Broncos
16
Match Complete
Wests Tigers
22
| 79 |  | E. Marsters | ||
| 78 |  | M. C. Kam | ||
| J. Isaako |  | 69 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 66 | ||
| K. Nikorima | | 65 | ||
| 60 | | E. Marsters | ||
| 51 | | E. Marsters | ||
| 50 | | M. Eisenhuth | ||
| 48 | | E. Marsters | ||
| 38 | | E. Marsters | ||
| 37 | | L. Garner | ||
| J. Isaako | | 20 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 4 | ||
| M. Gillett | | 2 |
| 2 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Two sides desperate to arrest concerning losing streaks meet as the Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers clash at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:50pm (AEST).
While both the Broncos and Tigers enter tonight’s game on the back of two straight defeats, the reasons for their form slump are completely different.
For Brisbane, their defence has been the issue, while Wests are struggling to post points.
The Broncos’ first-up contact a fortnight ago against the Dragons was poor and they ended up missing 40 tackles in the 25-24 loss.
Although tasting defeat, they could count themselves fortunate that they came up against a St George Illawarra side still finding their feet.
The same couldn’t be said for their opposition last week, with the Roosters ruthlessly punishing Brisbane 36-4 for more of the same mistakes. In fact, Anthony Seibold’s men had missed 32 tackles by half time.
By no fault of their own, the Broncos entered 2019 under high expectations – their forward pack considered by many to be the best in the competition. But they seem to lack a hard edge and this week will be without Tevita Pangai-Junior (suspension).
While the Tigers don’t pose the same threat in attack (at least based on their efforts so far), they did tally 54 points in the opening two rounds.
Defence has also never been an issue for Michael Maguire’s men, who held Penrith to just one try in last week’s loss.
If they show the same resilience defending their line on Thursday night, the points should come against a far less resistant Broncos outfit.
Benji Marshall (hamstring) remains sidelined but that is hardly a problem after Josh Reynold’s man-of-the-match effort last weekend. The five-eighth set up both of the Tigers’ tries.
Prediction
Surprisingly, perhaps based on their home ground advantage, Brisbane are strong favourites here.
There is every chance they bounce back and show everyone why they were so highly rated at the start of the season.
But defence always comes first and it is a term that seems foreign to the Queenslanders at the moment.
Another steely showing defending their line should see the Tigers home.
Tigers by 8
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:50pm (AEST).
Game info
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEDT)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
TV: Live, Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: 9Now, Foxtel Go, Foxtel Now
Betting: Broncos $1.45, Tigers $2.75
Referee: Ben Cummins, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Squads
Broncos
1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Jack Bird 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. David Fifita 14. Gehamat Shibasaki 15. Jaydn Su’a 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Patty Carrigan 18. Payne Haas 19. Shaun Fensom 20. James Roberts 21. Richard Kennar
Tigers
1. Moses Mbye 2. Mahe Fonua 3. Robert Jennings 4. Esan Marsters 5. Corey Thompson 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Luke Brooks 8. Russell Packer 9. Robbie Farah 10. Alex Twal 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Luke Garner 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Ben Matulino 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Michael Chee-Kam 18. Paul Momirovski 19. Elijah Taylor 20. David Nofoaluma 21. Chris McQueen
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe...but that field goal set spoke to me of a poorly coached team. No one had a clue what they were supposed to do. Can you imagine a Bellamy or Robinson coached team being so clueless in the same situation. The quality of performance for a few weeks now is well below the quality of the cattle. That points to poor coaching to me.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Alfie also retired from the NRL because of that start.
db
Guest
It has happened under Bennett. In 1999, the Broncos lost their first 5 games after winning the premiership the year before. They only won one of their first 10 games and that win was against Souths so it didn't really count.
