Expert
The New Zealand Warriors look to kick start their 2012 campaign with a victory over the highflying Brisbane Broncos at Mount Smart Stadium. Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST.
New Zealand might just be the 2011 Grand Finalists, but the Warriors are a shell of their former selves in 2012 and are yet to string two consecutive victories together.
The Warriors are not the side they were in ‘11 and will be looking to buck the trend when they host the Broncos.
Inexplicably, this is the first time this season the Broncos wont be playing on a Friday night and travel to Auckland on the back of six consecutive wins.
Brisbane have unearthed Corey Norman as their five-eight of the future with some commanding performances with or without Peter Wallace inside him.
Norman has blossomed under the tutelage of Anthony Griffin and has another wonderful challenge ahead of him in Auckland against James Maloney, Shaun Johnson and a monster Warriors forward pack.
The Warriors really need to find some more mongrel in the engine room if they are to defeat the Broncos and outplay one of the best forward packs in the game which includes Corey Parker, Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn and Ben Hannant.
Its all about the arm wrestle for the Warriors and putting themselves in a position later in the game to have a real shot at the Broncos.
Brisbane will have a simple game plan and will let the Warriors beat themselves before they do anything drastic.
Expect Petero Civoneciva to have a wow of a game up front for Brisbane while Feleti Mateo needs to be as his very best to give New Zealand a shot.
Warriors have a real chance today to get their 2012 campaign back on track. But they will need to be good.
Very, very good. It is a big day for coach Brian McClennan and his men.
Prediction: Warriors by 6.
Can the Broncos continue on their merry way and make it seven straight or will the Warriors find the form we all know they are capable off? Find out from 5.30pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary and if you’re watching or following along, leave us a comment in the space below.