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.
Go warriors
Guest
Great win warriors. Now we just need to back it up next week and get a roll on. Good crowd too.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Its all over here at Mount Smart Stadium and the Warriors have defeated the Broncos by 30 points to 20 in a very high intensity match. The Broncos definetely missed Peter Wallace in the second half but you would have to think that Wallace wouldnt have made too much difference in a game very much played between two very good sides tonight. The Warriors won on the back of a gutsty determination to keep the Broncos out in defence. The Broncos shouldnt be too concerned. New Zealand need to back this win up next week with another similar performance. Fulltime in Auckland, Warriors 30 Broncos 20.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 80th Min: Warriors 30-20 Corey Parker No Goal Full Time Warriors 30 Broncos 20
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 80th Min: Warriors 30-20 Sam Thaiday Try Hunt drops a short ball to Te'o who breaks through the Warriors line and finds Thaiday who charges over Ropati to score on the final play of the game.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
agree. id like to see them next week before i say their back.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 77th Min: Warriors 30-16 Hard to pick a Man of the Match here. Vatuvei, Johnson, Maloney, Matulino, Packer have all been very good. Tough to pick one.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
That's the match to the Warriors. Another chapter is written in the mystery-shrouded riddle that is NZ league. They can punish you.. If they can be bothered.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 75th Min: Warriors 30-16 James Maloney Goal
Curtis Woodward
Expert
cant blame them. fast paced, tough game of footy
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 73rd Min: Warriors 28-16 Feleti Mateo Try Mateo crashes over against a tiring Broncos side. Friend goes right to a charging Mateo who takes two across the line with him. What a game though. Warriors deserve this win tonight. They've won it on defence and grit.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Contagious butter-fingers here
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 72nd Min: Warriors 24-16 Norman spills his lollies 30 out and hands the ball back to NZ.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 70th Min: Warriors 24-16 Civoneciva drops the ball but Warriors cant take advantage. After a set of six on the Brisbane line, Tupou spills the ball on the last looking for the corner. Official crowd attendance 19, 012
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 68th Min: Warriors 24-16 Johnson cross field kick goes through Vatuvei's hands and into touch. Broncos survive but how much is left in the tank to get down the other end and score another two tries?
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 67th Min: Warriors 24-16 Mateo knock on, 10 out from Brisbane line. Fatigue will come into it here. Look for Norman or Johnson for their respective sides.
blair
Guest
cmon warriors it will be a shame if they fall apart here
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 66th Min: Warriors 24-16 Tough on Brisbane there. Hurrell rushed to his feet to play the ball and looks like he just lost it. Unlucky for Brisbane.Penalty to NZ.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 65th Min: Warriors 24-16 Warriors rewarded for some really gritty defence. Broncos mistake from dummy half. Warriors out of trouble again, but for how long?
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 63rd Min: Warriors 24-16 Reed grubbers into the in-goal. Ropati gets there but is trapped ingoal. More pressure for Warriors. Very, very tense right now.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
NRL 61st Min: Warriors 24-16 Johnson kicks out on the full. Broncos again back into Warriors danger zone.