Changes likely for up and down Broncos

Brisbane's backline looks set for a reshuffle at Jordan Kahu's expense as the Broncos search for an answer to their inconsistent NRL form.

Jordan Kahu (left) and Jamayne Isaako

Jordan Kahu (l) is likely to be dropped from Brisbane's NRL side with Jamayne Isaako moved to wing. (AAP)

Brisbane captain Darius Boyd looks set to return to fullback while winger Jordan Kahu appears on the outer as coach Wayne Bennett searches for consistency from his hot and cold NRL side.

Teenager Gehamat Shibasaki trained in the centres on Monday and is likely to feature against North Queensland on Thursday in what would be a hometown NRL debut in Townsville.

The reshuffle would allow Boyd to revert to fullback and Jamayne Isaako to the wing as the Broncos chase a win to keep them in the hunt for a top-four finish.

They will be without Josh McGuire, though, who will take an early guilty plea and miss a game after being charged for pulling the hair of Canterbury's Adam Elliott in Thursday's loss.

Kahu was benched midway through that clash and trained with the reserves at Red Hill on Monday.

Isaako is viewed as the club's long-term fullback but said he wasn't taking a return to the wing as an insult.

"With Darbs (Boyd) having a lot more experience he could be chucking him back at fullback this week and it's good for the team," he said.

"It's been good to get back there and get a good feel for playing fullback at the top level and learning off Darbs.

"This allows me to go back to the wing and watch him do his thing in big games like this."

The Broncos' disappointing loss to the Bulldogs last Thursday followed impressive back-to-back wins over Penrith and Cronulla.

Brisbane are yet to win four consecutive games this season and sit seventh with four games to play.

Veteran Sam Thaiday said there was "no magic wand" to address their up-and-down form but Isaako conceded the young Broncos side had been guilty of panicking when things turned sour this season.

"When we go out there and things don't go our way a lot of players panic and, being so young, the boys look towards our older playing group to step up," he said.

"That's where as a team we need to buy in and work together."


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Source: AAP


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