Wests Tigers will look to produce a similar upset to last year’s thrilling win when they take on the Brisbane Broncos this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Coming into the match last year off a similarly tough defeat and sans their Origin stars, Wests Tigers showed tremendous fight and determination to match their more fancied opponents — holding out the Broncos late in the match to emerge with a gutsy win.
Origin players will be back on deck this time around for both teams, with Ivan Cleary’s side set to receive a huge boost in the inclusion of captain Aaron Woods.
The Blues and Kangaroos forward was expected to be unavailable with a hamstring injury for close to another fortnight, but has made a surprise recovery in just two weeks to take the field this Friday, with his inclusion no doubt a welcome one after last week’s heavy defeat.
His inclusion is contrasted by the absence of Chris Lawrence, however, with injuries in the Club's final training session in Brisbane ruling the key player out of tonight's match.
Brisbane too will welcome back key firepower with James Roberts to take his place in the centres, but will be without Ben Hunt after the halfback was ruled out as a late inclusion.
Kodi Nikorima will once again join the in-form Anthony Milford in the halves.
Wests Tigers have far from an impressive record against the Broncos — winning just five of their 25 matches and just three times at Suncorp Stadium. However, with a trip up north to Townsville yielding two competition points already this season, Cleary’s side will certainly fancy their chances at springing another upset when they clash this Friday.
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MATCH DETAILS
Date — Friday, May 19, 2017
Time — 7:50pm AEST
Venue — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV, LIVE STREAM AND RADIO INFORMATION
TV — Channel 9, Fox League (Ch.502, subscription required)
Radio — Live via AM 702 ABC Grandstand and AM 873 2GB
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, NRL Digital Pass (subscription required)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referees — Henry Perenara and Chris James
Touch Judges — Ricky McFarlane and Jeff Younis
Review Officials — Luke Patten and Bernard Sutton
LATEST CROWNBET ODDS
Head to Head — Brisbane ($1.20), Wests Tigers (4.75)
Line — Brisbane -14.5 ($1.92), Wests Tigers +14.5 ($1.92)
Latest odds via Crownbet.com.au (18+ only, gamble responsibly).
(Odds correct as of Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00pm AEST)
CONFIRMED SQUADS
Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Korbin Sims 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire (Interchange: 14. Alex Glenn 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. David Mead 19. George Fai 21. Jonus Pearson) — Coach: Wayne Bennett
Wests Tigers
1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 4. Moses Suli 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Jack Littlejohn 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Sauaso Sue 11. Joel Edwards 16. Kyle Lovett 13. Elijah Taylor (Interchange: 14. Tim Grant 15. Josh Aloiai 17. Jacob Liddle 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Jordan Rankin 21. Michael Chee Kam) — Coach: Ivan Cleary
Team Lists Update
7:50pm, Thursday — Updated 19-man squads confirmed
6:50pm, Friday — Final 17-man team lists confirmed
RECENT RESULTS
Brisbane Broncos
Round 6 — Brisbane Broncos 32 def. Sydney Roosters 8
Round 7 — Brisbane Broncos 24 def. Gold Coast Titans 22
Round 8 — Brisbane Broncos 25 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 24
Round 9 — Brisbane Broncos 32 def. Penrith Panthers 18
Round 10 — Brisbane Broncos 24 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 14
Wests Tigers
Round 6 — Wests Tigers 26 def. North Queensland Cowboys 16
Round 7 — Parramatta Eels 26 def. Wests Tigers 22
Round 8 — Wests Tigers 18 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12
Round 9 — Cronulla Sharks 22 def. Wests Tigers 16
Round 10 — South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def. Wests Tigers 8
THE HISTORY
· Head-to-Head — Played 25, Wests Tigers 5, Brisbane 19, Drawn 1
· At Suncorp Stadium — Played 10, Wests Tigers 4, Brisbane 6, Drawn 0
· Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 19 def. Brisbane Broncos 18 (Rd.12, 2016)
TEAM MATCHUP
|
Brisbane Broncos |
Wests Tigers |
Position |
4th (14 points) |
15th (6 points) |
Home Form |
Won 4, Lost 1 |
Won 1, Lost 5 |
Away Form |
Won 3, Lost 2 |
Won 2, Lost 2 |
Points Scored |
215 points (6th) |
152 points (15th) |
Points Conceded |
161 points (4th) |
254 points (14th) |
