The Broncos will face the Warriors only three games after losing to the New Zealand side at Mt. Smart Stadium 19 – 10.
On that occasion, it was a tough effort from the Broncos who had several players making the cross-Tasman trip after competing in the second State Of Origin and then losing several players during the course of the match.
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Since then though, the Broncos have suffered two further losses.
A inexcusable 24 – 22 loss to the Sharks at home after leading 22 – nil at the break, before losing by a single point last Monday night when visiting Penrith 35 – 34.
These two losses now see the Broncos placed in a group of five times all hovering around the eighth spot position, making any further losses detrimental to final aspirations.
The same squad that faced the Panthers has been named for this clash.
The Broncos face a very stiff run home, with the likes of Melbourne (who they also meet in the final round of the year), Manly, Canterbury and South Sydney their schedule for the next month.
A win here is a must if the Broncos are to maintain their spot.
WARRIORS
The Warriors continued their impressive form with a dominant 48 – 0 win over the Eels last week, their fifth win from their past six matches.
It also saw the New Zealand team join South Sydney and the Roosters on twenty-two competition points and one win ahead off a bunch of five teams that includes the Broncos.
Halfback Shaun Johnson has been in scintillating form for the Warriors as has centre Konrad Hurrell who has scored four tries in his past three matches.
The flamboyant style of the Warriors has seen them post plenty of points in recent weeks but more pleasing has been their defence. Take out Souths’ 34 points in round 13, where they scored several tries in the final quarter of the game, and the Warriors have been able to limit their opponents to an average of 12.8 points per game since round 11.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Warriors last win over the Broncos made it three wins in a row over the Brisbane side and four from their last five.
Only one of those wins came out Suncorp though which was their first in four visits.
The Warriors are a team that play their best with momentum and confidence and they are two qualities they’ve got in spades at the moment.
The Broncos have lost five games this year by four points or less and with this game likely to be a hard fought contest, that record might haunt them late in the game.
Warriors to extend their record over Brisbane but only just.
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Teams:
BRONCOS: Ben Barba, Daniel Vidot, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Dale Copley, Josh Hoffman, Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Corey Parker, Alex Glenn, Corey Oates, Sam Thaiday. Interchange: Ben Hannant, David Hala, Todd Lowrie, Jake Granville, David Stagg.
WARRIORS: Sam Tomkins, David Fusitua, Konrad Hurrell, Dane Nielsen, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Suaia Matagi, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering, Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange: Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Agnatius Paasi, Thomas Leuluai, Jayson Bukuya.
