Matchday Details
Sunday 17 May – 4.05pm (AEST) – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Nine Now/Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 20. Te Maire Martin, 21. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Makaia Tafua
Brisbane Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Josiah Karapani, 3. Jesse Arthars, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Phillip Coates, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Adam Reynolds (c), 8. Preston Riki, 9. Cory Paix, 10. Xavier Willison, 11. Jaiyden Hunt, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Ben Talty, 16. Va’a Semu, 17. Aublix Tawha, 18. Hayze Perham, 19. Josh Rogers, 20. Thomas Duffy, 21. Luke Gale, 22. Kane Bradley
Match Preview
As Magic Round arrives in Brisbane this weekend, the excitement will intensify when the Brisbane Broncos return to Suncorp Stadium, determined to find the magic to turn things around against the New Zealand Warriors in Round 11 on Sunday afternoon.
The Broncos are currently sitting at 11th on the NRL ladder and have had an eventful season, with their most recent victory coming in Round 8 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, smashing them 32-12. The players’ expectations for this match have been established as a standard to fulfil, but with back-to-back losses, they have been unable to accomplish this.
With a devastating defeat and a soul-crushing blow to their confidence last Saturday, going down to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park 32-4, the Broncos have yet to regain their momentum with the loss of so many vital players, but this weekend may tell a different story.
Coach Maguire believes that the absence of players has no bearing on the current game result. He has confidence in his current group of players to go out and do the job, but they must focus on fixing errors from last weekend because if they can improve possession and completion rates, they will have found a winning combination.
Meanwhile, the Warriors will be feeling refreshed and energised coming off a bye and four wins in a row. They are in winning form after their most recent victory over the Parramatta Eels 36-14 at CommBank Stadium in Round 9. Although the Warriors have not defeated the Broncos in Brisbane since 2018, this will not deter their winning spirit.
In Round 9 the Warriors showed strength in defence and demonstrated this in the numbers, with 52% possession and 86% completion against Parramatta.
The Broncos struggled defensively against the Sea Eagles last week, having only 39% possession and 55% completion, with them leaving too many opportunities through gaps in their defence, allowing the Sea Eagles to score.
This weekend the Broncos have the benefit of playing at home (although it’s a designated Warriors home game), and with the encouragement of their supporters, they may finally find their feet, but they will have to start fast when they face the second-placed Warriors.
The last time these two teams clashed in Round 17 of 2025 at Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos won 26-12, and they have won three of their last four Magic Round games, something that could play on the minds of the Warriors.
The Broncos line-up will see a reshuffle as Adam Reynolds returns; Ben Hunt moves to the interchange; Phillip Coates – younger brother of Storm player Xavier Coates – makes his NRL debut on the wing, replacing Antonio Verhoeven due to a shoulder injury; Xavier Willison shifts from back row to prop due to Jack Gosiewski’s head knock; Jayden Hunt wears the no. 11; and Josh Rogers is the new face on the bench.
The Warriors make some minor changes with Mitch Barnett returning at prop, moving Jackson Ford to interchange; Ali Leiataua moves into the centres to replace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who suffered a shoulder injury; Wayde Egan starts at hooker; and Tanner Stowers-Smith is on the bench, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marata Niukore, and Luke Metcalf are not named to return for this match.
With movement on both sides, the Broncos’ Gehamat Shibasaki and the Warriors’ Leiataua, who replaces Tuivasa-Sheck, may have a thrilling duel in the centres.
Leiataua has already scored two tries, had three try assists, three line breaks, and 20 tackle breaks in just six appearances this season; while Adam Reynolds’ return will see him prepared to challenge the Warriors’ half Tanah Boyd.
Coates could try to outperform the Warriors’ winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who has scored six tries in his last three games and has lightning-fast speed on the outside edge.
Reece Walsh, who can accelerate and break through tackles, could be a further threat to the Warriors.
While the Warriors’ Erin Clark faces the full force of the Broncos’ Patrick Carrigan, Mitchell Barnett returns to prepare to face the power of the Broncos’ Xavier Willison in the forward pack.
Willison has scored three tries, made 17 tackle breaks, and 457.1 post-contact metres, and is averaging 111 running metres just this season.
With incredibly powerful players on both sides, this weekend will be a test of discipline, focus, and collaboration as both teams compete to prove their worthiness for a top-of-the-table place.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Warriors by 14
Bold call: Ali Leiataua to be first try scorer for the Warriors.
Related
- NRL Round 10 Review
- NRL Round 11 Predictions
- NRL Round 11 Team Lists
- NRL Round 11 Hub
- NRL Injury List
- NRL Match Review Tracker
- Magic Round Historical Stats
