Live: Broncos reveal massive Queensland Origin blow as Titans and Raiders meet in NRL

As good a reason as any, Mike, and a very happy Easter to you too.

Here’s how the NRL ladder looks heading into this game.

Five teams on eight points at the moment, including Canberra.

Newcastle and Cronulla are on six, so one of them will move to eight at the end of the day, and perhaps the Titans could join them to.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is speaking now on Fox Sports.

He is asked about what he puts the Raiders impressive start to.

“Consistency – and that probably starts during the week,” he says.

“I really enjoy coaching them.

“The young blokes, I feel really energised, they bring the energy and they’re hungry, it’s great.”

As for starting with Josh Papali’i instead of coming off the bench, it’s a question of size.

“We’re playing a big side, so we may as well start with them,” he says.

“We’ve got to start well, like any other match.

“Dessy will have an ambush planned.”

-AAP

Speaking of last night’s match, Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny is facing a two-game ban for a hip-drop tackle that injured Nat Butcher and incurred the wrath of Trent Robinson.

Kenny will miss clashes with Manly and Brisbane with an early plea.

The 27-year-old will also be suspended for the Panthers’ round-10 match against North Queensland, should he fight the charge at the judiciary and lose.

Defending premiers Penrith, who thumped the Sydney Roosters 40-12 after a worrying 1-5 start to the season, have until Monday to make a decision.

The hip-drop tackle debate has been reignited this season, with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett lamenting he doesn’t “know what a hip-drop tackle is anymore” after Friday’s loss to Canterbury.

Roosters counterpart Robinson insisted on Saturday night that “there is no confusion”.

Robinson’s anger was instead directed at the referee, who failed to punish the Panthers for Kenny’s tackle that resulted in medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage for Butcher.

“He has got an MCL injury, it is pretty disappointing,” Robinson said.

“Nothing was mentioned at all in the game, but in the tackle he gets an MCL injury and he is done for the night.

“Not to even have a discussion and a guy to do an MCL and [be] finished for the game, it is pretty clear.”

Brisbane’s Billy Walters (crusher tackle) and Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte (high tackle — careless) escaped with fines on Sunday.

In short? Penrith are back.

Nathan Cleary led the Premiers to a second win of the season and snap a five-game losing streak against the Roosters, who started that streak of defeats in a boilover earlier in the year.

Look back on how all that unfolded, as well as the Broncos’ defeat in New Zealand, here.

Thanks KB, I hope you had a good one too.

And you’re right, as Jayden and Blake put their very similar shaped heads against each other later on.

Now lets switch our attention to the Gold Coast for the first game of the day.

Here’s how the teams line up.

Bad news for the hosts, who have suffered a double blow with Jayden Campbell sustaining an ankle injury at training on Friday, so he drops out and Jaylan De Groot will start.

David Fifita has failed to recover from a minor hamstring strain and will also miss out.

Tom Weaver comes into the starting side at halfback, while Allan Fitzgibbon comes in to make his debut on the wing.

Chris Randall will now start in the second row after initially being named on the bench.

Arama Hau takes his place while Jojo Fifita and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui also return to action.

The Raiders make just one late adjustment, with Josh Papali’i starting at lock having previously been named on the bench but will start at lock in a late swap with Morgan Smithies.

Back-rower Zac Hosking returns to the side after missing four games with a hand injury.

He replaces Simi Sasagi in the only change to the squad that downed the Eels in Darwin.

Before we talk about today’s matches, there’s big news coming out of Brisbane today, with Reece Walsh set for four to six weeks out with a knee injury.

“Reece has sustained a PCL injury and will undergo a scan early this week on return to Australia to understand the full extent,” a Broncos statement said.

“At this stage, it’s expected he’ll miss 4-6 weeks but the Club will provide a further update later this week.”

That will rule the fullback out of Origin I in Brisbane.

It’s yet another blow for Queensland just weeks out from the opening match of the series.

It follows on from news that Storm hooker Harry Grant is likely to be out for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Queensland hopefuls Jack Howarth and Max Plath also suffered injuries in that Good Friday game at Lang Park, meaning the Maroons are looking a bit sketchy for that May 28 opener.

Hello folks and happy Easter to those of you who celebrate.

I hope you’ve all had your fill of (kinda) rugby ball-shaped treats this morning and are well sated ahead of another Sunday double header.

My name is Simon Smale and I’ll be your eyes and ears this afternoon as we take in games from the gorgeous Gold Coast and the heavenly Hunter as round seven continues.

Which teams will take home the chocolates this afternoon?

And who will be left with egg on their faces?

We’ll find out imminently.