Broncos
24
Match Complete
Panthers
12
| J. Isaako |  | 74 | ||
| P. Haas |  | 73 | ||
| 57 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 56 | | B. To'o | ||
| J. Isaako | | 54 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 53 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 43 | ||
| 36 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 36 | | N. Cleary | ||
| J. Isaako |  | 31 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 16 | ||
| K. Staggs | | 15 |
| 4 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The NRL continues this Friday night with the Brisbane Broncos taking on the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:55pm AEST.
In the closest race for the top eight in years, this match will decide which side is safely in the eight and which side is in danger of sliding outside of the 8 after this round, perhaps as low as 10th or 11th spot. It is that close.
The best thing to come out of Brisbane’s win against North Queensland last weekend was the two points. The performance itself was poor and the Broncos were lucky to get away with a win against a Cowboys team just looking to get to the end of the season.
Cast your mind back a fortnight ago and you’ll recall the humiliation of the Broncos by the Storm. The Broncos are on the edge of the eight and need to re-discover their form quickly.
Anthony Seibold has named the same 17 which beat the Cowboys. Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett are named in the reserves and could make their returns from injury, if they get through the week unscathed.
The Penrith Panthers looked to be on the slide until last weekend. Missing James Maloney due to suspension, the Panthers showed real grit to hold off a fast-finishing Cronulla.
I still have a question mark over their form as the Sharks effort, especially in the first half, was disappointing. Nevertheless, Nathan Cleary had arguably his best game of the year whilst the pack matched it with the strong Cronulla pack. They will need to repeat that again this weekend against the Broncos.
James Maloney returns from suspension at five-eighth, with Matt Burton making way. Isaah Yeo has been named to start and Moses Leota goes to the bench.
Prediction
A lot hinges on the outcome of this game.
Both sides will be desperate but the Broncos at home should be hard to beat.
I’m tipping them in a close one.
Broncos by 1
When: 7.55pm AEST
Where: Suncorp Stadium
TV: Channel 9, Fox League
Online: NRL Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Brisbane Broncos: $1.68, Penrith Panthers: $2.15
Brisbane Broncos
1. Anthony Milford 5. Jamayne Isaako 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 2. Corey Oates 6. Darius Boyd 7. Jake Turpin 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Payne Haas 11. David Fifita 12. Tevita Pangai 13. Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange: 14. James Segeyaro 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Patty Carrigan
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Moses Leota 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I remember Ekka. It's a little like Greenland. Everyone has to check if they are related before asking each other out. LOL Congrats to you, Nat and Rellum and the rest of the Broncos faithful on the win last night. The Broncos were clearly the better side but all that will change next week when the "Baby Broncos" play "Bennett's Bunnies".
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
After we beat CPB's "Underdogs" today the Rabbitohs will be 4th on ladder and building momentum towards the finals. Much better than being ecstatic about being 7th on the ladder until the Broncos play the Bunnies next week and the puppet master pulls Seibold's strings sending the "Baby Broncos" crashing out of the top 8 and back to NRL daycare. ;-) You must have been pleased with the Broncos effort last night against a Panthers side that kept shooting themselves in the feet. Kudos to you for getting to the game. If I wasn't a 7 hour return trip from today's game I would be in the stands cheering the boys on as well.
Nat
Roar Guru
I was filling one of those seats mate. Our worst crowd is better then your best. Where are you on the table? Haha
Albo
Roar Rookie
Who wouldn’t enjoy playing against the Naden / Mansour turnstile? Now have leaked 14 tries in the past 4 matches down that left side ! And they let Waqa Blake go to Parra ?
thomas c
Guest
After last week, the panthers probably thought going for being really energetic was their play. If energy doesn't work, you need a fallback. But i don't know what you do after seeing that. You have 2 current rep grade halves and only score twice. They didn't exhibit anything positive to build on. 15 errors. And anyone who's paying attention knows you have to come up with a solution to the Payne Haas problem (power, freakish endurance). Some poor refereeing. Some missed off sides from dummy half runs and missed obvious incorrect play the balls.
matth
Roar Guru
Just the way he burned the fullback, so much pace for such a big man after 70 minutes of game time.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Tamou scored one similar this year and I've seen Fifita and Jessie score similar in years past. It was a great try though and he's still a kid!
matth
Roar Guru
I don’t think I’ve seen a better try by a front rower.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Everyone's broke or sick after the Ekka mate
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Thanks David!
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks all for following the call. It wasn't always mistake free but we got an entertaining game tonight. Let's hope its the same for the rest of the weekend. Enjoy it everyone!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haas saved a couple of tries in cover defence near the end as well
Emcie
Roar Guru
Cheers for the call mate!
Emcie
Roar Guru
You forgot Isaako, good to see him look like he's enjoying things again
Joe
Roar Rookie
Well, well well....Broncos keeping the dream alive! Pretty good game but definitely Broncos played a lot better and deserved the win. Panthers hot and cold season continues and tonight they were pretty cold. Boy that Haas try was good...so good!..surely man of the match...he was busting tackles and breaking the line tonight. Isaako played his best game as well. Broncos might be in some hot water with the match review committee though so they'll be keeping their fingers crossed as they'll need to win again next week.
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Panthers travel to Townsville next week before taking on the Roosters at the SCG. They will play the Knights in the last round which would well determine their season
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Well done Broncs. Just dominant from the get go up front. Haas is a weapon. Turpin will be a long term Broncs number nine and Staggs is developing into a really classy centre. Things looking up for the Southerners.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Didn't really see much of that game, but good to see the young Broncs getting a win
Emcie
Roar Guru
If he can't read a script at 9 he won't do much better trying to read the one at fox
Stormy
Guest
David, could you or another Guru, tell me why I was not able to comment or "like" tonight. Logged in several times - kept being told I had to join or log in. Have been a Roar Rookie for quite some time. Didn't enjoy spending the whole game trying to be included.