Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 5 NRL game between Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Broncos vs. Wests Tigers game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday April 1, 2023 at 7:35 pm
Where: Suncorp Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers Odds
Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers Preview
Sitting alone as the only unbeaten team in the NRL, Brisbane Broncos are the shortest favourites of Round 5 ($1.13) against the only club in the premiership still searching for a win, hapless Wests Tigers.
As they did in Round 1 at Penrith, the flamboyant Broncos again proved their ability to grind out wins when necessary in an 18-12 derby epic against the Dolphins. Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds and Kotoni Staggs provided the flashes of brilliance, but the victory was underpinned by mental toughness.
No pack is going better than the Carrigan- and Haas-led unit, while the Broncos are ranked second in the comp for both most points scored and least points conceded per game.
The 0-4 Tigers, meanwhile, are showing no signs of improvement. Perhaps a positive can be drawn from the fact they haven’t lost a game by more than 12 points, but their attack remains a complete mess.
Further evidenced in their 24-12 defeat to the Storm in Round 4, Luke Brooks’ confidence looks shot and Adam Doueihi’s shift to fullback is baffling. Daine Laurie, after getting nine minutes last week, has been left out of the 17 altogether, as have Alex Seyfarth and Shawn Blore.
Jake Simpkin, Justin Matamua and Starford To’a are the new faces on the pine, but the Round 4 starting 13 stays intact.
The Broncos have a dominant 21-9-1 record against the Tigers since the joint venture’s NRL entry in 2000. But the Tigers have won the teams’ last four clashes – averaging 36 points and a winning margin of 19 points – including a 32-18 upset at Suncorp last year that sparked the Broncos’ dramatic late slide.
That trend looks certain to come to a screeching halt in Brisbane on Saturday night, as does the Tigers’ somewhat surprising effort in conceding no more than 26 points in a game.
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Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers Tip
We're tipping Brisbane Broncos to win at $1.14 odds.
Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers Teams
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Kobe Hetherington 21. Jock Madden 22. Brendan Frei
Tigers team: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Twal 16. Justin Matamua 17. Starford To’a 18. Shawn Blore 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Tukimihia Simpkins 21. Daine Laurie 22. Alex Seyfarth