Rob
Guest
Are they poorly coached or just lacking leadership on the field. I haven’t noticed Alfie anywhere near as much on the field this season? When teams are dropping balls and making poor decisions under pressure i’m not identifying the coaching as a problem. The only blame a coach can wear is selection issues ( team balance players In positions that can’t do the job), fitnesses, and bench rotation. Maybe Milford can’t organise, Boyd can’t make a one on one tackle and a few others drop the ball far to easily. I guess that is poor coaching selections but these blokes have been around for a while now.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"Must be driving the coach to distraction" Then it's about time he stopped being distracted by last years achievements and his shiny "Dally M Coach of the Year" trophy and realise "he's not in Redfern anymore Albo!"
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
It has never happened under Bennett. That's 5 losses from his last 6 games for Seibold counting last year's prelim final. They have put horses down who were in less trouble. What is worrying, if you look at the press conference, is that Seibold is in denial about just how big the hole is that he has dug himself in Brisbane. Pretty soon the Broncos CEO will start shoveling the dirt back in and Seibold will buried and forgotten before heading for the English Super League like so many failed coaches before him.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If he could have impeded Chee Kam on the last try Milford stood a fair chance of stopping the try. I'm not sure Boyd is doing that well mentally and the pressure is building. Unfortunately he will be copping criticism and the only way to lessen it is to put his body on the line whenever he has to.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Boyd had a few better hit ups than in previous weeks. But there were two attacking bombs inside the 30m zone in the first half by the Tigers where the kicker was centre field and put a bomb that came down centre field near the tryline and Boyd left them both. Milford had to track back to try and defuse them. The first Tigers try he put in a pathetic effort to get to Cheekam and a token effort to dive near Garner as he crossed. The final try he was long odds to stop Chee Kam but he didn't even get near him. Not even remotely close. Boyd came up with no missed tackles for the game again. You might say that is a good thing, but it reflects the lack of tackles he is even attempting or his willingness to throw his body in the firing line.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
That was the thing with that field goal set - it was from a scrum. So they had the opportunity to run a fully practiced set to get them in FG position and it was completely botched. The spine is the source of their most experienced players, so they can't just drop them when the thing that is missing is experienced leaders. I don't know the answer for the Bronocs right now...
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
You obviously missed last season's game against the Tigers. The Broncos didn't score a try in 87 minutes of football. It was a terrible game.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"They defend ok (but could easily have lost with all the bombed tries)..." The Tigers bombed two tries of their own - so they could have won by more. In the past 12 months Brisbane have played the Tigers twice and scored the grand total of two tries - they scored no tries in 87 minutes of football last season and two last night. So yeah, the Tigers do defend OK against Brisbane.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm a CheeKam fan. We've yet to see the very best of him yet in the NRL. Though he gave us a glimpse late last night. He looked like being a super star when as a kid in the Holden Cup with the Raiders. Then he went to Manly for couple seasons and went nowhere fast. Moved to the Tigers and finally hit that promised form late last season. He should be a starter somewhere in that team now, though his most appropriate edge backrow spots are currently being well handled by Matterson & Garner.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Even despite their rudderless performance, they still created & bombed three simple tries that could have seen them get home easily. Must be driving the coach to distraction .
Wayne Turner
Guest
Former Eels under 20's player. Another good player they let get away. A top player.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Lockyer is clueless. ONLY got his position,from being a club playing legend.He should be booted.
Rellum
Roar Guru
He is out there as soon as we get the ball.
Wayne Turner
Guest
I got my tip wrong,very wrong. I thought Brisbane were going to thrash Wests Tigers,to silence the critics,for a week anyway. Instead Brisbane are a joke. Great move - NOT. Getting rid of the most experienced coach in the comp,and replacing him with a 1 year experienced head coach. Brisbane are playing like a team,with no coach. Darius misses daddy Bennett. The halves are a mess,Isaaka is going backwards,and their hooker has no attack. It doesn't get any easier - Next week they play Canberra,in Canberra.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Sorry. Roberts has been thrown out of so many establishments it's hard to keep track. LOL
Rellum
Roar Guru
2 percent better than terrible is still terrible.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That was someone's house, not a night club