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Broncos v Panthers: Origin trio return; Fab four good to go

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The two 2023 grand finalists meet again in Round 18 with both sides looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats.  

The Panthers and Broncos head into the grand final rematch on the back of disappointing losses in Round 17 after both Kevin Walters and Ivan Cleary opted to rest several of their Origin stars.

Walters was proud of his side's defensive effort despite going down to the Warriors 32-16 on Saturday but will welcome back Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan with open arms for the heavyweight clash. 

Coach Cleary meanwhile described his side's performance as "baking a cake with no icing" after his side fell to the Cowboys in an uncharacteristic attacking display from the premiers. 

Penrith too will welcome back four of their Origin stars as they look to get back within touch of the ladder leaders after Melbourne skipped out to a four-point lead. 

Team News

Broncos: Big guns Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas all return after being rested following Origin Two. Deine Mariner shifts to centre and Corey Oates returns from a knee injury on the wing with Kotoni Staggs unavailable due to personal reasons. Jack Gosiewski (arm) and Fletcher Baker (knee) both suffered injuries against the Warriors. One change on Friday night, with Xavier Willison moving from the interchange to the starting side and Kobe Hetherington shifting to the bench. Tristan Sailor is 18th man.

Panthers: The premiers welcome back Origin stars Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Jarome Luai and Liam Martin while Isaah Yeo returns to the starting side after coming off the bench post-Origin Two. A pair of changes one hour before kickoff, with Brad Schneider elevated to the starting side in jumper No.18 and Jack Cole moving to the bench. The reshuffle sees Daine Laurie move from the bench to the wing, with Sunia Turuva dropping back to 18th man. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Deine Mariner
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Selwyn Cobbo
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Paul Alamoti
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse Arthars
    Winger for Panthers is number 14 Daine Laurie
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 18 Brad Schneider
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Jock Madden
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris 
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 15 Xavier Willison
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 12 Kobe Hetherington
    Interchange for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cole
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Tyson Smoothy
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Josiah Karapani
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Martin Taupau
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Tristan Sailor
    Replacement for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Broncos have not defeated the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium since 2019.
  • The Panthers have won seven of their past eight games against the Broncos.
  • The Broncos have lost three of their past four games at Suncorp Stadium.
  • Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny has scored in his last two games against the Broncos.
  • Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has lost six from six against the Panthers.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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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.