For the second time this season the One New Zealand Warriors take on the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in a contest which is pivotal to their top four aspirations.<\/p>\n
When the traditional rivals met in Magic Round in May, the Warriors put together an impressive 42-12 victory in what was their ‘home’ clash.<\/p>\n
Wahs Fever took over Suncorp Stadium that day and similar scenes are expected today for the continuation of the NRL’s Indigenous Round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Warriors have kicked on since that dominant win and sent shockwaves through the competition last week with a commanding victory over the Panthers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For all that the Warriors are wary of a Brisbane which produced a blistering start to last week’s clash with the Dolphins and have the talent across the park to cause the visitors plenty of problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ezra Mam is in fine attacking form, while Reece Walsh can shift a match in the blink of an eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Team news<\/p>\n
Broncos:\u00a0The premiers continue to take a cautious approach to skipper Adam Reynolds’ return from concussion so young gun Thomas Duffy hangs on to the #7 jersey in an unchanged starting side. Prop Aublix Tawha has been named on the bench for his first NRL appearance since suffering a syndesmosis injury in round 17. The Broncos\u2019 seven-game losing streak at Suncorp Stadium is the worst in their history. Gehamat Shibasaki was added to the six-man bench on Friday in jersey #20.<\/p>\n
One New Zealand Warriors: Te Maire Martin played nine games in a row at halfback between round 12 and 22 but a hamstring injury opened the door for Luke Metcalf and the Dragons-bound playmaker burst through it last week. On the back of a standout role against the Panthers, Metcalf starts in the #7 jersey this week in an unchanged starting side. Demitric Vaimauga returns on the bench after two games out with a rib injury so Morgan Gannon drops to the reserves. Luke Hanson and Makaia Tafua dropped out of the squad on Friday.<\/p>\n
Stat attack<\/p>\n
The Broncos have lost 11 of their last 12 games.
\nThe Warriors have won three of their last four games against the Broncos.
\nBroncos centre Deine Mariner has scored four tries in two games against the Warriors.
\nWarriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored nine tries in his last six games against the Broncos.
\nThe Broncos\u2019 seven-game losing streak at Suncorp Stadium is the worst in their history.<\/p>\n