Napier hosts the Saturday night clash between top eight sides New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Date: Saturday May 27, 7:30pm (NZT) and 5:30pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Demitric Sifakula 17. Tom Ale 18. Ronald Volkman 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Kalani Going 23. Zyon Maiu’u
Broncos: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Corey Jensen 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Xavier Willison 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Martin Taupau 18. Jock Madden 19. Tyson Smoothy 20. Delouise Hoeter 21. Israel Leota 22. Benjamin Te Kura
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
After an eight-year hiatus, Napier’s McLean Park will host New Zealand Warriors and a depleted Brisbane Broncos on Saturday.
This week the Warriors announced that Chanel Harris-Tavita would return to the club after effectively taking a gap year off from rugby league.
With the news has come speculation as to whether Shaun Johnson will remain at the club in 2024, quickly squashed by coach Andrew Webster saying he has a role in the team while he’s performing. Johnson’s influence on the Warriors this year has seen them become a top eight side approaching mid-season.
Coming fresh off the bye will be an advantage for the Warriors this week but they’ll be wary of a Brisbane outfit looking to reverse their recent form where they have won once in their last four outings. They will welcome back Adam Reynolds who missed last week’s loss to the Penrith Panthers where Brisbane’s kicking game lacked the finesse expected from the NRL veteran.
With five Broncos on Origin duty, Tristan Sailor will debut for the club where his father Wendell made a career with 122 tries in 196 games and winning three Grand Finals. In nine games for Souths Logan this year, Sailor has scored three tries and set up nine. He has big shoes to fill with Reece Walsh unavailable.
Should New Zealand Warriors win they will join the Broncos on the same competition points and avoid dropping out of the congested top eight. They will start the game as clear favourites.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Warriors 5, Broncos 4, Drawn 1
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 10 points.
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