Broncos v Panthers
Suncorp Stadium
Friday 10:00GMT
Watch Broncos v Panthers NRL Live Streaming
Match Preview Of Broncos v Panthers
It’s spot-the-veteran night this Friday as the hot Panthers visit the rising Broncos in Friday Night Football at Suncorp Stadium.
They mightn’t be the youngest team in the competition, but Penrith’s up-and-coming stars are not only showcasing their talents, but are beginning to display their mettle in 2010, taking them to outright second on the ladder.
He might only be in his third year, but the rugby league world is only now starting to take notice of the exciting talents of Lachlan Coote, as well as halfback skills of Luke Walsh, who’s been around since 2007. Prop Tim Grant has also been around since then, but is only now starting to flourish under the tutelage of captain Petero Civoniceva.
On the other hand, Brisbane’s unit – with seven of the club’s 2008 under-20s players on hand in their 50-22 drubbing of the Rabbitohs last Sunday – have risen above their disastrous 2-6 start to the year and have strung together five on the trot.
It’s certainly a sign that rugby league is now a man’s game.
While most teams like to control the speed of the ruck, both these sides are notorious for playing the game at their own tempo. This is evident in their use of flops, with the Broncos ranked second in the NRL with 107, while the Panthers are fourth with 100.
The history: Played 41; Brisbane 27, Penrith 13, drawn 1. The Broncos seem to have the wood on the Panthers in recent years, with Penrith tasting victory just once in their past seven outings. (And that one win came back in 2007, where former Panther and now Bronco Peter Wallace slotted a dramatic, game-winning field goal in the dying moments of the match.)
Without their inspirational skipper and away from the surrounds of the Blue Mountains, the Panthers could struggle against a side that have enjoyed recent dominance over them and are on the hottest streak in the competition.
Source: Big Pond
Broncos v Panthers NRL War
