Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 6 clash between the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Brisbane Broncos Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Date: Friday April 11, 8:00pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jaiyden Hunt 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Martin Taupau 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Deine Mariner 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Nat Butcher 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Mark Nawaqanitawase 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Chad Townsend 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s déjà vu for Brisbane and Sydney as they prepare to meet for the second time within the opening six rounds of the Telstra Premiership season.
Their last meeting was a rather unforgettable Thursday night at Allianz Stadium when the Broncos began the Michael Maguire era on the right note, smashing an understrength Roosters side 50-14.
The Broncos have only one change from the side that beat Wests Tigers last weekend, with Brendan Piakura unavailable through suspension and concussion. Jaiyden Hunt will start in the second row with Martin Taupa’u joining the bench. Adam Reynolds has been named and is expected to play after positive scans on a hamstring complaint.
Trent Robinson has swung the axe at the Roosters, dropping Chad Townsend to the reserves after another poor showing in round 5. Taking his place at halfback is Roosters Academy product Hugo Savala. The Eastern Suburbs local made his debut off the bench in round 2 and is rewarded for good form in NSW Cup in recent years. Lindsay Collins is out with a knee injury, but Victor Radley returns at lock, with Nat Butcher moving to prop.
Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named among the reserves as he attempts to overcome a calf complaint. Reports suggest that he could take the place of another underperforming big name, Dom Young.
After recording a half century against the Roosters in round one, the Broncos have mostly continued on their merry way, their only defeat being a shock loss to the Raiders in round two. Since then, they’ve defeated the Cowboys, Dolphins and Tigers, putting in impressive performances against all. Their effort in the second half against the Tigers was a prime example of the Broncos attacking flair, piling on 32 points, including two tries in the first five minutes after the restart.
By contrast, the Roosters attack has been their biggest letdown in 2025. After their stunning win against the Panthers in round two, the Tricolours have suffered three consecutive defeats despite leading within the final 20 minutes of all three matches. Discipline on both sides of the ball has been a major issue, with the club ranked last for completions (68%) and third-last for penalties conceded (37, one behind Canberra and Wests).
The battle of the fullbacks will be one to watch in this game as Reece Walsh goes head-to-head with James Tedesco. Walsh has been far more sedate this season than in previous years but is still producing plenty of his attacking best. Tedesco has wound the clock back so far in 2025 to in an attempt to lift his struggling team, putting in outstanding efforts in both attack and defence.
Plenty was made of the age difference between Broncos halves Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds and Tigers halves Lachlan Galvin and Latu Fainu last week, how the difference in experience between the Broncos pair and Roosters opposites Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala is even greater. Hunt and Reynolds have played a combined total of 631 first grade games, while Smith and Savala have just 38 first grade games between them, of which only 16 have been as starting halves. The Roosters will be relying on the unknown quality of their combination against the Broncos in-form, experienced leaders to get the job done.
Although recent history is not on the Broncos’ side in this match-up (eight losses in their past 12 meetings), the round one beating will be the only thing on anybody’s mind. Remarkably, the Roosters have won their past four matches against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, however they’ve lost the three of the four matches they’ve played there against all opponents since 2023.
The Roosters will be desperate to get the win, however the Broncos look far too strong and should get the job done, even if the margin is less than it was five weeks ago.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 14
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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