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Turpin back as Broncos search for rare win

3 minute read

Brisbane's Jake Turpin will play his first match since round three due to a fractured knee and wants his team to deliver an 80-minute show against the Sharks.

JAKE TURPIN.
JAKE TURPIN. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Recovering from a freak injury usually seen in car accidents, hooker Jake Turpin is hopeful Brisbane can turn 40 solid NRL minutes into 80 against Cronulla on Friday night.

Last round the Broncos started strongly and only trailed powerhouse Melbourne by six points at halftime, but were blown away in the second stanza to lose 46-8.

Losing eight of their past nine, Turpin said it wasn't good enough.

"We can take some confidence out of our first half as the Storm are the best defensive team in the competition and if we can extend that 40 minutes out to 80 than we're going to be a really good football team," the 23-year-old said.

Turpin suffered a knee injury in round three back in late May which was diagnosed as a fracture, although he managed to play out the match.

"I don't know exactly how I did it but doctors said they hadn't seen the injury in 30 or so years," he said.

"It normally happens in car crash injuries - the last time anyone had heard of one in sport was around 30 or so years ago.

"It meant we didn't know the timeline so it was a bit of a weird one."

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has reshuffled his spine for the Suncorp Stadium match with halfback Brodie Croft out with a shoulder injury, meaning Anthony Milford returns to five-eighth and Darius Boyd to fullback.

"I've watched a few of their games and they've got some weapons in attack," Turpin said.

"We've done our homework and hopefully we can stop them."

Despite sitting inside the top eight Sharks coach John Morris said he wouldn't be taking the 15th-placed Broncos lightly given the Sharks have lost all six clashes since 2017.

"Beware the wounded Bronco," Morris said.

"Going to Suncorp Stadium regardless of how they are going is always a really tough road trip.

"They have had the wood over us the last couple of years so we are well aware of what is coming."

Meanwhile, Turpin said he would welcome Storm skipper Cameron Smith at the Broncos even if it meant surrendering his starting role.

Smith has been touted as a saviour for the struggling outfit.

While he didn't break into the top side, Turpin started his career training alongside Smith at the Storm.

"For him to go to any club is massive, he's the GOAT in my eyes," Turpin said.

"He could bring so much experience and definitely help any team.

"If he was to come up here it would put a few more bows in my armour because I could learn so much off him."

STATS THAT MATTER:

* Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has won all three matches he coached against the Sharks.

* Cronulla has scored the most tries from sets starting with ruck infringements with 10, while the Broncos have conceded the most with eight.

* Sharks Josh Dugan and Aaron Woods will both play their 200th NRL matches.

Stats: Fox Sports

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