2024 NRL: Round 14 Preview, Broncos Vs Sharks

Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 14 clash between the Sharks and Broncos.

MATCHDAY NEWS

MATCHDAY SCHEDULE

Brisbane Broncos Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Saturday June 8, 19:35

MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Selwyn Cobbo, 5. Deine Mariner, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Jock Madden, 8. Corey Jensen, 9. Billy Walters, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Brendan Piakura, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 14. Tyson Smoothy, 15. Xavier Willison, 16. Kobe Hetherington, 17. Jack Gosiewski, 18. Joshua Rogers, 19. Fletcher Baker, 20. Blake Mozer, 21. Martin Taupau, 22. Josiah Karapani, 23. Tristan Sailor, 24. Jaiyden Hunt

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Braydon Trindall, 8. Thomas Hazelton, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Siosifa Talakai, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Jack Williams, 15. Toby Rudolf, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 18. Mawene Hiroti, 19. Billy Burns, 20. Jayden Berrell, 21. Niwhai Puru, 22. Jesse Colquhoun

Referee: Grant Atkins

MATCHDAY PREVIEW

Kotoni Staggs returns to the side in the centres, which means Josiah Karapani drops back to the reserves. The Origin quartet of Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas have been named but there are likely changes coming for Kevin Walters’ men. Walsh will definitely miss this clash after being ruled out of Wednesday’s clash inside the first 10 minutes with Category 1 concussion symptoms. Tristan Sailor would be the likely man to replace him.

For the Sharks, Nicho Hynes will be rested this week, with Daniel Atkinson and Braydon Trindall to be the halves pairing. Cameron McInnes has also been named to back up from Origin, with Jack Williams dropping back to the bench. Teig Wilton is out with a shoulder injury, so Siosifa Talakai has been named to start in the second row. Tuku Hau Tapuha is also a new face on the bench, with Braden Hamlin-Uele making way.

After a hot start to the season, the Sharks have crashed back down to earth over the past couple of weeks. After suffering a 42-0 demolition at the hands of the Panthers in round 12, they went down to the struggling Eels last week, albeit a far stronger team with Moses and Gutherson back for Parramatta. The Sharks still sit in second spot, but they need to fix their defence if they want to return to form, having conceded 106 points over the past three games.

The Broncos are coming into this clash off the bye but could be slightly undermanned depending on what coach Walters decides to do with his Origin stars. Their last match was a two-point loss to the Titans in an absolute thriller, so the side will want to bounce back and return to the top four. The loss of Walsh will hurt, but likely replacement in Sailor has shown he belongs at this level, so Brisbane shouldn’t lose too much in attack.

The Broncos have been tough to beat at home this year, winning five of their seven matches at the venue, and with a strong recent record against the Sharks (nine wins in the past 11 matches), they should prove too strong.

Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.

MATCHDAY PREDICTION

Check out all the NRL Predictions here.

Broncos by 8 points.

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