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Match Preview

Broncos v Wests Tigers: Mariner handed debut; Brooks ruled out

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pan66.com
Timestamp

Wests Tigers will look to put Sunday's Townsville heartbreak behind them when they travel to Brisbane to tackle the high-flying Broncos.

Having taken one of the competition heavyweights to the wire, the Tigers should be walking that little bit taller, but the deflating nature of the loss will have left them feeling flat.

The Broncos, meanwhile, continue to march on and are now inside the top four with all their remaining matches against sides currently below them on the ladder.

Their renaissance under the astute leadership of Adam Reynolds has been remarkable and with a top-four finish at their mercy they can dare to dream of a first premiership since 2006.

The Rundown

Team news

Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. Origin winger Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) remains sidelined but Billy Walters (hip) is back on deck at hooker so Jake Turpin goes to the reserves. Delouise Hoeter replaces Jordan Periera (illness) on the wing while Deine Mariner makes his debut at centre pushing Brenko Lee to the reserves. 

Wests Tigers: No further changes on game day after Luke Brooks dropped out with a calf injury midweek. Jackson Hastings stays at lock and Jock Madden moves into the side at halfback. Interim coach Brett Kimmorley missed the Cowboys game after testing positive to COVID but he'll be back calling the shots this week, along with football boss Tim Sheens.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tesi Niu
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Brent Naden
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Deine Mariner
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu Kepaoa
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Delouise Hoeter
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 18 Jock Madden

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Thomas Flegler
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Joe   Ofahengaue
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Alex Seyfarth
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Jackson Hastings

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory Paix
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Fonua Pole
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe Hetherington
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Zane Musgrove
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey Jensen
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Austin Dias
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Keenan Palasia
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tyrone Peachey

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Te Maire Martin
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Junior Tupou

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Key match-up

Kotoni Staggs v Brent Naden: With 72 tackle breaks and 10 line breaks for the season, Staggs is one of the most explosive centres in the game and he'll be looking to build up the revs in the run to the finals. Staggs' speed, footwork and power make him a nightmare proposition for defenders and Naden is sure to have his hands full, but his two-try effort against the Cowboys after four weeks on the sideline was all class and he'll be out to finish the season strongly.

Stat Attack

The Tigers have lost their last three matches by a combined total of just 11 points (27-26 to Cowboys, 18-16 to Panthers, 28-20 to Eels). That's a huge improvement on their average losing margin of 24 points between rounds 12-16 against Souths, Manly, Bulldogs and Warriors.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.