08 :: R1 Sun :: Broncos 48 Panthers 12 @ Suncorp

[Timmah]

​

Find Suncorp Stadium​

SCHEDULE
10:30am Gates open
11:00am Toyota Cup: Broncos v Panthers
1:00pm NRL: Broncos v Panthers​

Team Sheets

Broncos
1 Karmichael Hunt
2 Reece Robinson, 3 Steve Michaels, 4 Justin Hodges, 5 Darius Boyd
6 Darren Lockyer (C), 7 Peter Wallace
8 Ben Hannant, 9 Michael Ennis, 10 Joel Clinton
11 Corey Parker, 12 Ashton Sims
13 Tonie Carroll​

Int - 14 PJ Marsh, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 David Stagg
Res - 18 Nick Kenny​

Panthers
1. Rhys Wesser
2. Luke Rooney, 3. Brad Tighe, 4. Maurice Blair, 5. Michael Jennings
6. Jarrod Sammut, 7. Joe Williams
8. Adam Woolnough, 9. Luke Priddis, 10. Petero Civoniceva (C)
11. Trent Waterhouse, 12. Tony Puletua
13. Nathan Smith​

Int - 14. Paul Aiton 15. Frank Pritchard 16. Brendan Worth 17. Frank Puletua
Res - 18. Matthew Bell

Referee
Gavin Badger
Sideline Officials: Mohamad Fajajo & Chris James
Video Referee: Graeme West​

Betting
TAB Sportsbet
Brisbane 1.40 :: Penrith 2.80

Statistically speaking
Head to head
Overall 37... Broncos 24-13
At Suncorp 9... Broncos 5-4
Last met
2007 R16 :: Broncos 24 Panthers 16 @ CUA
Big wins
Broncos 54-12 @ QSAC (formerly ANZ), 1997
Panthers 46-20 @ CUA, 2004​

RELATED MATCHES (all times local)​

Toyota Cup
Brisbane v Penrith, 12:00pm Sun, Suncorp​

NSW Cup
Windsor Wolves v Bulldogs, 5:00pm Sat, Windsor Sports Complex​

NSWRL Harold Matthews
Penrith v SW Sydney Academy, Saturday, CUA​

NSWRL SG Ball
Penrith v Gold Coast, Saturday, CUA​

 

[NK Arsenal]

This will be a cracker of a game, hopefully we see a repeat of what happened up there last season (Panthers winning in ET after being behind by 10 with 3mins to go).

 

[Timmah]

Match Banner:

 

[Non Terminator]

Petero will have no effect I predict. I think the Broncos will get them 22-14, with Joe Williams to score a try.

 

[miccle]

Not overly confident. Locky has hardly trained with Wallace fullstop & it always takes teams a while to gel when they have so many new recruits.

Hoping for a close win, I'll say Broncos 22-18.

For the punting types, early markets have Broncos as $1.40 favourites with the Pamfas at $2.80.

 

[Timmah]

Correction to the kickoff time - 1:00pm Brisbane 2:00pm Sydney time.

Schedule is up in first post.

 

[Caged Panther]

you seem to forget that the panthers aren't exactly settled in the halves. First time I've ever done this but I'm going to tip agains the panthers in the first round.

 

[ethos]

Have a feeling the Broncs will smash 'em..

It would be good if we could get a win first up, the Cowboys have always beated us over the past few years.

 

[runatme]

broncos 13+

 

[Timmah]

Following the Odds
Brisbane Broncos 1.40
Penrith Panthers 2.80

Odds courtesy of NSW TAB SportsBet

 

[gong_eagle]

Lockyer ready for Broncos opener

March 10, 2008http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23351788-23214,00.html


BRONCOS skipper Darren Lockyer admits he may take a "while to get going" but has confirmed he is a certain starter in Sunday's NRL season opener against Penrith at Brisbane.
Lockyer trained strongly before claiming he has fully recovered from a knee injury sustained against North Queensland last July.

Any doubts over his comeback from a knee reconstruction quickly evaporated after Lockyer soaked up several bruising hits in the Broncos' sand pit used to hone tackling technique in front of the media.

"I feel confident. The physios are happy that the leg and the graft is really strong - at this stage there is no real issue about re-injuring it," Lockyer said.

"I'm confident everything will hold up, I'm not doubting myself whether I'll re-injure the knee or not."

But Lockyer did not want Broncos fans to expect miracles - well, not straight way at least.

"I guess for me I've had no trial matches, all my timing with my passing, my running and my tackling will probably take a little while to get going," he said.

He looked forward to chiming into a new halves pairing with ex-Panther Peter Wallace - one of up to five new faces expected in the Broncos line-up.

"He's proactive out there, he wants to make things happen," Lockyer said.

"At the same time he's fitting in with what we sort of want from him.

"He's been really good at training. He's quite quick, he's got a good kicking game.

"I think he's going to do well."

The opening clash will be a homecoming of sorts for former Broncos prop Petero Civoniceva who will run out as Penrith skipper.

Lockyer did not expect any favours from the ex-Broncos workhorse.

"I think that's part and parcel of professional football these days, you are going to come up against your mates sooner or later," he said.

"Petro will come up here, he's the captain of the Panthers, he'll want to do well for his team, and maybe make a point against his old club."

