A FIVE day turnaround, five-degree conditions, two Origin stars rested and four backing up – the Broncos face their toughest challenge this season on Saturday.
Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges will both be rested from the clash with the Raiders in the nation’s capital.
While it is expected Wayne Bennett will blood Ipswich hooker Matt Parcell off the bench to allow Andrew McCullough to play lock at stages.
Even their travel was a calamity on Friday as a cancelled flight forced them to find a bus to Canberra from Sydney.
Bennett said there was little use complaining about a week from hell for the club placed second on the ladder.
“Of course it makes it hard but we expect it this time of year,” he said.
“We have only had the one training session together this morning. But we are experienced enough to handle it.
“It is up to everybody to pull their weight, lift a bit and do a little better. These guys did that so I am confident we can do it again.
“It’s not always in your control whether you win or not. It’s important we play well but if you play well you give yourself a chance. We came out of Newcastle with an excellent result there.”
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Matt Parcell in action at the Auckland Nines.
Parcell would replace the injured Kodi Nikorima as Brisbane’s interchange utility.
A 22-year-old hooker with speed off the mark, Parcell plays in a similar vein to Panthers star James Segeyaro.
Jets coach and former Bronco Ben Walker said Parcell could change the way other NRL hookers played such is his talent.
“He is electrifying off the mark, it is an asset in today’s game, it’s so important to have speed out of dummy half and he has more than anyone,” Walker said.
“There would not be another hooker in the NRL who is quicker than him out of dummy half.
“Jake Granville is sharp but Matt has him covered. He’s super fit, he makes 40 tackles a game and he has the vision to break teams open.
“Guys like Jake Granville and Issac Luke have changed the way hookers play and Matt could change it again because he has even more speed than those two.
“He can change the way hookers play in the NRL. His dad Steve captained the Jets and his grandfather Gary played for Australia from Ipswich.”