Star Canberra Raider Joe Tapine ruled out of Broncos Broncos clash due to birth of first child

Star prop Joe Tapine will miss the Green Machine's clash against the table-topping Brisbane Broncos due to the birth of his first child.

It will now fall on Josh Papali'i's broad shoulders to lead the Raiders pack against the Broncos' star-studded forwards.

Tapine's wife Kirsten went into labour on Good Friday and the New Zealand international stayed behind in Canberra when the rest of the team flew north for their game at Lang Park on Saturday night.

It means former North Queensland big bopper Peter Hola will make his Raiders debut after winning the club's NSW Cup player of the year in 2022.

Hola played 12 NRL games for the Cowboys from 2019-2021 before making the move to the capital.

He was unable to break into the side last season, but will don the lime green for a baptism of fire against the likes of Broncos enforcer Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.

Tapine will be a big loss, with the Raiders also missing star five-eighth Jack Wighton (suspension), fullback Xavier Savage (jaw), hooker Danny Levi (jaw), Nick Cotric (hamstring), Matt Frawley (hand), Ata Mariota (hand), Semi Valemei (ankle) and Adrian Trevilyan (knee).

The Raiders will be up against an undefeated Broncos side that's also the most potent attack in the NRL.

Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the reason behind their second-half fade-outs was simple - individual errors.

And he's put it on everyone at the club to take ownership for their performance to stamp them out.

A repeat of their lapses against the Broncos could turn ugly against this season's most potent attack in the NRL.

Stuart looked to revamp the side by bringing Jarrod Croker into the centres and shifting his other co-captain Elliott Whitehead to the edge.

It was looking like Croker was set to return to goal-kicking duties in his first game back since shoulder surgery.

The Raiders have been blown away in the second half in their past two games, for a combined scoreline of 56-6.

Stuart put it down to errors - with the Raiders making nine and completing at just 57 per cent in their second half against the Panthers.

He said it was up to everyone at the club - from the coaches down to the players - to take accountability for their own performance.

"Stop making errors. It's simple. It's individual. We've got to stop making errors," Stuart said.

"I can't crucify a team for individual error. And it's not mentality. It's not what's being said or what we're doing at half-time.

"It's taking ownership and responsibility of your own performance. It's as simple as that.

"Don't try and find any fluffy way of trying to get through it. Every individual - coach, player - has to get their game right."

The Raiders have found themselves in the not-unfamiliar situation of needing to turn around their season after a slow start.

They did it last year to make the finals and have won just one of their opening five games to slip to second-last on the ladder.

Canberra has again faced disruption through injury and suspension, and will field their fourth different halves combination of the season.

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Wighton's suspension and Frawley's broken hand meant Brad Schneider will partner Jamal Fogarty in the halves.

Halfback Fogarty will continue to lead the team around the park, while Schneider will play a supporting role in his 12^th NRL game.

Schneider looked solid in his 10 games last year, when Fogarty was out with a knee injury.

"Brad's had some experience last year as a half and did a really good job for us," Stuart said.

"It's a big game, it'll be a big environment and these are the types of environments you want to play in.

"It gives players the opportunity to show that they're NRL players.

"Each individual - coaches and players - have got a job to do and do it right, and do it well."

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