The Brisbane Broncos have named Xavier Willison to start in Saturday night’s crucial home game against Cronulla, but are still awaiting NRL clearance for the forward to play. Michael Maguire’s defending premiers are missing 10 players for the Suncorp Stadium showdown against the Sharks, but have been boosted by the returns of Gehamat Shibasaki and Deine Mariner.
Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Reece Walsh are missing on Origin duty, while Josiah Karapani is stood down and Adam Reynolds, Cory Jensen, Ezra Mam, Ben Te Kura, Jack Gosiewski and Aublix Tawha all been ruled out. It leaves Michael Maguire’s decimated side facing an even more monumental task to keep their flailing premiership defence alive, and the Broncos have decided to roll the dice with Willison.
Michael Maguire’s (L) Broncos are awaiting medical clearance from the NRL to see if forward Xavier Willison (R) will be cleared to play in Saturday night’s game against the Sharks.
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The forward was initially ruled of Saturday night’s game after failing his category 2 HIA in last week’s loss to the Roosters, prompting an 11-day stand-down period under NRL rules. But the Broncos have sought medical clearance from the NRL in a desperate bid to have him available to play.
It’s a similar situation to Manly’s Tolu Koula, who successfully gained an exemption after being knocked out of Origin 1. Willison will have to prove to an independent, NRL-appointed medical expert that he hasn’t been experiencing any concussion symptoms, and also pass a number of neurological and cognitive tests before he’s officially given the green light to play.
“We were originally thinking Xavier wouldn’t play,” Maguire said about Willison after naming him in Brisbane’s side on Tuesday. “But he has recovered really well and we spoke to the NRL about getting an exemption… Xavier has passed all the necessary tests with our medical staff which is great news.”
Broncos duo return after injury lay-offs
The return of premiership-winning winger Mariner is also set to give the injury-hit Broncos a huge boost in the must-win clash against the Sharks. Mariner has been out for eight weeks after having limb-saving surgery to treat a compartment syndrome issue.
Last year’s Maroons Origin hero Shibasaki is also in line to make his first start since Round 13 when he suffered a knee injury in the shock loss to the Dragons. Shibasaki was expected to be out for six weeks but a quicker-than-expected recovery comes as welcome news for Brisbane.
Deine Mariner (L) and Gehamat Shibasaki (R) are both set to return from injury against the Sharks in a major boost to the depleted Broncos. Pic: Getty
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The Broncos will likely need to win eight of their last nine games to make the finals, but Maguire is refusing to accept their premiership defence is over. “Not at all… One thing I do know is that if this group keeps committing themselves like that, they’ll find a way to win,” the Brisbane coach said.