Debra Sherwood previews the match between the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Brisbane Broncos Vs Gold Coast Titans
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Sunday 25th June, 2:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 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. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Keenan Palasia 20. Deine Mariner 21. Xavier Willison 22. Jock Madden 23. Tristan Sailor 24. Cory Paix
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Erin Clark 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Klese Haas 18. Chris Randall 19. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 20. Jojo Fifita 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Jo Vuna 23. Keano Kini 24. Ken Maumalo
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
After a huge week hosting Origin 2, Suncorp Stadium will also host the local derby clash this weekend between the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans.
Both teams will be feeling energised and focused as they come off a bye in Round 16 and welcome back their players from Origin.
The second-placed Broncos will be feeling extra confident going into their match against the Titans, having won six of their nine games at Suncorp Stadium, and are looking to add to this.
The Broncos’ line up is virtually unchanged, except that they will be without veteran forward Kurt Capewell due to an injury and is likely to return in Round 20.
They will look to find their dominance in the backline, with returning Origin young guns Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo. Adam Reynolds will further bolster this Broncos side by bringing his impressive kicking game.
The combination of Walsh, Cobbo, and Reynolds boast some impressive stats:
Walsh with 16 try assists, 10 line breaks, 76 tackle breaks, and an average of 154 running metres.
Cobbo with 11 tries just this season, 57 tackle breaks, and an average of 160 running metres.
Reynolds brings one of the best kicking games in the business as his stats speak for themselves, with 48 goals just this season, averaging 437.1 kicking metres, and 226 tackles.
The Broncos will also see the return of Patrick Carrigan, Jordan Riki, and Payne Haas from Origin duties to assist in powering their side to a victory at home.
Up-and-coming youngster Brendan Piakura will start in the back row: with his size, speed, and defensive aggression, he may be one that catches the Titans off guard.
The Titans having played only twice this season at Suncorp Stadium, winning one and losing the other, and will hope to take home a win this weekend.
They will use this opportunity to hold their position on the ladder and not slide further down, clinging onto the cusp of the top eight.
The Titans will see a slight reshuffle to their line up with the return of Kieran Foran at five-eighth after four weeks out with a toe injury.
Jayden Campbell will move back to the interchange, David Fifita will return after missing Round 15 with concussion, and Klese Haas will drop back to the bench.
Along with Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleau, Moeaki Fotuaika, and A.J. Brimson will be back from Origin duties.
The Titans boast the fifth-best attack in the NRL, boosting their backline with Brimson and Foran teaming up with Fifita in the forwards. And using the availability of Fa’asuamaleau to help lead his team to victory out front in their forward pack with Fotuaiki setting up play for Alofiana Khan-Pereira on the outside edge.
The Broncos will need plenty of horsepower if they are to catch the likes of Khan-Pereira: with an impressive 13 tries this season, 12 line breaks, 23 tackles breaks, 48 defensive tackle, and an average of 118 running metres.
Sunday afternoon will see two teams that can certainly go the distance when pushed to the limits, but will the Titans’ defence be enough to stand up against a full-strength Broncos side?
LAST TEN MATCHES
Broncos 6, Titans 4.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 12 points.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook