Matchday Details
Friday, 24 April 2026 – 8:00pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Wyatt Raymond | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Brisbane Broncos: 1. Jesse Arthars, 2. Josiah Karapani, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Deine Mariner, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Adam Reynolds (c), 8. Ben Talty, 9. Cory Paix, 10. Jack Gosiewski, 11. Brendan Piakura, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Xavier Willison, 14. Josh Rogers, 15. Jaiyden Hunt, 16. Preston Riki, 17. Va’a Semu, 18. Hayze Perham, 19. Antonio Verhoeven, 20. Thomas Duffy, 21. Cameron Bukowski
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey, 2. Jonathan Sua, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Stephen Crichton (c), 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Lachlan Galvin, 8. Samuel Hughes, 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Jacob Preston, 13. Jaeman Salmon, 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Harry Hayes, 17. Jake Turpin, 19. Josh Curran, 20. Lipoi Hopoi, 21. Jethro Rinakama, 22. Alekolasimi Jones, 23. Alex Conti
Match Preview
While Brisbane and Canterbury finished top four in 2025, they now both sit outside the top eight after seven rounds.
The Broncos have been ravaged by injuries, with 12 players unavailable (including Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Ben Hunt, Jesse Arthars, and Kotoni Staggs), and Patrick Carrigan in the middle of a suspension. This would be enough to break most teams, but somehow they’re staying afloat, with a tight win over the Wests Tigers following a surprise home loss to North Queensland. Adam Reynolds is a big reason for this: he’s played in five games so far for three wins and scored all of the Broncos’ second‑half points against the Tigers. Despite their injury toll, Brisbane will be motivated to improve their underwhelming home record, with just one win from four games so far.
While Canterbury (3–3) haven’t been as affected by injuries as Brisbane – losing Max King, Jacob Kiraz, Enari Tuala, and Mitchell Woods – inconsistency has been a bigger issue. They were arguably lucky to beat St George Illawarra in Vegas, had a narrow win against Canberra (with Connor Tracey’s tackle on Ethan Sanders proving decisive) and losses to Newcastle and South Sydney. A comprehensive win against Penrith appeared to revive their season before a disappointing loss to Parramatta – whose injury toll rivals that of the Broncos – last weekend.
The match is the third Anzac weekend clash between the two clubs, with the 2025 and 2026 games played on ANZAC Day Eve. Brisbane have won both contests comfortably.
Further injuries (to Haas and Corey Jensen) have forced more changes for Michael Maguire’s Broncos, with Ben Talty and Jack Gosiewski named as starting props and Cory Paix returning from a head knock at hooker. Va’a Semu has been named on the bench and could make his NRL debut. Canterbury welcome back captain Stephen Crichton at centre, while Jonathan Sua replaces Jacob Kiraz.
The key match‑up is between a veteran and one of the most hyped young players in the NRL: Adam Reynolds versus Lachlan Galvin.
As outlined above, Reynolds has been crucial in keeping the Broncos in touch with the top eight. In his final season, he is determined to leave nothing in the tank before calling time on his decorated career. Galvin has been under intense scrutiny since the Tigers drama began around Easter last year, but is now putting that noise aside and playing consistent football. There has been debate over the ideal make‑up of Canterbury’s halves, but Cameron Ciraldo is sticking with the Matt Burton–Galvin combination. With Bronson Xerri back in Ciraldo’s good books and Crichton returning, there appears little reason to shift Burton back to the centres.
Can Galvin match it with the 300‑plus‑game veteran Reynolds in front of what is likely to be a packed Suncorp Stadium crowd and deliver a crucial win for Canterbury? Or will Reynolds continue to guide the Broncos until their stars return?
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Broncos by 2
Bold call: Reynolds to keep the “not quite-Baby Broncos” winning through the sheer force of his experience.
Related
- NRL Round 8 Predictions
- NRL Round 8 Team Lists
- NRL Round 8 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
