VENUE & TIME: Suncorp Stadium, Friday July 3, 7.35pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel Nine
LAST TIME: Broncos 26 - Warriors 10, at Mt Smart Stadium, Round 3, 2009.
WALKING WOUNDED: Justin Hodges is set to make his first appearance for the Broncos since Round 8 after suffering a knee injury in Origin I. The Broncos will be further boosted by the return of Israel Folau (sternum) from a one-match layoff, while Karmichael Hunt has been cleared of any serious ankle damage and has been named at full-back. Former Broncos stalwart Tonie Carroll has been named on a five-man bench after coming out of retirement during the week, while Nick Kenny faces five weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury suffered against Parramatta. With the exception of star centre Brent Tate, who has been sidelined with a season-ending knee injury since April, Ivan Cleary has a full complement to select from.
FORM: The Broncos slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat on Sunday, going down 21-14 to Parramatta in a major upset to fall to ninth spot on the NRL ladder. They have now leaked a worrying 159 points in their previous four outings, a trend they must arrest if they hope to climb back inside the top eight. It's make-or-break time for the Warriors who sit three points outside the eight in 11th spot after their 28-12 loss to the Titans last start. The men from across the Tasman continue to torment their coach, fans and tipsters alike with their inconsistency. They have not won back-to-back matches since opening their campaign with consecutive victories.
WHO'S HOT: Sam Thaiday backed up his man-of-the-match performance for Queensland in Origin II with another superb effort in a losing cause against the Eels, but he'll need more mates up front this week against a giant Warriors pack. The score line would have been even worse for the Warriors if it wasn't for winger Kevin Locke who showed blistering speed to run down William Zillman in one of his two try-saving efforts on the night.
WE THINK: Both sides have it all to play for and can get their respective seasons back on track with a win. A loss for the Warriors will all but end their finals aspirations so expect a committed effort from last season's over achievers. But with all of their big names back on deck it's hard to see the Broncos dropping this one at home. Broncos by 12.
Broncos:
1. Karmichael Hunt, 2. Antonio Winterstein, 3. Steve Michaels, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Israel Folau, 6. Darren Lockyer (c), 7. Peter Wallace, 8. Josh McGuire, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Joel Clinton, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Sam Thaiday, 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Guy Williams, 15. Lagi Setu, 16. Tonie Carroll, 17. Josh Hoffman, 18. Dave Taylor
Warriors:
1. Wade McKinnon, 2. Kevin Locke, 3. Jerome Ropati, 4. Joel Moon, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Stacey Jones, 8. Sam Rapira, 9. Ian Henderson, 10. Steve Price (c), 11. Simon Mannering, 12. Lewis Brown, 13. Michael Luck (v-c)
Interchange: 14. Aaron Heremaia, 15. Jesse Royal, 16. Ben Matulino, 17. Jacob Lillyman, 18. Patrick Ah Van, 19. Russell Packer