A finals-bound Knights side faces a major test of its depth after losing two key stars to injury, while the Broncos look to keep their fading season alive in a crucial Saturday night clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Read Full Previews

Matchday Details

Saturday, 1 August 2026 – 7:35pm AEST
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Josiah Karapani, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Grant Anderson, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Adam Reynolds (c), 8. Va’a Semu, 9. Cory Paix, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Xavier Willison, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 14. Billy Walters, 15. Ben Talty, 16. Jaiyden Hunt, 17. Ben Hunt, 18. Luke Gale, 19. Hayze Perham, 20. Gehamat Shibasaki, 21. Jesse Arthars, 22. Joshua Coric

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga (c), 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Cody Hopwood, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Trey Mooney, 11. Jermaine McEwen, 12. Francis Manuleleua, 13. Mat Croker, 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Tyson Frizell, 16. Thomas Cant, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Lachlan Crouch, 20. Toby Winter, 21. Kyle McCarthy, 22. Connor Votano

Match Preview

After season-ending injuries to two of their biggest stars, can the Newcastle Knights find a way past last year’s premiers, the Brisbane Broncos? The Broncos enter this clash at near full strength and are desperate to salvage something from an otherwise disappointing 2026 campaign. While the Knights will be desperate to lock in a top-eight spot with September approaching.

In March, nobody would have predicted a future September final series not featuring the Broncos.  Their devastating run through the 2025 finals series produced some of the best football ever witnessed, and was presumed to have left scars on some of the heavyweights of the competition. After 21 rounds, the Broncos have remarkably dropped out of the finals race, leaving fans scratching their collective heads.

Injuries and suspensions to key players Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Reece Walsh, Billy Walters and Kotoni Staggs have tested roster depth, and they have at times looked like a team lacking cohesion. After early season wins against competition heavyweights the Melbourne Storm and Dolphins, they have struggled to compete with the top 8 teams. While crucial losses against the bottom-ranked, Eels, Dragons and Titans soured their finals ambitions.  

Last season’s wooden spooners, the Newcastle Knights have had a season to remember and appeared to be in the running for a top 4 finish throughout much of the season. Halfback Dylan Brown has been one of the buys of the season and has shown himself to be able to handle the lead half role, while general growth and improvement in both the forwards and backs has led to consistent wins. If competitive losses against quality outfits such as the Roosters (1 points), Sharks (2 points) and Rabbitohs (2 points), had been flipped, they would be sitting in outright second place.

The Knights would appear to have this game in the bag, however, season-ending injuries in Round 21 to superstars Dylan Brown (ACL) and Dylan Lucas (ankle fracture/dislocation) have not only affected their ability to make the top eight but their chance to make history by becoming the first team since the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1934 to go from last to first in a single season. The Knights will call upon the ever-reliable Sandon Smith to replace Brown, who has played 16 matches this year, including starting 13 times. He will be expected to play a huge part for the remainder of the season.

While the Knights have depth in the backline and a seemingly endless array of multi-positional replacements to cover injuries, the Knights’ forward pack is less capable of reshuffling personnel than the backline has been throughout the season. The loss of Lucas will be significant as he is their third-highest try scorer this year and arguably their most consistent performer week in, week out. This will test their forward depth, particularly with prop Jacob Saifiti missing with injury until round 25. Jermaine McEwan replaces Lucas in the second row. 

The spine battle is evenly matched, with Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith going head-to-head with Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in a contest likely to define the outcome. There are points to be scored in both teams’ outside backs. The injury-hit Knights forward pack will need to at least break even with the Broncos forwards led by Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan, to provide a platform for the backline to prosper.  

This game is likely to highlight whether the star-studded Broncos still have the will to compete, despite their back-to-back premiership dreams being dashed. Standing in their way is a determined and emerging Knights side eager to prove it can continue winning despite a mounting injury toll that threatens to derail their season. The Broncos will be desperate to reward their home fans, who would have expected far more from this campaign, while extending their six-game winning streak against the Knights.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Brisbane by 12
Full Round 22 tips → /nrl-round-22-predictions-2026/
Bold call: With the finals pressure valve lifted, expect a free-flowing game and Reece Walsh to get over for a four-pointer.

Want to try your hand at writing match previews?
We’re always looking for new rugby league contributors to share their thoughts on upcoming NRL games.
No experience needed — just strong opinions and a love of the game
👉 Get started here

Subscribe to our weekly tips

We'll send you our weekly predictions once they're posted to Rugby League Zone!

No spam, you can cancel at any time.

Previous articleStorm vs Bulldogs Preview (Round 22, 2026): Team News, Team Lists & Prediction
Next articleTitans vs Warriors Preview (Round 22, 2026): Team News, Team Lists & Prediction
Cameron Mark

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.