Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 17 clash between the New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Date: Saturday June 29, 3:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Marata Niukore, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Tohu Harris, 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Dylan Walker, 16. Jazz Tevaga, 17. Kurt Capewell, 18. Tom Ale, 20. Jacob Laban, 21. Edward Kosi, 22. Taine Tuaupiki, 23. Moala Graham-Taufa
Broncos: 1. Tristan Sailor, 2. Jesse Arthars, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Selwyn Cobbo, 5. Deine Mariner, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Jock Madden, 8. Corey Jensen, 9. Billy Walters, 10. Xavier Willison, 11. Brendan Piakura, 12. Jack Gosiewski, 13. Kobe Hetherington, 14. Tyson Smoothy, 15. Fletcher Baker, 16. Josiah Karapani, 17. Martin Taupau, 18. Joshua Rogers, 19. Blake Mozer, 20. Reece Walsh, 21. Payne Haas, 22. Patrick Carrigan, 23. Corey Oates
Referee: Todd Smith
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s a crucial clash at Go Media Stadium on Saturday evening for two clubs that were predicted to be battling for the top four but are suddenly staring down the barrel of missing the top eight entirely.
The Warriors have been dealt a blow with Shaun Johnson picking up an Achilles injury during their 66-6 loss against Gold Coast last weekend. Te Maire Martin moves to halfback, with Chanel Harris-Tavita moving to five-eighth. In some good news, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns after a week’s suspension, forcing Edward Kosi out of the side. Kurt Capewell has been named to back up on the bench after Queensland’s loss in Origin, with Mitch Barnett starting after serving New South Wales’ 18th man on Wednesday night. Freddy Lussick has also been named on the bench, with Jacob Laban and Tom Ale dropping to the reserves.
Kevin Walters has named his three Origin reps among the reserves, keeping the possibility of them backing up from New South Wales’s 38-18 win on Wednesday night. If they don’t back up, Tristan Sailor (fullback), Xavier Willison (prop) and Kobe Hetherington (lock) have been named to start, along with Jack Gosiewski (in place of the suspended Jordan Riki) and Jesse Arthars (returning from injury). Fletch Baker, Martin Taupa’u and Josiah Karapani all join the bench.
After meeting in a grand final qualifier in 2023, nobody expected these two sides to be struggling with their form lines like they have so far in 2024. The Warriors have been increasingly hot-and-cold, following a four-game losing streak with three consecutive wins, then back-to-back losses, including a club record-equalling 66-6 thrashing at the hands of the Titans at CBUS Super Stadium last weekend. As a result, they suddenly sit 13th, just three points off the bottom of the ladder.
After a somewhat slow start to the year, the Broncos roared to life with five wins in six matches. Consecutive losses to the Titans, Sharks and Rabbitohs following an injury to Adam Reynolds have since left them with a 7-7 record and only sitting in the top eight on for-and-against.
When the two sides met in Napier around the same time of the season in 2023, it was a meeting of two rising sides who knew they were likely to meet again later in the year. This time around, it’s two underperforming teams that need to turn it around in a hurry.
Results have slightly favoured the Broncos in recent years, claiming four wins in their past seven meetings, along with a draw, dating back to 2019. The designated home side has won four of the past five meetings between the two teams, although the Warriors home games in that time have been at Gosford, Redcliffe and Napier. The last time they met at Go Media Stadium was in 2019, when the Broncos won 8-2. The Warriors haven’t beaten the Broncos there since 2017.
With both teams desperate for a win, they’ll throw everything they have at this game. The Warriors will be hoping another sold out home crowd will be enough to carry them home. The Broncos have to win to hold onto their spot in the top 8. With such a congested ladder, a loss in this game could be crucial.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Broncos by 6 points.
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