The New Zealand Warriors are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they host the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
Five wins in a row has finally given long-suffering Warriors fans hope that this year might be the first time they play finals football since 2011.
So far, they’ve had wins over Souths, the Titans, Canberra, the Roosters and the Cowboys.
Coach Stephen Kearney has named an unchanged 17 this week.
The Broncos have just two wins to show for their efforts in 2018, against the Cowboys and the Wests Tigers. They’re coming off back-to-back losses to the Titans and Newcastle.
Their record against the Warriors in New Zealand in recent years doesn’t inspire much confidence either, having only won two of their last ten matches when playing them across the ditch.
But they should be fired up for a big performance to get their season back on track in front a parochial Kiwi crowd.
Alex Glenn returns from a shoulder injury this week for Brisbane, to take his usual spot in the back row, with Jaydn Su’A dropping back to the bench.
Prediction
Broncos by 7.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
Paul C
Guest
Is this all?? The Broncos beat an undefeated team in the Warriors & all we get is the blog highlights?? Oh no sorry, another story on Matt Lodge. Last week was only critical stories about the team & coach. How about a good story for a change, like how good the Broncos forwards were & how many metres they covered??
Bobby Farrin
Guest
always going to be a Broncos win even when they are still out of form - Warriors will finish 15th
Bobby Farrin
Guest
April premiers the Warriors like their next opponents the Dragons - both going downwards after next week.
Fraser
Guest
He was moving backwards and ended up on the wrong side of the post. Not much he could've done really.
JN
Guest
Zozza is a bit of a looney. If these 'no name' refs were reffing the game, it just says that they are qualified to, and would be at the same level as the 'top' referees currently reffing. Warriors just weren't that good today, but they still played better than the team i follow; cough cough Roosters. Though it is still only round 6, so there is still a fair way to go
Kurt S
Roar Pro
I only saw the highlights, Alan, but it looked like Oates had a strong run. I like the look of him and hope he gets his chance in Origin again this year. He is a great finisher and that is important, but I would love to see him have a run in the second row. I'm not sure how is defense will be close to the middle of the field, but it is worth a shot. Brisbane, although better today, still need more momentum and big bodies in motion. Oates might give them a little extra as he is happy to roll up his sleeves and come in off the wing when the hard work is required off their own line.
Alan
Guest
Oates Man of the Match for me.
Emcie
Roar Guru
The football gods have smled upon you
Nico
Guest
Pangai jnr has been solid but gives away at least one easily avoidable penalty every game - a couple of times this season not playing the ball properly, tonight a silly 3rd man into a tackle
John Coomer
Roar Guru
And I actually wrote that match preview and tip before Gillett and Nikorima were ruled out. I would have tipped the Warriors after that news broke. Luckily it worked out OK, but it just shows how hard it is to tip this year.
Zozza
Guest
I'm a looney? You are a goose.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Big name refs always get the FTA games, if you wanna complain about something complain about not getting more FTA coverage, the rest of your arguements are pretty pathetic
Emcie
Roar Guru
You're a looney
Zozza
Guest
Obviously not when you look at the two assigned to this game. Good to see we agree on something.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I don't think refs are allocated depending on which teams "deserve" them
Zozza
Guest
Yep I do, and did. And I'm correct. But well done Broncos, you got a ref assisted win from a poor Warriors team on the day.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Warriors lead the penalty count for the entire game starting with three in a row directly after the Broncos scored the opening try and a number of which helped your team out of their own 20 . The Warriors also rarely played the ball on the mark and were quite willing to get "tangled" in tackles. There's also a couple of no names overseeing the Bulldogs game currently, it's not a big deal. You don't get to bring up the refs just because your teams lost.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Yeah it was great, hoping for the same against Melbourne. Ofa, Su'A and TPJ all have to step it up another octave against wrecking giants NAS and Kasiano.
Zozza
Guest
That's because no one cares about the Knights, and they were never going to best Melbourne. An unbeaten team, however, deserves at least one recognised referee, not the two Nevilles no one has heard of.
Zozza
Guest
Will still be a huge match. Will enjoy Warriors ending Saints run.