Match Preview: Round 12 vs. Broncos

Wests Tigers will be looking to break a recent hoodoo against the Brisbane Broncos when they meet this Friday at Suncorp Stadium for their Round 12 match.

Wests Tigers have only tasted success in four of the 24 fixtures between the two sides, but will hoping that a recent run of form — which has seen them win two of their last three NRL games — gives them the confidence to do the job against Brisbane this week.

Wayne Bennett’s men have been arguably the form team of the competition over the last 18 months, and despite missing their Origin stars, still boast an impressive line up for Friday’s game. Halves Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt have been in stellar form, while the likes of Adam Blair, Alex Glenn and Joe Ofahengaue combine to create a strong forward pack that certainly covers for the likes of Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday well.

Wests Tigers will be without NSW representative Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah for this week’s clash, but will welcome back Sauaso Sue and Kevin Naiqama from injury in a huge boost for Jason Taylor’s side. New recruit Elijah Taylor showed his class last week with a Man of the Match performance against the Newcastle Knights, and the visitors will be hoping he can inspire a stunning upset at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.

Having only lost twice this season by the narrowest of margins (one point and two points), it’s clear that the Broncos will again be looking to their defence on Friday night. On average, the home side concedes just two tries a game (compared to five for Wests Tigers), and has not conceded a try from longer than halfway all season. 

That stands in stark comparison to Wests Tigers, who despite scoring an average of four tries per game, average 26 points against per game and have conceded seven long-range tries.

The home side will certainly head into the match as clear favourites, but as Taylor’s men have shown already this year, they’re more than capable of taking down highly-fancied opponents and will no doubt like their chances to spring an upset on Friday night too.

Read on for a full match preview for #NRLBroncosTigers including all the team news, analysis, live stream and TV information as well as all the key statistics and more!

Be there to cheer the boys on when they take on South Sydney Rabbitohs on June 10!

Match Details

Date — Friday, May 27

Time — 7:50pm AEDT (Gates Open 5:00pm)

Venue — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Match Officials

On-Field Referees — Matt Cecchin and Gavin Badger

Touch Judges — Michael Wise and Tim Roby

Review Officials — Steve Chiddy and Brian Norrie

TV, Live Stream and Radio Information

TV — Live via Channel 9, Fox Sports 1 (subscription required)

Live Stream — Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)

Radio — AM 2GB 873, ABC 702 ABC Grandstand (check local guides)

Confirmed Squads

With State of Origin players missing, Jordan Kahu shifts to fullback while Greg Eden and Lachlan Maranta come on to the wings. Jarrod Wallace, Alex Glenn, Joe Ofahengaue and Jaydn Su’a (on debut) all come into the starting side, while Jai Arrow, Herman Ese’ese and Tevita Pangai Jnr. (on debut) come on to the bench. Meanwhile, for Wests Tigers, Aaron Woods is replaced in the front row by Tim Grant with Dene Halatau again named at hooker and Matt Ballin on the bench. Sauaso Sue returns on the bench, with Kevin Naiqama to return from in the centres, pushing Michael Chee Kam to 18th Man.

2016 Recent Results

Wests Tigers

R7 — Melbourne Storm 19 def. Wests Tigers 18

R8 — Canberra Raiders 60 def. Wests Tigers 6

R9 — Wests Tigers 30 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 22

R10 — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 36 def. Wests Tigers 4

R11 — Wests Tigers 20 def. Newcastle Knights 12

Brisbane Broncos

R7 — Brisbane Broncos 53 def. Newcastle Knights 0

R8 — Brisbane Broncos 30 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 8

R9 — Cronulla Sharks 30 def. Brisbane Broncos 28

R10 — Brisbane Broncos 30 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6

R11 — North Queensland Cowboys 19 def. Brisbane Broncos 18

Last Time They Met — Brisbane Broncos 42 def. Wests Tigers 16 (Rd.19, 2015)

Brisbane raced to a 26-0 half-time lead over Wests Tigers, before three quick tries to Mitchell Moses, Manaia Cherrington and Ava Seumanufagai saw the visitors cut the lead to 26-16. However, a couple of untimely errors saw the Broncos restore their advantage and emerge with a 26-point win thanks to a hat-trick from winger Lachlan Maranta.

The History

·       Against the Broncos — Played 24, Won 4, Lost 19, Drawn 1

·       At Suncorp Stadium — Played 9, Won 3, Lost 6, Drawn 0

Player to Watch — Jordan Kahu, Fullback

While much of the focus will be on the likes of Milford and Hunt, Kahu’s inclusion at fullback could be a big key for either side on Friday night. Usually played at winger or centre with Darius Boyd in the No. 1 jersey, the New Zealand international returns at the back — the position he featured in recently for the Kiwis in the Trans-Tasman test.

The Wellington-born Kahu possesses a good passing game and a strong awareness around the field, and if he can link up well with the likes of Milford and Hunt, could cause real danger for the visitors on Friday night. Alternatively, if the kicking game of Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses can force the 25-year-old to come off his own line all night, they’ll go a long way to breaking up the spine of the Broncos and putting their side on top.