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Match Preview

Broncos v Dolphins: Walsh, Riki good to go; Flegler ruled out

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pan66.com
Timestamp

This season's first battle for Brisbane arrives at a time when the Dolphins are flying high at the top of the Telstra Premiership ladder.

The competition newbies have been travelling well since losing their opening match, with three wins – the most recent of which was a 26-16 home victory over the Wests Tigers – and a bye helping them to lead all sides heading into Round 6. 

Their fast start comes as the Broncos struggle against a heavy injury toll, with last week's two-point defeat to the Storm being their third loss in five games to start 2024.

Brisbane are boosted by the return of gun fullback Reece Walsh from a facial fracture but will be without skipper Adam Reynolds and winger Deine Mariner due to injury.

Both meetings between these sides last season went the way of Brisbane, but they were close games with margins of six and eight points.

The Broncos have won both of their games at Suncorp Stadium this season, while the Dolphins have won one and lost one.

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Team News

Broncos: Kevin Walters' side will take the field 1-17 after confirmation on Thursday that both Reece Walsh (facial fracture) and Jordan Riki (ankle) will play in a huge boost for the side. Xavier Willison is also set to feature off the bench in place of rookie Ben Te Kura while Jock Madden replaces injured skipper Adam Reynolds at halfback. 

Dolphins: No changes one-hour before kick-off. Tom Flegler will miss the clash against his former side after failing to overcome the shoulder injury he suffered last week. Mark Nicholls moves into the starting side and debutant Lachlan Hubner joins the bench. Flegler joins Herbie Farnworth, Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Donoghoe on the sidelines this week, with Tesi Niu and Anthony Milford the other new faces in the team.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
    Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Selwyn Cobbo
    Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Tesi Niu
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse Arthars
    Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
    Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Jock Madden
    Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
    Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
    Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy  Marshall-King
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Fletcher Baker
    Prop for Dolphins is number 16 Mark Nicholls
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Jaiyden Hunt
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Euan Aitken
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
    Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Ray Stone

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Tyson Smoothy
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Josh Kerr
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Xavier Willison
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Anthony Milford
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Kobe Hetherington
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Jarrod Wallace
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Tristan Sailor
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 22 Lachlan Hubner

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 19 Benjamin Te Kura
    Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Oryn Keeley

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Broncos have scored 134 points in four consecutive wins at Suncorp Stadium.
  • Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored five tries in his past three games.
  • Winger Jesse Arthars has scored a try in four consecutive games for the Broncos.
  • The Dolphins have scored 94 points in their past three games.
  • Broncos centre Selwyn Cobbo scored four tries in two games against the Dolphins in 2023.

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

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.