Broncos v Roosters: Big guns return; Savala on track
A heavyweight showdown under the Friday night lights at Suncorp Stadium pits a desperate Broncos outfit against a Roosters team capable of anything on its day but struggling for consistency.
The defending premiers have now lost six in a row to plummet six spots on the ladder and look a shadow of the team that owned last year's finals series.
The Broncos' losing streak started in Round 9 at the hands of the Roosters, who have gone W-L-L-W-L-W since then but still find themselves in fourth place and well positioned to make a charge for the title.
The clash of gun fullbacks Reece Walsh and James Tedesco and powerhouse forwards Payne Haas and Keaon Koloamatangi should be worth the price of entry alone as the champs look to climb off the canvas and the Chooks look to inflict more pain on Madge's men.
Match: Broncos v Roosters
Round 17 -
home Team
Broncos
13th Position
away Team
Roosters
4th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Broncos: Origin reps Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas are back to bolster the line-up but Adam Reynolds (hamstring) and Ezra Mam (shoulder) will miss the game. Ben Hunt takes over at halfback while Xavier Willison moves to lock to accommodate Haas' return. Blake Mozer is the new man on the bench taking over from Mam.
Roosters: The return of centre Hugo Savala from concussion sees Billy Smith slide out to the wing and Tommy Talau go to the interchange. Fullback James Tedesco is set to take his place despite suffering a broken nose against the Sharks. Toby Rodwell is the man to drop out of the 19.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah KarapaniWinger for Roosters is number 2 Billy Smith
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Roosters is number 3 Hugo Savala
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Grant AndersonCentre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse ArtharsWinger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Thomas DuffyFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Daly Cherry-Evans
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Preston RikiProp for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory PaixHooker for Roosters is number 9 Reece Robson
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Nat Butcher
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Xavier WillisonLock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Blake MozerInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Ben TaltyInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Spencer Leniu
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Aublix TawhaInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Egan Butcher
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jack GosiewskiInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Salesi Foketi
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Hayze PerhamInterchange for Roosters is number 18 Rex Bassingthwaighte
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Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Josh RogersInterchange for Roosters is number 19 Tommy Talau
Reserves
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Jaiyden HuntReserve for Roosters is number 20 Benaiah Ioelu
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Kane BradleyReserve for Roosters is number 21 Toby Rodwell
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Va'a SemuReserve for Roosters is number 22 Taylor Losalu
Broncos Ins
- Blake Mozer
- Jaiyden Hunt
- Kane Bradley
- Kotoni Staggs
- Payne Haas
- Reece Walsh
- Va'a Semu
Roosters Ins
- Benaiah Ioelu
- Hugo Savala
- Taylor Losalu
Broncos Outs
- Adam Reynolds
- Antonio Verhoeven
- Ezra Mam
- Phillip Coates
Roosters Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have not defeated the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium since 2019.
- The Roosters have won nine of their last 12 games against the Broncos.
- The Broncos have conceded 218 points in six consecutive losses.
- Captain James Tedesco will play his 200th game for the Roosters.
- Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has scored six tries in his last six games at Suncorp Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
