NRL: Broncos duo Matt Gillett, Kodi Nikorima to miss Warriors clash

13/04/2018
Ben Francis

Brisbane Broncos will be without two key players for Saturday night's clash against the Warriors at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.

Back-rower Matt Gillett will miss the clash with a fractured neck, while halfback Kodi Nikorima has a corked thigh.

Gillett injured his neck back in round one and played through the pain for four NRL rounds, before Broncos medical staff discovered the injury, while Nikorima picked up his injury during last week's 15-10 loss against the Newcastle Knights.

"Kodi Nikorima won't play, Matt Gillett won't play and Jordan Kahu has been out for three or four weeks," coach Wayne Bennett told reporters on Friday.

"But everybody else is fit and we are ready to go."

Jaydn Su’A will likely move into the starting forward pack for the Broncos, while Jack Bird will fill the void in the halves. Bennett expects Bird to do a great job guiding Brisbane around the park.

"This is a good opportunity for him to get himself out of the centres and move closer to the ball.

"He has been really good at training, and I hope he can get into he groove tomorrow night and play well."

The Warriors head into Saturday's match unbeaten after five games and they sit second on the NRL ladder.

They have also had the wood on Brisbane over the last few seasons, having won five of their past eight encounters and six of their last seven in Auckland.

Bennett praised some off-season recruits for the Warriors transformation this season.

"They are going well. Adam Blair, Blake Green have made a big difference to them.

"They know what to do on a footy field and they are playing for each other, and that is the basics of any good team.

"They are playing with a lot more calmness and been more patient than they have been in the past. Alex [Corvo] does a great job.

"He was with us for three years and he has clearly done a good job. You put all that together and you have a good team."

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