Brisbane Broncos vs. Sydney Roosters, NRL Finals: Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Brisbane Broncos welcome Sydney Roosters to Suncorp Stadium on Friday with both sides knowing they are one win away from the NRL grand final.
With the Roosters losing in the opening round of the playoffs, the first elimination final sees the top two teams from the regular season go head-to-head in Brisbane, Australia.
Minor premiers Sydney surrendered the chance to have home advantage at this stage of the competition when they were beaten by Melbourne Storm at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, on September 11.
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However, they bounced back from that disappointing result with a resounding 38-12 victory over Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday.
Brisbane, in contrast, have had the benefit of an extra week off to prepare for this fixture.
The Broncos toppled state rivals North Queensland Cowboys 16-12 on September 12 in a game that was watched by a crowd of 50,388 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. That result sent them straight through to the elimination final.
When: Friday, September 25, at 7:55 p.m. local / 10:55 a.m. BST
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
TV: Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), Premier Sports (UK), SKY Pacific (Pacific Islands), Orbit Showtime (Middle East), Roger Sportsnet (Canada), Setanta Sports (Asia), Fox Sports (Africa)
Live stream: NRL.com (regional restrictions apply)
Overview
If their two meetings in the regular season are anything to go by, expect a tight contest between the Broncos and Roosters.
Ben Hunt's golden-point try in extra time sealed Brisbane a 22-18 win on home turf in round six.
But, the Roosters have recent history on their side. They came out on top by a 12-10 scoreline when they hosted their next opponents on August 22 in round 24.
That victory came during a 12-game winning run for Trent Robinson's Sydney squad that saw them seal top spot in the final table.
Although the streak was suddenly ended by Melbourne, they bounced back impressively against Canterbury last time out, controlling the Bulldogs' powerful pack before moving clear in the second half.
They were able to triumph without Mitchell Pearce, as he was again ruled out with a hamstring injury.
However, he has been selected in Sydney's side to face the Broncos, meaning teenager Jackson Hastings drops down to the bench.
Robinson is not worried about throwing Pearce back in at the deep end. According to Stuff.co.nz, the coach said: "He's one of the fittest guys I've seen in rugby league so I'm not worried about that."
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, meanwhile, is able to name the same 17 that squeezed past North Queensland.
Bennett was also in charge of Brisbane when they met the Roosters in a preliminary final in 1998, with the Broncos running out 46-18 winners on their way to claiming the title.
Don't expect the margin to be so great in 2015, but the omens are good for whoever comes out on top. Per NRL.com, "Whenever the Broncos and Roosters have met in a Preliminary Final, the victor has gone on to win the premiership."
Form guide
Brisbane Broncos:
Won 16-12 vs. North Queensland Cowboys
Lost 15-8 vs. Melbourne Storm
Won 47-12 vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Lost 12-10 vs. Sydney Roosters
Won 32-6 vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Lost 18-16 vs. Canterbury Bulldogs
Sydney Roosters:
Won 38-12 vs. Canterbury Bulldogs
Lost 20-18 vs. Melbourne Storm
Won 30-0 vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Won 46-10 vs. Manly Sea Eagles
Won 12-10 vs. Brisbane Broncos
Won 28-18 vs. Parramatta Eels
Players to watch
Brisbane Broncos: Justin Hodges
It will be a big night for Justin Hodges on Friday. No matter what the result, he will be playing at Suncorp for the final time in his career.
By a neat twist of fate, the 33-year-old—who is retiring at the end of the campaign—plays his final home match for the Broncos against the only other NRL side he has played for during his career.
He has won titles with both teams and admitted to the Australian Associated Press (h/t ABC.net.au) that he had hoped to meet his old employers next week: "I thought it would be fitting if I played a grand final involving the two sides that I had won (premierships) with but it's come a week early."
Instead, Hodges now needs to end the ambitions of his former club to keep alive his own dream of bowing out with a grand final appearance.
Sydney Roosters: Mitchell Pearce
Sydney will be taking a risk if they do, as currently planned, select Pearce from the start.
He picked up the hamstring problem in the round 24 clash with the Broncos, leaving him to watch on as Hastings filled in admirably next to stand-off James Maloney.
Hastings will be on the bench this week to provide cover should Pearce break down at any point.
However, Robinson is gambling on his returning captain coming through the must-win match. The fact he has not named an extended bench suggests the Roosters boss has faith in the player's state of health.
Key battle: The halves
Brisbane's dynamic duo of Anthony Milford and Hunt have excelled in 2015, but can they remain calm with so much on the line?
Despite being only 21, Milford seemed undeterred by the pressure of making his playoff debut against the Cowboys. He needs to do the same again if the Broncos are to march on.
The big question for Sydney, meanwhile, is over Pearce—can he really be ready to make a return and lead his Roosters around the park?
If he is anywhere close to full fitness, the visitors have the strike power outside of Pearce to beat Brisbane and book a place in the grand final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Teams
Brisbane Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Jack Reed, 4 Justin Hodges, 5 Jordan Kahu, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Ben Hunt; 8 Sam Thaiday, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker.
Interchange: 14 Jarrod Wallace, 15 Mitchell Dodds, 16 Joe Ofahengaue, 17 Kodi Nikorima.
Sydney Roosters: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Blake Ferguson, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 James Maloney, 7 Mitchell Pearce; 8 Sam Moa, 9 Jake Friend, 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Mitchell Aubusson, 12 Aidan Guerra, 13 Boyd Cordner.
Interchange: 14 Jackson Hastings, 15 Isaac Liu, 16 Kane Evans, 17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
Prediction
The Roosters impressed when knocking out the Bulldogs, but they will rue their inability to beat Melbourne and get home advantage for this stage of the competition.
Roared on by the crowd, Brisbane will come through by a slender margin. Look for the gap to be no more than a converted try, with Sydney just running out of steam in the final quarter.
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