Broncos barrel almost dry as 19-year-old tipped for NRL debut

Reigning NRL premiers Brisbane have one of the deepest lists in the competition.

But with news that four more backline stars could be unavailable for the Round 11 away clash with Manly, even the Broncos player barrel is getting dangerously close to empty. 

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Already missing Grant Anderson, Delouise Hoeter, Billy Walters and Ben Hunt, Brisbane will head to Sydney without Deine Mariner (thigh), Adam Reynolds (concussion), Kotoni Staggs (suspension) and potentially Josiah Karapani (ankle).

In their places will likely come Thomas Duffy, Jesse Arthars, Hayze Perham and 19-year-old rookie Antonio Verhoeven, who only made his NRL debut against the Gold Coast Titans back in Round 5.

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Should Karapani be ruled out there could also be an NRL debut for another 19-year-old Phil Coates — the younger brother of Melbourne Storm star Xavier — who has been playing for the Burleigh Bears in Q Cup this season.

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The forward casualty list at Red Hill isn’t much better with Payne Haas, Corey Jensen, Brendan Piakura, Blake Mozer, Cameron Bukowski and Benjamin Te Kuraall currently unavailable.

Brisbane Broncos predicted line-up for Round 11 vs. Manly Sea Eagles

1. Reece Walsh
2. Antonio Verhoeven
3. Jesse Arthars
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Hayze Perham
6. Ezra Mam
7. Thomas Duffy
8. Ben Talty
9. Cory Paix
10. Jack Gosiewski
11. Xavier Willison
12. Jordan Riki
13. Pat Carrigan (c)

14. Josh Rogers
15. Preston Riki
16. Jaiyden Hunt
17. Aublix Tawha
18. Va’a Semu
19. Phil Coates

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