The Panthers are now just 80 minutes away from a sixth consecutive grand final appearance and a crack at a remarkable five-peat.
Standing in their way are the Broncos, hell bent on avenging their defeat in the 2023 decider and delivering a first title in 19 years to Red Hill.
From gun No.1s Reece Walsh and Dylan Edwards to electric centres Kotoni Staggs and Izack Tago to forward leaders Payne Haas and Moses Leota, there’s mouth-watering match-ups across the park on Sunday as the season goes on the line for two powerhouse clubs.
In the only meeting between the sides in 2025 it was the Panthers running away with a 32-8 victory at Magic Round – just the third win in the opening nine rounds for the premiers as they made a horror start to their campaign.
Remarkably they sank to last place after 12 rounds but the champs refused to panic and hauled themselves up the ladder with nine wins on the bounce between Round 13 and Round 23.
Ivan Cleary’s men look to be peaking at precisely the right time but the Broncos on home soil pose a very different threat than their two finals victims so far, the Roosters and Bulldogs.
The Broncos have won 10 of 14 at Suncorp Stadium this season and will ride every ounce of energy from the 50,000 fans set to pack into The Cauldron on Sunday afternoon.
Team News
Broncos: Skipper Adam Reynolds is back to steer the ship after missing five games with a hamstring injury while Ezra Mam also returns via the bench from a hamstring injury. The loss of Billy Walters to an ACL injury sees Ben Hunt return to five-eighth after four games at hooker (Round 19-23) and five games at halfback (Round 24 – Finals Week 1). Tyson Smoothy takes over at lock from Pat Carrigan (suspended). Winger Selwyn Cobbo is listed among the reserves after making his return from a hamstring injury through Queensland Cup last week.
Panthers: No injury concerns and no changes for the defending premiers who are now just one win away from a sixth consecutive grand final appearance. Liam Martin (ribs) and Casey McLean (hip) are both good to go while hooker Mitch Kenny will have taken huge benefit from his 58-minute stint in his return from a hamstring injury last Sunday. Winger Brian To’o has scored 17 tries in 17 finals games while Nathan Cleary has won his past 26 daytime games.
Stat Attack
The Broncos have won nine of their past 10 finals matches at Suncorp Stadium.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has won his last 26 daytime games.
The Broncos have scored 128 points in their last three games at Suncorp Stadium.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored 17 tries in 17 finals games.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has scored six tries in his last five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.