The Brisbane Broncos face a very tough trip across the Tasman as they face a New Zealand Warriors side on a four match winning streak. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00pm AEST.
Six weeks ago, the Warriors were coming off an historic 56-point defeat at the hands of the Panthers. New Zealand had officially hit rock bottom.
Since that terrible defeat, the Warriors have brought their season back to life, courtesy of a four match winning streak that has seen them defeat premiership contenders Manly and Sydney in consecutive weeks.
New Zealand will be favoured to notch up their fifth win on the trot today when they face a Broncos outfit who they beat convincingly just four weeks ago.
The Broncos however were missing their Origin stars on that occasion and are back to full strength for this match-up.
With that said, the Warriors are currently playing with the skill and belief that saw them make the 2011 grand final and will be very difficult to stop at home this afternoon.
Prediction
Brisbane are going to have their hands full containing a Warriors team full of confidence at the moment.
Key Warriors stars Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Elijah Taylor and Sam Rapira are all playing strongly at the moment and will take a power of stopping upfront today.
Brisbane certainly possess the forwards to match the Warriors pack, and it may very well take Origin-like performances from the likes of Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett and Ben Hannant for the Broncos to stand toe to toe with the home side.
While Brisbane do have the muscle upfront to make a game of this, their attack remains a huge cause for concern, particularly if Justin Hodges and Josh Hoffman are kept under wraps.
The Warriors on the other hand have all their key attacking weapons in great form, with Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai and Glen Fisiiahi causing huge havoc against the opposition of late.
If the Warriors are allowed to get on the front foot early, New Zealand will most likely run away with this contest, given the rich vein of form and confidence at their disposal.
Warriors by ten.
WEST
Roar Guru
Awsome win Warriors, 5 in a row must be some kind of record. keep it up boys.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Neither lol quite horrific.
eagleJack
Guest
Where can we buy tickets to watch this bungy jump? :)
Maroon Blood
Guest
"Trust me I don’t want that at all.... " What, the Broncs getting the spoon or me doing the bungy jump?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Trust me I don't want that at all but it wouldn't surprise me this year.
Maroon Blood
Guest
*gulp* they'll be right....
Cameron
Roar Guru
You looked at the ladder, current run to finals and form recently?
Maroon Blood
Guest
Mate, the day the Broncs "win" the wooden spoon I will bungy jump from the Storey Bridge with the cord tied to my ball bag. In other words, it will never happen...........I hope!!!!!
MMA
Guest
What is it about "accidental" elbows not being treated seriously by the refs? Maybe someone should give the ref a couple of elbows to see how it feels.
Cameron
Roar Guru
5/6 :P
Cameron
Roar Guru
Last time we versed the Eels they best us.
Roarsome
Guest
injured in warmup
Boomshanka
Guest
Nope. Even with pay tv, the earliest one could watch the warriors today in Australia was on a two hour delay (in standard definition full of ads). Seriously kiwis don't appreciate how good it is. Sure you may have to pay to watch professional sport, but it can be enjoyed live and in HD. Think of us here who do pay a subscription but thanks to corrupt politicians, dodgy tv networks and anti siphoning laws we can't enjoy quality coverage of sport.
pogo
Guest
Only live in NZ if you have sky, surely if you shelled for pay tv in oz it would be live too.
Matt
Guest
We can beat the Eels & the Tigers. That's something? :)
Matt
Guest
I didn't realise it was so bad. I knew things haven't been great (being a Broncos & QLD supporter, constant losing isn't something I've had to deal with in quite a while!), that stat is terrible though. 30% win/loss is... Eels like. Unless something turns around, I can't see Griffin coaching next year. Apparently they signed some 18 year old on $300,000 a year... gee whiz, he better be good. DCE & Foran were on pocket change, Barba etc; not many youngsters who have solid money thrown at them ever come through, it's nearly always the ones who are rejected and work their ass off to prove themselves who turn into the best players.
Boomshanka
Guest
What Joke coverage here in Australia. Delayed for two hours with only two minutes before the cut to the News and a pressure kick takes place that the suffering Channel Nine viewers already know the result. Gould harping on about going to golden point, when we all know that Channel Nine only use the league as a lead to their News. Despite no pre or post match build up or post-mortem with an extremely brief half time review, 120 minutes of TV coverage to produce 80 minutes of content is a joke. The kiwis were able to lap up the coverage live and in HD with no ads whilst we languish in standard definition (tell me again why I forked out for my big screen?) full of ads and delayed to the point that the result was known well before we heard the final whistle. Hats off to the Warriors and I'm looking forward to being there in Perth next week.
Boomshanka
Guest
Nothing seen by the Channel Nine commentary team. So all clear here on the big West Island. If the situation had been reversed, well....
Renegade
Guest
If Cameron Smith doesn't line up for Melbourne, i'd be inclined to pick Brisbane in that game based on today's effort....it was a very good contest.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Broncos are heading for their first ever wooden spoon whilst Griffin heads for the scrap heap.