Jem Nash previews the opening clash of round six as the struggling Broncos take on the high-flying Panthers. This is what we have to look forward to.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Date: Thursday, April 15, Time: 7:50pm AEST
Broncos Team
1. Jamayne Isaako
2. Xavier Coates
3. Richard Kennar
4. Jesse Arthars
5. David Mead
6. Brodie Croft
7. Tom Dearden
8. Matthew Lodge
9. Jake Turpin
10. Payne Haas
11. Alex Glenn
12. Tevita Pangai Junior
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. John Asiata
15. Thomas Flegler
16. Ethan Bullemor
17. Jordan Riki
18. Rhys Kennedy
19. Cory Paix
20. Keenan Palasia
21. Corey Oates
Team Changes
IN: Jesse Arthars, Ethan Bullemoor, Patrick Carrigan
OUT: Tesi Niu, Anthony Milford, Ben Te’o
Panthers Team
1. Stephen Crichton
2. Charlie Staines
3. Paul Momirovski
4. Matt Burton
5. Brian To’o
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Mitch Kenny
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Tyrone May
15. Spencer Leniu
16. Matthew Eisenhuth
17. Liam Martin
18. Scott Sorensen
19. Robert Jennings
20. J’maine Hopgood
21. Jaeman Salmon
Team Changes
Unchanged
Referee: Grant Atkins
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Broncos
Embed from Getty ImagesKevin Walters has swung the axe as the Broncos sit on just one win from five starts in 2021. Five-eighth Anthony Milford has been dropped, with Brodie Croft taking his place in the halves. Pat Carrigan returns from suspension while Ben Te’o is likely to see extended time on the sidelines after suffering a bicep injury against the Rabbitohs.
The Broncos’ lone win this season came against the struggling Bulldogs and it’s not likely to get any easier as they take on the high-flying Panthers on Thursday. Walters has his work cut out for him if he wants to turn this team around before their season spirals completely out of control.
Panthers
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Panthers’ hot start continued last week as they took care of another premiership hopeful in the Raiders. They had to work for the win, with the Raiders starting strong, but the Panthers proved they’re well and truly premiership favourites, coming back for a 30-10 victory.
They remain unchanged for the third week in a row, with Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary continuing to fire in the halves and Matt Burton having time to shine in the first grade team.
PREVIEW
Back in 2018, the Broncos scored 50 points against the Panthers, which seems like an eternity ago considering where the teams currently sit. The Panthers seem genuinely unstoppable right now and it will take a monumental effort from the Broncos to have a chance of winning this game.
Brodie Croft gets another shot starting in the halves after being demoted to the bench for the last two games, but faces an extremely tough test coming up against arguably one of the form players in the competition, Jarome Luai. He produced another outstanding performance last week, highlighted by a stunning solo try. His off-the-cuff style of play is always extremely threatening and the Broncos will have to have eyes on the young five-eighth at all times.
There’s no denying Brisbane’s big men have talent but they need to step up against an extremely well-oiled machine in the Panthers’ forward pack. James Fisher-Harris continued his strong start to 2021 while Spencer Leniu produced a stunning effort off the bench with 200 metres in just 25 minutes.
KEY STAT
Taking away the Broncos’ win against the Bulldogs, they’ve conceded 31.75 points per game, while the Panthers have allowed just 26 points total through five games.
PREDICTION
Panthers by 20.
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