Brisbane Broncos
20
Match Complete
Sydney Roosters
21
| 79 |  | A. Keighran | ||
| S. Cobbo | | 76 | ||
| 72 |  | S. Walker | ||
| 62 |  | A. Keighran | ||
| 61 |  | J. Tedesco | ||
| S. Cobbo | | 59 | ||
| A. Kelly | | 58 | ||
| 32 | | A. Keighran | ||
| 30 | | D. Copley | ||
| T. Gamble | | 21 | ||
| J. Riki | | 19 | ||
| 14 | | A. Keighran | ||
| 12 | | I. Liu | ||
| T. Gamble | | 8 | ||
| P. Haas | | 7 |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 1 |
Round 22 continues tonight when the Brisbane Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters looking for a repeat of their massive upset earlier in the season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:05pm (AEST).
The Broncos’ season is well and truly over, but they do get a chance to derail teams heading towards finals. The Sydney Roosters are expected to win this but the Broncos’ improvement of late will have them a least a little bit worried.
Brisbane are coming off a 28-20 loss to the Knights last weekend, but they were in the match for almost the entirety. Prior to that, they comfortably beat the Cowboys. With all their games at home, the Broncos are playing better football. Whether that is good enough to beat the Roosters remains to be seen.
Payne Haas has been tremendous for the Broncos in recent weeks, with his State of Origin experience proving a large bonus. Youngster Tesi Niu is getting better each week and will test the Roosters’ defence.
Thomas Flegler returns from suspension, and replaces the injured Keenan Palasia in Kevvie Walters’ starting team. Albert Kelly comes in at half for Brodie Croft, Selwyn Cobbo replaces Jesse Arthars at centre, whilst Xavier Coates replaces Jamayne Isaako.
The Roosters got close against an understrength Panthers unit last weekend, but ultimately fell short. Errors and ill discipline cost them dearly and they will need to remove those from their game if they want to progress far in September.
Having said that, the Roosters have done remarkably well to be sitting that high on the ladder, given their long-term injury toll. Trent Robinson has blooded a group of young players and it is starting to pay off.
Sitili Tupouniua moves from centre to second row to replace the suspended Angus Crichton. Joey Manu comes into the centres, while Dale Copley will play his first game for the Roosters on the wing. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves gets a rest with Naufahu Whyte joining the bench.
Prediction
This is a real danger game for the Roosters, with JWH an integral part of their forward pack.
However, they still have a number of big-game players like James Tedesco and Victor Radley and they will just get the job done.
Sydney Roosters by 6.
Game information
Kick-off: 8:05pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO
Betting: Broncos $4.40, Roosters $1.21 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Brisbane Broncos
1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Selwyn Cobbo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Xavier Coates 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Albert Kelly 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Danny Levi 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn (c) 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington
Bench/Reserves: 14. Xavier Willison 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. TC Robati | 18. Cory Paix 19. Anthony Milford 20. Brendan Piakura 21. David Mead
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco (c) 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Adam Keighran 4. Joey Manu 5. Dale Copley 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Sam Walker 8. Isaac Liu 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Nat Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley
Bench/Reserves: 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Egan Butcher 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Naufahu Whyte | 18. Ben Marschke 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Brad Abbey 21. Ben Thomas
mushi
Roar Guru
Finals return doesn't really impact the ladder position though. Of those 8 I think 3 the total list is longer ~11 in total including 3 medial retirements I think but I was only counting starting 13. A quick look at the stats, and assuming no injuries suspension from here on out, we'll get 56% of available games out of the best 13. So effectively missing an average of 6 of the first choice 13 players per game - be interested to see which of the other teams will have that rate of attrition. They aren't the fringe guys either - single digits out of our best: half, hooker, prop, edge forward and winger.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I get what you are saying but I am sure I heard the ref say as he was making a square with his fingers that the roosters were challenging a "high shot". Maybe I am remembering it incorrectly.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's very murky. Teddy challenges the dropped ball in the ptb . He also points out there was a high shot in the lead up. The challenge though is dropped ball. Challenge unsuccessful but penalty. Because the ptb wasn't complete they go back through the whole play. Its the smartest challenge ever and also why bit needs to be thrown in the bin.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I thought the ref said they were challenging the high tackle
elvis
Roar Rookie
I thought it was a decent effort actually.
elvis
Roar Rookie
But if you are going to do it, do it full Steve Price! God know what Hass and Radley thought they were going to do.
elvis
Roar Rookie
From how he is playing now, when a new contract is on the line... Bennett - better to let them go a year early than a year late.
Joey
Guest
Storm learnt the hard way that going for trivial streak records can backfire. The spine should not have been anywhere near the field. One of them is now damaged goods. A second hasn’t really shown he’s repaired. Up to them who they play next 3 weeks, but definitely 2nd place is on the cards for them if they decide to rest for three weeks.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
It certainly looked ugly. Kelly could have ended up with very serious injury over that. Radley really needs to be careful. If he gets many more sessions on the sidelines from the judiciary, he may become too much of a liability for teams. His value may drop come new contract time.
David Holden
Roar Guru
I said it was a tough call on Flegler when it happened. Of course it was tough but, under today's rules, it was a penalty. Not saying it was right...no one wanted the game to end like that, but the bunker would have been called out for ignoring the contact if the call had gone the other way
Joey
Guest
Radley’s attack on the legs of the kicker, hardly an attempt at charge down and dangerous as all hell. He won’t be seeing much play before finals.
Wait a minute!
Guest
If the Roosters finish 4th? They’re cannon fodder for Melbourne. If as expected, Melbourne finish 1st? If Manly finish 5th? Which is an excellent chance & win versus the 8th placed team? Another excellent chance of happening. The Roosters go out in 2 games! It will be out in 2 heavy defeats , for the Roosters!
Cugel
Roar Rookie
The ball was played, just incorrectly.
Pat
Guest
Agree. Flegler was clearly aging at knocking the ball out which he did and in the motion of moving forward Situli has lightly brushed his own face against the inside of floggers arm. For that to have been the difference in winning and losing that match is a disgrace. The game has lost its way, its gone soft and is an inconsistent mess.
Pat
Guest
Alex Glen sadly has never progressed from reserve grade success story to NRL standard. They should have cut him many years ago.
theHunter
Guest
You are right...on thursday Storm retained their captains challenge for challenging a knock on but the video ref gave panthers a penalty due to a play prior to the knock on that the ref deemed play on...
Lets Fix It
Roar Rookie
Broncs were well in that throughout. Lead until about 60 minutes. Victor chargedown leg breaker- definite penalty. That captains call, bunker review, hand to face = head contact penalty… completely ridiculous. Vlandys has created this mess- he can fix it. I am not watching another NRL game until it’s fixed. You can even see the players losing interest in this circus
Bee bee
Guest
There is an 96.7 percent chance your stats are wrong.
Watda
Guest
Lol...we were playing 15th?
Watda
Guest
Exactly....they get a result threw moaning 71% of the time when they play the chookies...