Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 7 clash between the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Date: Saturday, April 19, 5:30 pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Edward Kosi 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Bunty Afoa 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Te Maire Martin 18. Tanah Boyd 20. Tanner Stowers-Smith 21. Samuel Healey 22. Freddy Lussick 23. Morgan Harper
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Smoothy 18. Deine Mariner 19. Martin Taupau 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer
Referee: Chris Butler
Bunker: Kasey Badger
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Sunday was tough for the Warriors in Melbourne. They lost to the Storm by 28 points. It was all one-way traffic in the first half, with the Storm scoring 36 points to nil. The Warriors lost James Fisher-Harris to a pectoral injury early in the first half. They would also lose Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to a HIA. The Storm had their own injury concerns, with Jahrome Hughes going off with a shoulder injury. While the Warriors scored three tries to one in the second half, it was too little, too late.
With Fisher-Harris sidelined, Jackson Ford moves into the front row. Nicoll-Klokstad is out due to concussion protocols, so Taine Tuaupiki replaces him as fullback. Rocco Berry has been suspended for one game, with Kurt Capewell moving to the centres. Leka Halasima moves into the forward pack from the bench. Edward Kosi is the new winger. Te Maire Martin will make his first appearance for the season from the bench.
While the score didn’t blow out like the Warriors/Melbourne game, the Broncos lost at home to a team they soundly beat in round 1, the Roosters. Roosters halfback Hugo Savala took Reece Walsh out of the game with his deft kicking. In his first game for 2025, Billy Smith showed his talent, scoring two tries. The Broncos sometimes seemed flat and couldn’t get out of first gear.
There’s one change to the starting side with Jordan Riki returning from suspension, while Jack Gosiewski is out due to a one-game suspension. Jesse Arthars has been named after his category one concussion was downgraded to a category two. Tyson Smoothy comes onto the bench to replace Martin Taupau.
Jackson Ford has the enormous task of filling Fisher-Harris’ shoes against two big names, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas. Nat Butcher showed what can be done to neutralise the Broncos’ go forward, and the same can be done here. Ford and Mitch Barnett must not let Haas and Carrigan get a roll on, otherwise it will be a repeat of last week.
Kurt Capewell may be in for some trouble out in the centres. Gehamat Shibasaki was quiet last week after starring for the Broncos at the start of the season; he may have more room to run amok than he did against the Roosters last week. While Capewell has shown he can play centre in the past, he is better suited to the back row.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Broncos by 12 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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