Luke Metcalf scores a try for the Warriors against Melbourne. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Warriors v Broncos
Kickoff: 7.30pm Saturday, 19 April
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
History
Brisbane Broncos will always hold a significant place on Warriors folklore, as their very first opponents in their 1995 NRL debut. No-one at the ground that night will ever forget the pre-game live army display, with commandoes scaling down the Mt Smart grandstand before their very eyes.
This will be the 50th meeting between the two teams, with the Warriors winning 21, Broncos 27 and one drawn so far. The Warriors actually hold a 13-10 edge at Go Media Stadium.
Recent contests have proved competitive, with Brisbane winning three of the last five, but Warriors taking out their only meeting last season, 32-16 at Auckland. Chanel Harris-Tavita had a try double on that occasion.
Form
Both these teams have been somewhat inconsistent this season.
The sixth-placed Warriors began their account with a demoralising display against Canberra in Vegas that had everyone questioning their credentials after just the first round.
They bounced back with three straight wins and a bye, but showed their vulnerability against Melbourne Storm. Ten minutes of madness cost them four converted tries - three of them against a shorthanded defence - and they emerged with a slew of injuries and suspensions that have them on the backfoot this week.
They still lead the league in set completion and if the weather is foul, maybe that gives them an edge in the wrestle, although they also have not converted the ample opportunities generated.
They have kept their opponents scoreless in the final 20 minutes of all five games so far.
Third-placed Brisbane also strung together three straight wins, but also lost to the Raiders and split a two-game series against Sydney Roosters, winning on the road and losing last week at home.
With gamebreakers like Reece Walsh and Payne Haas in their line-up, they can be an exciting proposition, if slightly erratic.
Which Broncos team will show up at Mt Smart?
Teams
Warriors: 1 Taine Tuaupiki, 2 Ed Kosi, 3 Kurt Capewell, 4 Ali Leiataua, 5 Adam Pompey, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 Jackson Ford, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark
Interchange: 14 Bunty Afoa, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Te Maire Martin
Reserves: 18 Tanah Boyd, 20 Tanner Stowers-Smith
After last week's defeat to Melbourne, coach Andrew Webster was faced with several forced changes. Co-captain James Fisher-Harris could be out for two months with his pec injury, while fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad sits out under concussion protocols.
After finally returning from injury, centre Rocco Berry copped a suspension for a dangerous tackle and replacing him with Kurt Capewell forced another change in the pack.
Jackson Ford is promoted from the interchange to the starting front row, while exciting teenager Leka Halasima gets his chance in the second row. Taine Tuaupiki moves from the wing to fullback, with Ed Kosi promoted from reserve grade.
Taine Tuaupiki moves to his natural spot at fullback. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Among the reserves, Jacob Laban continues his comeback from injury, while Te Maire Martin offers utility value.
Winger Adam Pompey will celebrate his 100th NRL appearance, all of them for the Warriors.
Broncos: 1 Reece Walsh, 2 Selwyn Cobbo, 3 Kotoni Staggs, 4 Gehamat Shibasaki, 5 Jesse Arthars, 6 Ben Hunt, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Patrick Carrigan, 9 Cory Paix, 10 Payne Haas, 11 Jaiyden Hunt, 12 Jordan Riki, 13 Kobe Hetherington
Interchange: 14 Billy Walters, 15 Corey Jensen, 16 Xavier Willison, 17 Tyson Smoothy
Reserves: 18 Deine Mariner, 19 Martin Tauapu
Former Kiwis coach Michael Maguire makes a straight swap in the pack, with Kiwi Jordan Riki returning from suspension to replace Jack Gosiewski, who earned the wrath of the judiciary for a dangerous tackle last week. Former Warrior Jesse Arthars left the Roosters game with concussion, which was downgraded during the week, so he takes his place in the starting line-up on the wing.
Kiwi to watch
Auckland-born Arthars served a loan stint with the Warriors during the Covid pandemic and has secured a spot on the wing for Brisbane, as the competition's leading tryscorer, with eight through six rounds.
Ironically, he had a try double against the Broncos, when the Warriors prevailed 20-6 at Brisbane in 2022, with now-Broncos fullback Reece Walsh another hero for the winners that day.
What will happen
The Warriors will be determined to bounce back from their lapse against Melbourne and conditions could be a leveller, but the loss of 800 NRL first-grade games through injury and suspension may prove a bridge to far.
Halasima's introduction to the starting line-up is exciting and perhaps a pointer to the future.
