Saturday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium carries huge implications at both ends of the ladder. The Warriors arrive full of confidence after knocking off the Panthers and remain firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish, while the Broncos are searching for answers after another heartbreaking collapse. With Brisbane missing key playmaker Adam Reynolds and New Zealand boasting one of the competition’s most in-form forward packs, the visitors look well placed to extend their momentum. Can the Broncos respond in front of their home crowd, or will the Warriors take another major step towards September?

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 15 August 2026 – 7:35pm AEST – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Broadcast: Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Wyatt Raymond | 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. Thomas Duffy, 8. Xavier Willison, 9. Billy Walters, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jaiyden Hunt, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Patrick Carrigan (c), 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Aublix Tawha, 16. Jack Gosiewski, 17. Va’a Semu, 18. Blake Mozer, 19. Ben Talty, 20. Gehamat Shibasaki, 21. Jesse Arthars, 22. Hayze Perham

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Leka Halasima, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Adam Pompey, 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Makaia Tafua

Match Preview

Timing is everything as the finals approach, and the New Zealand Warriors will be hoping to replicate the Brisbane Broncos run into the 2025 finals series. The Warriors hit their straps last weekend with an impressive sixteen point victory over the competition-leading Penrith Panthers and will be looking to maintain that form as they head towards the 2026 finals series.

The Warriors remain in third place on the ladder, one win behind the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters. With a significant points differential advantage over the Roosters, they will be aiming to finish in the top two and use their significant home ground advantage through the final series.  It would be unlikely to see the Warriors miss progressing to the grand final with back-to-back Go Media Stadium finals and they undoubtedly will have that on their minds for the rest of the regular season.

The Brisbane Broncos will look at this year as the one that got away from them, much like their Round 23 clash against the Dolphins.  After racing out to a 24-point lead after 22-minutes, they looked unassailable, however, reminiscent of much of their year, the Dolphins piled on forty points to assign another loss on the shell-shocked Broncos.  Not even a three try performance from Ezra Mam during Indigenous round could turn the tide.

The Warriors enter this contest on the back of superstar halfback Luke Metcalf’s dominant display against the Panthers after finally receiving his opportunity following Te Maire Martin’s hamstring injury.  However, questions remain on internal division as his match-winning performance was met with an unusually flat response from Warriors coach Andrew Webster.  Metcalf will be hoping to dominate against a Broncos team lacking their first-choice half Adam Reynolds and lock in the number seven role heading into the finals. 

The Broncos will be at near full strength, with only Reynolds and Brendan Piakura on the injury list. The return of Billy Walters at hooker has provided an attacking threat that has been sorely missing throughout the year. Australian international Gehamat Shibasaki remains on the outer with Broncos coach Michael Maguire, with Deine Mariner and Grant Anderson occupying the left outer backs.

The forward pack battle will decide this one.  The Broncos forwards contain two of the competition’s elite in Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas, with ample support in Xavier Willison and Jordan Riki, however, the Warriors forward pack has significantly more depth including bench rotations.  The James Fisher-Harris, Mitch Barnett front-row combination is backed up by form lock Erin Clark in a break-out season, and workhorses Jacob Laban and Kurt Capewell, who will be eager to perform against the team that offloaded him.

Grant Anderson will join the Warriors on a three-year deal starting in 2027 and faces formidable competition for wing spots, he will be looking to put on a show in front of his future teammates and coach. Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, likewise, will be looking for a big game.  His year has been interrupted by injuries and frequent positional changes.  He will be hoping to lock up his preferred fullback position for the rest of the year. 

For the Broncos, Thomas Duffy will be eager to make the most of the vacant halfback position. With Jonah Pezet set to arrive from the Parramatta Eels next season, competition for the halves will be fierce, meaning Duffy must capitalise on every opportunity to cement his place. Expect Walters and Ben Hunt to rotate through first receiver, offering support to the rookie halfback.

Form-wise, the Warriors enter this with a four win – one loss record from their last five matches.  While the Broncos remain one loss – four wins from their last five matches, with a standout performance against the Panthers being the only highlight. The Warriors have an enviable following in Brisbane and will not lack support from the stands.

Will the dejected Broncos have anything left in the tank against a battle-hardened Warriors side desperate for a top-two finish?

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Warriors by 16
Full Round 24 tips → /nrl-round-24-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to continue his try-scoring spree against the Broncos with a four-pointer.

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