Broncos v Knights: Upton ready to fire; Karpani sidelined
Sunday afternoon football at Suncorp Stadium awaits, with the Broncos hosting the Knights in a blockbuster preliminary final.
The home side have had a week off to prepare and have vowed they have taken the lessons from last year's upset loss to the Sharks at this stage of the competition and will be ready to face their rivals.
The head-to-head results are an even split of three wins apiece, but the Broncos have had the better of the recent form, winning the past two matches, including Round 8 encounter where they came back from a slow start to post a 46-18 victory.
The Broncos have only been beaten once this year, by minor premiers the Roosters, with their last game a 50-4 win over the Cowboys, where former Knight Tamika Upton running riot with a hat-trick.
Newcastle travel north off the back of three wins on the trot, including last week's elimination final win against the Gold Coast.
While it was a dominant opening to the match, catapulting to a 24-0 lead in the 41st minute, they took their sword off the neck of the Titans to allow them to make a game of it in the second half, before eventually securing the 34-20 win.
Match: Broncos v Knights
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Broncos
2nd Position
away Team
Knights
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. Young gun Destiny Brill returns from a calf injury suffered in Round 9 and will come from the bench. The Broncos are well rested after last week's bye with Hayley Maddick returning to the wing after coming off the bench in Round 11. Reegan Hicks the 18th player.
Knights: No further changes on game day after Simone Karpani dropped out on Saturday after failing to come up after a concussion so Viena Tinao joins the bench. Lily-Ann White is 18th player.
Match: Broncos v Knights
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tamika UptonFullback for Knights is number 1 Botille Vette-Welsh
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Kerri JohnsonWinger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Mele HufangaCentre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Julia RobinsonCentre for Knights is number 4 Tenika Willison
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Hayley MaddickWinger for Knights is number 5 Keighley Simpson
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Gayle BroughtonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali BrigginshawHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausalaProp for Knights is number 8 Tayla Predebon
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jada FergusonHooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Brianna ClarkProp for Knights is number 10 Tiana Davison
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Lauren Dam2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Fane Finau
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Keilee JosephLock for Knights is number 13 Kayla Romaniuk
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Destiny BrillInterchange for Knights is number 14 Jules Kirkpatrick
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Chelsea LenarduzziInterchange for Knights is number 16 Sienna Yeo
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Shenae CiesiolkaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Grace Giampino
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Shalom SauasoInterchange for Knights is number 18 Viena Tinao
Reserves
-
Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Reegan HicksReplacement for Knights is number 21 Lilly-Ann White
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have scored 78 points in their last two games against the Knights.
- Knights right winger Sheridan Gallagher has scored 18 tries in her last 19 games.
- The Broncos have lost their last three finals games.
- Knights left winger Keighley Simpson has scored four tries in two NRLW appearances.
- Broncos fullback Tamika Upton has scored 18 tries in her last 10 games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
