Check out the match preview and prediction for the NRL Prelim Final clash between the Broncos and Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Brisbane Broncos Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Date: Saturday September 23, 7:50pm.
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Edward Kosi
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Fresh from the week off following their qualifying final win over the Storm, Broncos coach Kevin Walters has named an unchanged line up for his side’s first preliminary final since 2017.
With Shaun Johnson getting through their semi-final against Newcastle unscathed, Andrew Webster has also named an unchanged Warriors line up. Josh Curran and Marata Niukore both picked up niggles during the win over the Knights, but are expected to play.
There are a number of intriguing individual battles across the park for this game. Veteran halfbacks Adam Reynolds and Shaun Johnson will look to extend their outstanding individual seasons by guiding their club into a grand final. Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake will be aiming to lead the way up front, while Patrick Carrigan and Tohu Harris will go head-to-head in the lock forward position. Out wide, in-form centres Herbie Farnworth and Rocco Berry do battle.
Also of note is Reece Walsh taking on the Warriors for the first time since his controversial departure at the end of last season. Walsh, along with a number of other Origin players, missed the lone meeting between the two teams in 2023, won 26-22 by the Broncos at McLean Park in Napier.
Brisbane finished the regular season in second for points scored with 639 (six behind Penrith), while the Warriors finished seventh with 572. The Broncos also finished second defensively (425 points conceded), while the Warriors finished third (448).
The Broncos are aiming for back-to-back wins over the Warriors for the first time since 2015, as well as two wins over them in a single season for the first time since 2011. Neither side has won two games in a season against the other since the Warriors did so in 2013.
The two teams have only met once previously in finals, in 2011, when the Broncos won 40-10 at Suncorp Stadium. Despite the result, the Warriors went on to the grand final, while Brisbane were eliminated in the preliminary final.
The Broncos will run out for their 12th preliminary final in this game. They’ve previously won five, including two games in Brisbane (1998 and 2015). The Broncos have won two of their three previous preliminary finals after a week off (2000 and 2015), losing once (2002). They’re aiming for their first grand final since 2015.
This will be the Warriors’ fifth preliminary final, having won two and lost two. They’ve played three previous finals in Queensland, losing all three. They’re looking to advance to their first grand final since 2011.
This will be the sixth preliminary final played at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos are aiming to become the first side to win multiple preliminary finals at the venue.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Warriors 5, Broncos 4, Drawn 1
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by eight points.
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