Neds Match Preview: Round 18
Wests Tigers will be aiming to record three-straight wins against Brisbane for the first time in the club’s history when they face the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Following a thrilling win against Brisbane in 2019, and backed up with a 48-0 triumph last year, Wests Tigers will be eager to continue their recent dominance over the Broncos — having not lost to their Queensland opponents since a controversial 9-7 defeat in 2018.
With the team based at Suncorp Stadium for at least the next month, Michael Maguire will be looking to turn his team’s fortunes around as they aim to snap a three-game losing streak and claim their first win in over a month.
Although Wests Tigers enter the match as slight outsiders, Maguire’s men are optimistic they can get the job done against the Broncos, who sit second last on the ladder with four wins and 12 losses.
The Broncos, however, will be buzzing with confidence following their last-start win over the Cronulla in Round 16, before enjoying last weekend off — while they've had no distractions this week surrounding NRL relocation due to COVID-19.
These two teams lie next to each other towards the lower end of the table in 14th (Wests Tigers) and 15th (Broncos), so two points is going to be very welcome indeed for their respective finals ambitions.
FINAL TEAM LISTS
Brisbane Broncos — Payne Haas and Thomas Flegler will both back up from Origin, while Xavier Coates has been rested in preference for Jamayne Isaako. Jesse Arthars joins the bench in place of Corey Paix with Ethan Bullemor named as 18th Man.
Wests Tigers — No James Roberts in the side after he remained in Sydney following contact with a COVID case, with Tommy Talau replacing him at centre. Two debutants will both feature for Michael Maguire's men — Junior Pauga named to start at centre while Tuki Simpkins will join the bench — with Adam Doueihi moving back to five-eighth. Moses Mbye moves back to the bench where he joins experienced forwards in Alex Twal and Joe Ofahengaue.
Match: Broncos v Wests Tigers
Round 18 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tesi NiuFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
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Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey OatesWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
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Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Junior Pauga
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Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Wests Tigers is number 19 Tommy Talau
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Winger for Broncos is number 21 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
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Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
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Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Brodie CroftHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Rhys KennedyProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
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Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jake TurpinHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 James Tamou
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Alex Glenn2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Teui Robati2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
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Lock for Broncos is number 13 Kobe HetheringtonLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Thomas FleglerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Joe Ofahengaue
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Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Keenan PalasiaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Twal
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Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jordan RikiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tukimihia Simpkins
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Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Jesse ArtharsInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Moses Mbye
Reserves
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 18 Ethan BullemorReserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall
Last updated:
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Sunday, 18th July, 2021
Time — 4:05pm AEST
Venue — Suncorp Stadium
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Channel 9, FOX League (Ch.502)
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, FM 104.9 Triple M
Live Stream — 9 NOW, KAYO Sports, Watch NRL (int.)
LATEST NEDS ODDS
Head-to-Head — Brisbane Broncos ($1.64), Wests Tigers ($2.25)
Line — Brisbane Broncos -3.5 ($1.90), Wests Tigers +3.5 ($1.90)
Odds correct as of 9:00am, Wednesday, 14th July. 18+ only, Gamble responsibly.
HISTORY
Head-to-Head — Played 29, Brisbane 21, Wests Tigers 7, Draw 1
At Suncorp Stadium — Played 12, Brisbane 7, Wests Tigers 5
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 48 def. Brisbane 0, Leichhardt Oval (Rd.10, 2020)
