The Broncos' injury crisis is so deep, club great Sam Thaiday was able to not only name a full 13 of unavailable players, but name them in position.
And he reckons they would beat the fit side that will run out against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
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Despite leaving Campbelltown with a gritty win over the Tigers last Saturday night, Michael Maguire was dealt two more blows with Corey Jensen and Payne Haas both injured.
Haas is expected to miss up to two months with a medial ligament tear, while Corey Jensen is facing an extended stint on the sidelines with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in his lung).
They join Reece Walsh, Grant Anderson and Ben Hunt among others in the casualty ward. Patrick Carrigan is also suspended until round nine.
As a result, the Broncos have asked the NRL for dispensation to add development players to their top-30 list.
Thaiday's busted Broncos 13 had Reece Walsh at fullback, Delouise Hunter and Jesse Arthars on the wings, Grant Anderson and Kotoni Staggs in the centres, Billy Walters and Ben Hunt in the halves, Jensen and Haas at prop, Corey Paix as hooker, Aublix Tawha and Ben Te Kura in the back row, and Carrigan at lock.
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Thaiday named the side before team lists were released on Tuesday. The Broncos named both Staggs and Arthars in the starting side for the Bulldogs clash, although Nine's Adam Jackson reported on Wide World of Sports' QLDER Arthars is "definitely out". The NRL still lists both players as injured with an unknown return date. There has also been no injury update on either player on the club's website.
Although they will be given every chance to prove their fitness, their selection suggests the club is in dire straits and struggling to name the required 22.
"They actually would (beat the available side) – it's absolutely crazy how many players are out," Thaiday said on QLDER.
"It's going to show the depth and the backbone of the Broncos going forward. Exciting times but also nervous times."
Thaiday pointed out injury crises often give players a chance in first grade who might not otherwise be considered ready. Preston Riki and VJ Semu have both been named on the six-man bench, while Cameron Bukowski made his debut last week.
"Cam Bukowski doesn't get that chance and opportunity," Thaiday said.
"He's probably sitting there at the start of the season going, 'how good is it that I get to come to training, do a pre-season with the Broncos? Cameron Smith is now a mentor and a coach, I can learn so many things off him'.
"And now, not long into the season he gets his chance and opportunity to make his debut, and I'm sure he'll play many, many more games for the Broncos."
The Broncos will face a Bulldogs side eager to bounce back from the shock loss to Parramatta last Sunday. They will also be bolstered by the return of skipper and gun centre Stephen Crichton.
Broncos' Busted XIII
1. Reece Walsh 2. Delouise Hoeter 3. Grant Anderson 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Blake Mozer 10. Payne Haas 11. Aublix Tawha 12. Ben Te Kura 13. Patrick Carrigan
Broncos' XIII named for Bulldogs clash
1. Jesse Arthars* 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs* 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Ben Talty 9. Cory Paix 10. Jack Gosiewski 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison
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