‘Brilliant’ Young ‘causing havoc’ as Raiders-Broncos locked in tight and entertaining battle — LIVE

Canberra star Hudson Young has been outstanding, scoring one and setting another up as the Raiders and Broncos are locked in an entertaining battle.

After 30 minutes, it’s 12-12.

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MATCH CENTRE: Raiders vs. Broncos teams, scores, videos, updates

Young scored the Raiders’ first before setting up a Seb Kris try with a deft grubber kick while being hit.

The left edge of the Raiders is causing havoc. The work of Hudson Young was brilliant,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

The Raiders went ahead 12-6 but the Broncos have hit back with a try to Deine Mariner.

TEAMS

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota. 18th man: 18. Matt Nicholson

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt. 18th man: 18. Jesse Arthars

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MATCH PREVIEW

Kaeo Weekes and the Canberra Raiders host Reece Walsh and the Brisbane Broncos in a blockbuster qualifying final clash at GIO Stadium.

Both sides are 1-17.

The Daily Telegraph reported Josh Papalii is set to play after overcoming an ankle injury to line up in the qualifying final.

“News just in and a massive boost for the Raiders, Josh Papalii has thrown off the moon boot and he will line up for the Raiders,” Lara Pitt said on Fox League.

“That’s a big in for the Raiders,” Kevin Walters said.

“He is a very important player, particularly for the start of this game. It will be physical and big Paps knows how to do it.”

Earlier Mal Meninga urged the Raiders not to play Papalii if he was not fit.

“I personally feel that I hope they are not thinking to the future,” Meninga said on Fox League.

“I’m hoping they are all just concentrating on this game, but they have got another opportunity next week and it’s against Cronulla at home again, so I wouldn’t risk him if he’s no good.

“Knowing Josh the way that him and Ricky communicate, it will be up to big Paps whether he plays or not. It won’t be Ricky’s decision.

“But if he feels he is going to let the footy team down, they have got Matty Nicholson sitting as a reserve. They have got so much depth around their middle. Trey Mooney they have all had terrific years.

“I know it is a big game against the Broncos, but I wouldn’t be risking him because there is a game next week.”

However, Kieran Foran wondered if the Raiders would play him just for a short stint to give inspiration to the rest of the team.

“Do you reckon they will just want his presence out there even if he only plays 15 or 20 minutes?” Foran said.

“It is his presence in the dressing sheds that will lift the other guys.”

But Meninga believes if he does not play he will fill that role anyway and they can’t afford to carry an injured player.

“He will be in there anyway,” Meninga said.

“He is that father figure. Everyone feels safe and comfortable with him there, there’s no doubt about that.

“But everyone also understands that if he can’t play he can’t play and they are a fit footy side. There is not too many injuries going through the squad so I would have 17 fit players playing against the Broncos.”

Ricky Stuart gave an update on Papalii’s injured ankle saying he would need to improve in their final training session to line up against the Broncos. He trained yesterday (Friday). He would need to train better today though to play,’’ Stuart told The Daily Telegraph.

“He only did about 10 to 15-minutes of yesterday so we’ve been training as though he won’t be playing all week. There’s no use in risking him and or playing where he’s going to be a liability and Josh wouldn’t play anyhow, if he thought that.”

Stuart also rubbished claims from the Broncos camp that he was playing mind games over Papalii’s fitness.

“I’ve been too busy focusing on a game instead of making it about me,’’ Stuart said.

I don’t need it.”

A photo of Josh Papalii’s injured right ankle, meanwhile, was revealed by Code Sports. Papalii suffered the ugly injury after rolling his ankle during a training session, with Broncos bosses reportedly cynical regarding the veteran enforcer’s potential to miss the clash.

However, initial fears were Papalii had suffered a broken ankle, such was the pain he was in. “I thought it was broken,” Papalii told the SMH.

“I legitimately tripped over my own foot. I rolled the left ankle and rolled the right ankle inward at the same time.

The main issue was the left ankle. There were no breaks, just a lot of swelling.” Papalii will reportedly be given until the captain’s run to prove his fitness.

The Broncos are expected to be 1-17, with Gehamat Shibasaki returning to the team from his suspension.