AAP

 

[Timmah]

NRL: Karmichael Hunt, Reece Robinson, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges, Darius Boyd, Darren Lockyer (C), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Joel Clinton, Corey Parker, Ashton Sims, Tonie Carroll. Subs: Pj Marsh, Sam Thaiday, Greg Eastwood, David Stagg, Nick Kenny

www.broncos.com.au

 

[Timmah]

PANTHERS - 1. Rhys Wesser, 2. Luke Rooney, 3. Brad Tighe, 4. Maurice Blair, 5. Michael Jennings, 6. Jarrod Sammut, 7. Joe Williams, 8. Adam Woolnough, 9. Luke Priddis, 10. Petero Civoniceva (C), 11. Trent Waterhouse, 12. Tony Puletua, 13. Nathan Smith
Int: 14. Paul Aiton 15. Frank Pritchard 16. Brendan Worth 17. Frank Puletua; Res: 18. Matthew Bell


OFFICIALS Referee: Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials: Mohamad Fajajo & Chris James; Video Referee: Graeme West

From www.panthers.com.au

 

[Smiley]

Word is that the broncos will be wearing there white jersey to combat the heat from early kickoff. So the panthers have to wear there black jersey.

 

[Ziggy the God]

I will be taking the Broncos by 7. They should be good enough at home, despite Lockyer not being 100%.

Looking forward to seeing Big Civ taking on his old side and also how Sammut goes with Joey.

 

[Timmah]

Those who haven't picked their winner for this game - remember the poll closes around 1:00pm Sydney time (just before midday QLD time) on game day to make your tip. Brisbane are clear favourites at this stage with 26 votes against Penrith's 12.

Also note the first post of this thread has been updated with match history between these two clubs.

 

[diab0lik]

hey is sammut or williams going to be kicking for panthers this year?

 

[Timmah]

We'll find out Sunday I guess. Williams kicked in the trial against us and managed 3/3.

 

[lockyno1]

Willams is the better kicker

 

[Timmah]

Broncos v Panthers
Suncorp Stadium
Sunday 1pm (Qld time)

IT’S hard to imagine there has EVER been this much interest in a Brisbane v Penrith match.

Of course there was the Broncos’ first ever fully fledged finals match in 1990 (they had lost a playoff for fifth place the year before), or the qualifying final in 2003 – both won by the Panthers – but neither of those clashes had the subplot this one brings.

New Penrith skipper Petero Civoniceva will take on his former club; he’s still smarting at the fact he was discarded and livid his prior employer is cashing in on his departure by lobbying for this opening round clash.

Then there are the two former Penrith boys now in Broncos’ colours – prop Joel Clinton and halfback Peter Wallace. It’s enough to ensure this one should be sold out come Sunday afternoon.

Adding to the theatre we have Broncos’ coach Wayne Bennett kick starting his 21st and final year with the club and pressure mounting on Panthers’ mentor Matthew Elliott to prove the boys from Sydney’s west have rid themselves of the apathy that wrapped itself all over their 2007 wooden spoon campaign.

Brisbane come into the match with trial wins over North Queensland (20-10) and Queensland Cup outfits Redcliffe (24-22) and the Central Comets (30-12) and a loss to Canberra (16-32), while the Panthers beat Parramatta (30-28) and lost to the Bulldogs (18-36).

Watch out Broncos: Petero Civoniceva is primed for the match of his life and considering he has 20 Origins and 30 Tests behind him this performance will be one to behold.

Last season he was second only to Queensland team-mate Steve Price for total hit-ups and he averaged 157 metres a match. It’s odds-on he’ll beat that average in this match as he takes it to his former mates.

The Broncos will also have to be wary of the injection of Kiwi international Frank Pritchard from the bench. If Pritchard is on his game he can be devastating, although it’s yet to be seen if the Test star has rid himself of the laziness that has punctuated his career at times. He’ll be looking to run over the top of tiring Broncos on the edges the second he gets on.

Watch out Panthers: There are several new kids on the block for the Broncos who are desperate to impress.

Wallace and Clinton are joined by former Dragons’ prodigy Ashton Sims and former Eel and Warrior PJ Marsh.

Marsh could be just the injection the Broncos need as the game progresses. His nippiness out of dummy-half can be hard to defend against at the best of times, let alone as games wear on. Then there is returning skipper Darren Lockyer in his first hit-out back from his knee reconstruction.

Oh, and don’t forget debutant winger Reece Robinson, cousin of Anthony Mundine. Those in the know say this kid is one to watch.

Where it will be won: The 1pm kick-off time ensures the heat will be on – literally. With the new interchange rule bringing the changes from 12 to 10 this game will be won on fitness.

Which pack of forwards can continue their quality output the longest and then which set of backs can capitalise when the intensity inevitably falls?

On paper the Broncos’ halves of Lockyer and Wallace have the edge over Joe Williams and Jarrod Sammut but Lockyer hasn’t played since round 18 last year so there will be some rust.

The History: Played 37; Broncos 24, Panthers 13. The Panthers have won five of the past eight matches and for the superstitious the last four clashes have gone Penrith, Brisbane, Penrith, Brisbane – does that mean Penrith is next?

Conclusion: Even with Petero the Panthers are underdogs in this one. The Broncos have already ensured their rivals will be wearing their dark jerseys in the Queensland heat and their forward pack still looks more menacing than Matthew Elliott’s boys on paper. Even a rusty Darren Lockyer has enough class to get his mates over the line at home.

Match officials: Referee – Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials – Mohamad Fajajo & Chris James; Video ref – Graeme West.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 2pm (AEDT)

Statistics: NRL Stats.


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