders have won three of their past four games at GIO Stadium.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds requires 17 points to move to third on the all-time premiership scorers list.
Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has scored five tries in his past nine games at GIO Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.