The first of Friday night’s NRL Round 8 matches is between Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The opening kick is set to commence at 7:35pm local time with the game to be played at Sunscorp Stadium. The away team the South Sydney Rabbitohs are the current favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Suncorp Stadium
Featured Bookmakers:
Brisbane Broncos $2.40 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.60 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Brisbane Broncos $1.45 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.57 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:
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| Brisbane Broncos | 2.40 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.40 | 2.40 | 2.40 |
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South Sydney Rabbitohs
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1.60 | 1.60 | 1.57 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.60 |
Preview:
Brisbane host South Sydney to get Round 8 of the NRL underway with both teams coming off away wins last week. The Broncos needed every one of the 80 minutes to overcome a spirited West Tigers outfit that was ravaged by injury last week at Campbelltown. It was the third won on the trot for the Broncos after wins over Gold Coast and Cowboys in the previous fortnight.
The win sees them sitting sixth on the ladder with four wins from seven matches but each of their three losses have come at the hands of teams in the top four – Melbourne, Sea Eagles and Roosters.
So they’ll have to step up this week has they take on the Bunnies who are coming off an outstanding victory over Manly at Brookvale last week (20-12)
South Sydney stamped themselves genuine contenders this year by withstanding the early pressure applied by Manly before scoring three second half tries through Inglis, Champion and Sutton.
That win makes it six from seven for the Bunnies with the only loss being to the undefeated Melbourne Storm. Broncos have won three of four clashes between the two sides since 2011 but never encountered a Souths outfit in this kind of form.
Teams:
Brisbane Broncos:
Corey Norman, Josh Hoffman, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Lachlan Maranta, Scott Prince, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday (c), Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker
Interchange: Ben Hunt, Scott Anderson, David Hala, Josh McGuire
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Beau Champion, Bryson Goodwin, Andrew Everingham, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Dave Tyrell, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess
Interchange: Nathan Peats, Jason Clark, Ben Lowe, George Burgess, Jeff Lima, Justin Hunt (two to be omitted)
Brisbane Broncos ready for GI assault
Brisbane won’t dump Greg Inglis on his head but they intend to ensure the South Sydney superstar earns every metre in Friday night’s NRL clash at Suncorp Stadium.
While Manly’s Richie Fa’aoso copped an eight-week ban for twice upending Inglis last week, the Broncos will aim to stop the Rabbitohs’ dangerman with numbers in a straight defensive line.
Sixth-placed Brisbane’s task of handing second-placed South Sydney only their second loss of the season became much tougher on Thursday when Test centre Justin Hodges (groin) and fiery young forward Josh McGuire (calf) were ruled out through injury.
And coach Anthony Griffin had no hesitation in nominating giant fullback Inglis as a potential game-changer.
“Greg is that x-factor player who can run 100 metres on you if you relax on him at all,” warned Griffin.
“You know he’s coming but sometimes it’s just so hard to stop. That’s why he is so great.
“How we handle him in kick-chase situations and in general play on the edges will be a factor in whether we’re going to be successful or not.”
Brisbane centre Jack Reed said Brisbane’s defence would have to bring its A-game with Inglis warming up for State of Origin.
“We’ll have to meet Inglis with numbers when he carries the ball back,” said Reed.
“You can’t give him a staggered line – he’ll just carve you up.”
The match, expected to pull more than 40,000 fans, is loaded with personal battles and Origin interest, including Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds’ mounting a push to be NSW’s game-one Origin No.7 ahead of the Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce.
Reynolds and in-form five-eighth John Sutton go up against Brisbane’s new scrum pairing of former Blues half Peter Wallace and representative Scott Prince who’ve started to click with three wins on the trot.
The battle royale however begins up front with the clash between Souths’ big-bopper brothers Sam and George Burgess and Brisbane hardheads Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant.
It continues through the pack with former Broncos hitman Ben Te’o lining up on one-time teammate Matt Gillett.
Brisbane made the tough call to cut Te’o to re-sign Gillett who is expecting to feel some extra sting in Te’o’s tackles on Friday night.
“He’s the Terminator, he’s the hardest hitter in the game so I’m sure he’ll be wanting to prove a point,” said Gillett, also battling for an Origin call-up with Te’o.
Griffin said Souths coach Michael Maguire would be expecting something special from Te’o.
“I’d be thinking his coach would expect something extra out of him (Te’o) just as I’m expecting something out of Gillett,” said Griffin.
“I don’t think it’s a personal thing. It’s just football these days the way players move around.”