Matchday Details
Saturday 18 April – 7:35 PM (AEST) – Campbelltown Sports Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Todd Smith | Bunker: Grant Atkins
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Heamasi Makasini 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Latu Fainu 19. Luke Laulilii 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Tristan Hope
Brisbane Broncos
1. Jesse Arthars 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Josh Rogers 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison 14. Thomas Duffy 15. Ben Talty 16. Jaiyden Hunt 17. Jack Gosiewski 18. Va’a Semu 19. Hayze Perham 20. Cameron Bukowski 21. Cory Paix 22. Antonio Verhoeven
Match Preview
The final game of NRL action on Saturday night sees the second-place Tigers hosting the 11th-place Broncos at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
The Tigers are full of running following a 42-22 win over the Knights at the same ground, and will look to keep that momentum rolling against a depleted Broncos outfit.
On the other side of the park, the Broncos lost in front of their home faithful, going down to the Cowboys in a high-scoring 35-31 defeat. The home side was in with a chance to claim victory until a Heilum Luki try in the dying stages saw the Cowboys walk away with the chocolates.
The Tigers receive a major boost, welcoming back five-eighth Jarome Luai and centre Taylan May into the side, while the Broncos see halfback Adam Reynolds return, but lose Patrick Carrigan and Blake Mozer in a double blow.
The battle between Kotoni Staggs and Patrick Herbert is shaping up to be quite the showcase of speed and power. Herbert played one of the best games of his career last start against the Knights, scoring a try, setting up another, and running for over 180 metres. While Staggs has been on an absolute tear to start the year, averaging a try a game and showing up in the big moments when his side needs him the most. Look for the two to come head-to-head early on and try to get the upper hand.
The running battle between the two front-row firebrands in Terrell May and Payne Haas will be worth the price of admission alone. The two forwards are representative-quality talents who look to put their team on their backs with their strong carries, can offload with ease, and create plenty of attacking opportunities with their late footwork. Add in their high defensive workloads, and it is easy to see why they are forward leaders for their respective packs.
The two teams have an even split in recent results, with each side claiming victory in five of the last 10 encounters. Campbelltown Sports Stadium has proven to be a happy hunting ground for the Broncos, having won on all eight occasions they have played there.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Tigers by 8
Bold call: Heamasi Makasini to make the most of his first start on the wing, crossing as the first try scorer.
Related
- NRL Round 7 Predictions
- NRL Round 7 Team Lists
- NRL Round 7 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
