OATES REPLACES COBBO IN RD 14 CLASH

Blockbusting winger Corey Oates has been elevated to the starting team to make his comeback from injury in tonight’s Round 14 clash with the Sharks in Sydney. Oates, who has been sidelined since hurting his knee in the Round 8 win over the Eels in Darwin, will replace Selwyn Cobbo after the finisher copped a knock to his hip scoring his second try in Queensland’s State Of Origin victory on Wednesday night. The Broncos’ four other Origin players – Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Thomas Flegler and Reece Walsh – are all expected to take their spots against the Sharks, although fullback Tristan Sailor will travel to Sydney in case Walsh doesn’t pull up. Coach Kevin Walters said: “Selwyn hasn’t come up too well so we’ll spell him this weekend, while Reece is recovering from his first Origin so we’ll just make sure that he’s right to go over the next 24 hours, and we’ll take Tristan down as cover for him in case. “We’re very confident that Tristan can do a job if he’s required but Reece is tough and he did great the other night – but that is in the past now and if he is playing with us tomorrow night, which I believe he will be, then he’ll need to get his focus back to clubland with us at the Broncos.” Walters has also settled on an interchange bench of Cory Paix, Kobe Hetherington, Martin Taupau and Brendan Piakura – with Corey Jensen unlucky to miss out on a spot in the 17 in a reflection of the squad’s strong depth in 2023.

Updated Team List v Sharks

1 Reece Walsh 2 Jesse Arthars 3 Kotoni Staggs 4 Herbie Farnworth 22 Corey Oates 6 Ezra Mam 7 Adam Reynolds © 8 Thomas Flegler 9 Billy Walters 10 Payne Haas 11 Kurt Capewell 12 Jordan Riki 13 Pat Carrigan

Interchange

14 Cory Paix 16 Kobe Hetherington 17 Martin Taupau 19 Brendan Piakura 21 Xavier Willison 23 Tristan Sailor Source: NRL.Com