Thursday night blockbuster: Panthers v Broncos
- Author
- Timestamp
With eight rounds to go until the finals, this shapes as the last throw at the stumps for defending premiers Brisbane.
Sitting four games outside the eight, the Broncos have no margin for error with their next five games all against sides currently sitting inside the eight - Panthers, Cowboys, Knights, Dolphins and Warriors.
In danger of becoming the first defending premier to miss the finals the following season since Wests Tigers in 2006, expect the Broncos to produce a massive effort at CommBank Stadium.
The Panthers enter Round 20 in top spot and in prime position to collect their fourth minor premiership in seven years.
Follow all the action from Round 20 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Panthers v Broncos at CommBank Stadium
Match: Panthers v Broncos
Round 20 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Broncos
14th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
6 min: The ideal start for the Broncos as Reece Walsh nudges a grubber into the in-goal for Jordan Riki to push past Casey McLean and get the ball down for the first try. Adam Reynolds misses the conversion. Broncos 4-0
4 min: Kotoni Staggs nails Dylan Edwards after the Panthers fullback takes a bomb. The ball spills free. Broncos inside the red zone.
2 min: Both sides complete their first set in trying conditions as the rain comes down heavily at CommBank Stadium.
Late Mail
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-19 with no late changes. NSW Origin heroes Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo are back to bolster the Panthers after missing Round 18 on Blues duty. Young gun Casey McLean (quad) returns in the centres while back-rower Isaiah Papali'i (concussion) is also back on deck. Winger Thomas Jenkins requires one try to break the club’s all-time season tryscoring record of 25 held by Rhys Wesser.
Broncos: The premiers will line up 1-19 as named. Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura and Pat Carrigan are all back on deck in a massive boost for the Broncos. Reynolds has missed two games with a calf injury suffered in Round 15 while Mam hurt his shoulder in the same match against Souths. Billy Walters' return to the NRL has been put on hold for another week after he was initially named in the extended squad on Tuesday.
Numbers Game
- The Panthers have won six of their last seven games against the Broncos.
- The Broncos have conceded 34 points per game in eight consecutive losses.
- The Panthers have won all six games at CommBank Stadium this season.
- The Broncos have defeated the Panthers in Sydney only once since 2009.
- Panthers winger Thomas Jenkins requires one try to break the club’s all-time season try scoring record.
