NRL Round 12 Preview and Prediction - New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos @ Suncorp Stadium
New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos @ Mount Smart Stadium
Preview - A decimated Brisbane Broncos outfit will travel to New Zealand for a tough match-up against the Warriors on Saturday without their Origin stars. The Broncos are currently on a fantastic 6-match winning streak having demolished the Tigers 36-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night in a match that resembled men against boys for much of the 80 minutes. The Broncos, after a dicey 2-3 start to the season, are now looking like a Premiership contender with their ability to defend their goal line and their increasingly adventurous attack. The Warriors slumped to a hugely disappointing 30-10 loss in Waikato against the Dragons last Friday night after their collapse against the Panthers the previous week. The Warriors missed an appalling 55 tackles in a game where their intensity and desire never matched the Dragons in what was a crucial match in the context of their season. The Origin period is traditionally a time when the Warriors get on a roll, and they get a huge opportunity here against a Brisbane side missing its star players.
History - The Broncos have a very poor record at Mount Smart Stadium, having won just 5 from 16 matches there overall. The Warriors seem to be able to raise their game against the Broncos and last season they blew them away in the corresponding fixture winning 38-18 after losing at Suncorp Stadium, back in Round 2, 25-10. Overall, the Broncos hold the advantage having won 22 games compared to the Warriors 16.
New Zealand Warriors’ Scouting Report - The Warriors get a much needed boost with the inclusion of veteran back rower Simon Mannering who is fit to return from a hamstring injury. This sees Bunty Afoa drop back to the bench whilst prop Charlie Gubb has been dropped with Albert Vete coming in for him on the interchange bench.
Brisbane Broncos’ Scouting Report - The Broncos are missing 6 of their biggest names including captain Darius Boyd, Anthony Milford, Corey Oates, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday and Josh McGuire who will all saddle up for Queensland in Origin 1 on Wednesday night. To add injury to insult, experienced hooker Andrew McCullough has been ruled out with concussion. In a very interesting move by Wayne Bennett, he has named Ben Hunt to make his return to the starting side alongside Benji Marshall in the halves and not Kodi Nikorima who has starred at halfback in the past 4 weeks. Also coming in for the Broncos are Jordan Sua, Jonus Pearson, Travis Waddell, while George Fai is set to make his 1st Grade debut after sitting on the bench for 80 minutes back in Round 10.
Verdict - Warriors by 1-8 in a high scoring game
I hate tipping the Warriors, especially after what they served up last week, when I tipped them without much confidence against the Dragons. I really wouldn't be surprised if Brisbane gave them a run for their money here, which they really have no right to with so many players unavailable. The Warriors, to me, just look like a side with a really soft centre, and the cultural problems which have hampered that Club in terms of their poor defence and a lack of mental toughness seem as prevalent as ever in 2017. However, surely this week, after such a poor display, they get some sort of reaction after missing 55 tackles against an under strength Dragons team last week. Some of the Warriors key players in Captain Roger Tuivasa Sheck, Shaun Johnson and Isaac Luke were awful last week and, if they can spring back to life here, I think they can scramble over the line against a Broncos’ side which will go into this game with very little to lose, which could prove dangerous.