Two teams coming off losses but each under very different circumstances.
There was a pre-game theory among some pundits that the Broncos would bounce back and upset the Roosters after the previous week's one-point home loss to the Dragons.
But it never looked like eventuating in the thrashing from the Chooks and coach Anthony Seibold must be feeling the pinch with one win from four games.
What can you say about the Tigers? They were the better team for about 78 minutes against the Panthers but failed to deliver a knockout blow and paid the ultimate price.
The Tigers need to score more points on Thursday, while the Broncos simply have to start defending.
Match: Broncos v Wests Tigers
Round 5 -
home Team
Broncos
13th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
5th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Rundown
Team news
Broncos: Payne Haas is back from a club-imposed suspension and comes into the starting side after initially being named as a reserve on Tuesday. David Fifita goes back to the bench and Gehamat Shibasaki is out. Patrick Carrigan has been selected on the bench to make his NRL debut. James Roberts continues to battle an Achilles problem and was officially ruled out on Wednesday. Richie Kennar also dropped off the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off while Shaun Fensom was the last man omitted an hour before game time at Suncorp Stadium.
Wests Tigers: Michael Maguire has made two changes to his starting side after last week’s narrow loss to the Panthers. Russell Packer moves from the bench to starting prop in a swap with Ben Matulino, while back-rower Josh Aloiai comes into the starting 13 at the expense of Elijah Taylor. Young prop Thomas Mikaele has been named on the bench to play his fourth game of the season. David Nofoaluma and Chris McQueen dropped off the bench 24 hours prior to kick-off. Paul Momirovski and Taylor were the final two omitted an hour before game time.
Match: Broncos v Wests Tigers
Round 5 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Darius BoydFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey OatesWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Mahe Fonua
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Robert Jennings
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Jack BirdCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Anthony MilfordFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
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Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Kodi NikorimaHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Matthew LodgeProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Russell Packer
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Andrew McCulloughHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Joe OfahengaueProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Ryan Matterson
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Matt Gillett2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luke Garner
-
Lock for Broncos is number 18 Payne HaasLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Josh Aloiai
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 13 David FifitaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Ben Matulino
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Jaydn Su'aInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Thomas FleglerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Patrick CarriganInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Tim Roby
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
While there's pressure on coaches Seibold and Maguire to get wins, there's also a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of each team's senior players - none more so than rival hookers Andrew McCullough and Robbie Farah. Their respective teams rely heavily on what the pair brings to the table in offence and defence.
For the Broncos to win
Maybe they were nursing a few psychological scars from the narrow home loss to the Dragons, but the Broncos were comprehensively out-played last week. Seibold needs to get his players all on the same page and some consistency from Brisbane's talented young forwards.
For the Tigers to win
With little or nothing to repair defensively after last week's heartbreaking 9-8 golden point loss, Maguire might need to tweak his team's attack after two straight losses. Josh Reynolds played well in Benji Marshall's absence and the game might never have gone into extra time if he'd been with successful with his field goal attempt when the Tigers led 8-2 with 10 minutes remaining.
Brett Kimmorley says
Darius Boyd has copped a little bit of criticism, I definitely look forward to the Brisbane captain coming up with some gutsy tackles in the second-line of the defence. He will also be looking to create some attacking play. As for the Wests Tigers, they will have seen what the Roosters did to the Broncos in the middle third last week. That’ll be the blueprint. Wests Tigers by 2
Broncos Stat Attack
The Broncos kept shooting themselves in the foot last week, completing at 70% and finishing with just 43% of possession. They missed a staggering 54 tackles compared to the Roosters' 16. McCullough made a game-high 52 tackles to remain the top tackler in the NRL.
Tigers Stat Attack
Josh Reynolds was prominent in the 9-8 loss to Penrith, playing a full game and notching a couple of try assists, while also making 26 tackles. Reynolds hit the post with a field goal attempt in the final minutes of regulation and was shattered after the loss.
And another thing ...
Darius Boyd was a cranky man at various stages of his team's thrashing from the Roosters and didn't always hide it. There isn't much Boyd hasn't achieved - premierships, part of a Queensland Origin dynasty, 23 games for Australia - and he's still going strong at 31. But as Broncos captain Boyd has to remember that he's their designated leader and keep his emotions and reactions in check.
