Raiders and Broncos confront the lingering impact of last year's dramatic semi-final

Tomorrow night sees the Raiders host the Broncos in the first contest since the marathon semi-final that concluded with a 29-28 Broncos win in the 94th minute. Over the past year each club has wrestled with the reverberations of that night, from injury crises to significant player turnover. Canberra's motivation is amplified by the home farewell to long-serving forward Josh Papali'i, whose presence has become symbolic for the Raiders.

Brisbane, meanwhile, contends with the loss of Reece Walsh to a season-ending ankle injury and the departure of Payne Haas, leaving questions about their ability to replicate past brilliance. Both teams enter the game with slim chances of influencing the finals picture, but the emotional stakes remain high as they each reflect on a match that still haunts them.