Sunday’s NRL 2018 Finals Week 1 match is between Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:10 local time with the game to be played at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. The home team Brisbane Broncos are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons.
When: 16:10 | Sunday 09/09/2018
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Preview:
Going into the final round, the Broncos had gained some momentum and confidence after toppling the two competition favourites.
Playing the bottom 8 sides and winning has been an issue in 2018 and their big win over Manly was a great performance.
So much so, they were able to acquire themselves a home semi-final and for those who aren’t aware, that’s super important considering the fans of Brisbane flock to the big games.
This contest will be no different.
The scenario is simple, win and you stay alive.
Lose and you’re gone.
The Broncos will relish playing his semi-final at home and the energy of the crowd will act as an 18th man and will inspire them when needed.
Brisbane have a great record at home which is another bonus.
The Dragons were able to grab a victory last week which will provide them with a big confidence boost after they seemed to be lacking in that area.
As for the style of play, these two sides are similar in the fact they are very much reactive off the work the forwards do, particularly in the halves.
We saw Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima really flourish from this on the weekend.
The Dragons will be buoyed by the inclusion of star playmaker Gareth Widdop, but I feel it might take him some time to find his feet in his first game back.
Both sides can really strike from anywhere and the match-up between the two backlines will be a thrilling one.
They’re big, fast, skilful and strong.
However, the game will be won or lost in the middle between the battle of the packs.
KEY BATTLE: Broncos forwards v Dragons forwards
I love the work some of the individuals are doing with the likes of Matt Lodge and Joe Ofahengaue.
For the Dragons, Jack de Belin and James Graham will be looking for another gear and both are inspiring players.
The Verdict
The concern for both sides will be the resilience in their defensive lines.
Brisbane will have to really tighten up in this area if they are to go deep into September.
The Dragons are in the same boat.
This will be a thriller either way but I’ll sway with Brisbane.
The Broncos lead the Dragons 12-3 since 2010 and are 21-6 (77.8 percent) playing in Queensland as a favourite since 2017.
Unibet Odds:
Brisbane Broncos at $1.28
St George Illawarra Dragons at $3.75
Odds:
Tip: Brisbane Broncos at $1.28
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: James Roberts at $11.00
More Info:
Teams:
Brisbane Broncos:
1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Jordan Kahu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Sam Thaiday 11. Alex Glenn 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14. Patrick Mago 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Korbin Sims 17. David Fifita
Reserves: 18. Kotoni Staggs 19. Sam Tagataese 20. Gehamat Shibasaki 21. Troy Dargan.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Zac Lomax 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Leeson Ah Mau 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Jeremy Latimore 15. Kurt Mann 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Luciano Leilua
Reserves: 18. Jason Nightingale 19. Euan Aitken 20. Jacob Host 21. Hame Sele.
NRL News:
The last time Matt Lodge played St George Illawarra, the controversial Brisbane prop was booed every time he touched the ball.
But Lodge expects cheers instead of jeers when he makes his long-awaited finals debut in Sunday’s NRL elimination final against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
Lodge, 23, has emerged as the leader of Brisbane’s pack after snapping up a 2018 Broncos lifeline in the wake of his infamous 2015 New York drunken rampage.
The early signs weren’t good when Lodge was heckled by a fired up Jubilee Oval crowd in his official NRL return – Brisbane’s underwhelming 34-12 season-opening loss to the Dragons.
However, Lodge expects a very different reaction the next time he tangles with St George Illawarra.
Lodge has won over hard marking Broncos fans in an impressive return from four years in the NRL wilderness that looks set to earn him a lucrative new deal.
“It is one of the better feelings,” Lodge said of being cheered at Suncorp Stadium.
“It’s a lot better than going down to (Dragons)…and getting booed. I love having the crowd behind me.”
The crowd reaction won’t be the only thing that has changed since round one.
Lodge said a very different Broncos would be waiting for the Dragons after snapping up sixth spot and a home final with three straight wins.
“It wasn’t a good night (round one loss) but it is a long time ago and we’ve been building nicely – hopefully it will be a different result on the weekend,” Lodge told Broncos TV.
“There’s a bit more belief in the group. We just know that if everyone turns up we will get the job done.
“But to get to a home final is a massive boost, there’s nothing better than playing at Suncorp with a full house.”
Lodge was pinching himself now that his long wait to play finals was nearly over, four years after he made his NRL debut with Wests Tigers.
‘It’s what I have worked for the last few years. It’s good to finally be here,” Lodge said.
Now the hulking prop has been embraced by the Broncos fans, Lodge hopes to give them a bit more to cheer about after working on combinations with five-eighth Anthony Milford.
They provided a taste in last round’s 48-16 thumping of Manly.
Instead of taking the game’s opening hit-up, Lodge passed to Milford who sliced Manly up the middle and threatened to score before being brought down.
“Some would advise not to pass off the kick-off but when it is on, it is on,” Lodge laughed.
“As long as it works he (coach Wayne Bennett) is happy.”
