Both coming off last-up defeats under different circumstances, there's plenty on the line when Queensland league's eldest sibling meets the newest arrival for the second time.

If coach Kevin Walters' post-match comments are anything to go by, some hard truths will have been shared at Broncos HQ following the club's 18-12 loss to a Titans side who were missing their captain and had only days earlier fired their coach. 

The Dolphins have plenty of their own problems to work through this week after being hammered 48-20 by the Eels on the Sunshine Coast in Round 17, which leaves them without a win in the past month. 

A crowd of 51,047 gathered to watch the first meeting of these two sides back in March at Suncorp Stadium, which the Broncos won 18-12.

The battle will be fought on new ground this time though at The Gabba, which has hosted several rugby league games in the past but never an NRL fixture. 

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Team News

Broncos: A late change an hour before kick-off with Kobe Hetherington moving into the starting side and Xavier Willison shifting to the bench. Fullback Reece Walsh won't play after he was found guilty of contrary conduct towards a match official at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. Tristan Sailor is the new fullback in the only late change to the team. Jesse Arthars is 18th-man.

Dolphins: A game day change for the Dolphins confirms Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will line up at left centre and Kodi Nikorima play at fullback after the pair trained that way on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Connelly Lemuelu will start at prop with Herman Ese'ese shifting to the bench. Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) is good to go at hooker.

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Stat Attack

  • While they were held to two tries last week, the Broncos have one of the best attacking records in the competition and get over the line four times per game on average this year. 
  • Payne Haas earns 69.9 metres per game after contact on average, the best among players this year. 
  • The Broncos have the second-best defensive average in the NRL.
  • The Dolphins have conceded 136 points in their past three games.
  • The Broncos have won six from seven on Saturday nights this season
  • Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 17 tries from 16 games for Dolphins and Maroons this season.
  • Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo has scored 11 tries from his past 12 games.

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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the