Tonight’s NRL match is between Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. Home team Sydney Roosters are the current favourites for the match. View the match preview and teams.
Roosters v Broncos
Allianz Stadium
Saturday 7.30pm
Odds:
Sydney Roosters $1.57 vs Brisbane Broncos $2.40 at Sportsbet Australia
Sydney Roosters $1.46 vs Brisbane Broncos $2.75 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The Roosters and Broncos are two teams still very much trying to find their way during the early rounds of this season. Both teams were beaten in the opening round, and although both won in the second round, neither side was convincing. They are each getting used to new players in key positions, and it takes time to bed down combinations in circumstances like that.
So which team is more likely to beat the other at a time when neither is playing as well as they would like and should have improvement in them further down the track? The home-ground advantage is certainly significant when a team is looking for a boost, so that’s a tick for the Roosters here. And the Broncos have one of their key players in doubt in Justin Hodges, who was taken off in last week’s win over St George Illawarra because of a hamstring twinge. Hodges can make things happen when his team is otherwise on the back foot, and the Broncos will miss him a lot if he doesn’t play.
The Roosters will be much better now three of their new recruits – James Maloney, Sonny Bill Williams and Michael Jennings – have each had two games for the club, and Luke O’Donnell has had one. Five-eighth Maloney is fast getting used to his teammates, and is bound to start making things happen on a more regular basis soon. And Williams isn’t far away from having a big game either. He was always going to need a bit of time to get back into the swing of things, back playing rugby league.
The Broncos were 22-6 winners over the Dragons last weekend, but the Dragons had a lot of opportunities on which they failed to capitalise. In the first round, the Broncos were run over in the second half by Manly, who beat them 22-14 on the road despite being without a couple of key forwards. The Roosters lost first-up to premiership contenders South Sydney, 28-10, and then held on to beat the Warriors 16-14 after leading 16-0. The Broncos are going to have work hard in defence to keep an improving Roosters attack in check.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has stuck firm with the 17 who got the job done against the Warriors last week, adding Dylan Napa as 18th man; meanwhile Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has made just the one change, with injured interchange forward Josh McGuire (calf) replaced by Ben Hunt. Dunamis Lui and Nick Slyney form a six-man bench at this stage.
Teams:
SYDNEY ROOSTERS:
Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Scheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Martin Kennedy, Mitchell Aubusson, Luke O’Donnell, Dylan Napa (one to be omitted)
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, Mitchell Dodds, David Stagg, Scott Anderson Dunamis Lui, Nick Slyney (two to be omitted)
