2020 NRL – Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels taking place? Thursday 28th May, 2020 – 10:50 (UK)
Where is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels taking place? Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
What is the expected weather for Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels? 17c, clear skies
What channel is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels? No tickets are available as NRL matches are currently taking place behind closed doors
THE TEAM NEWS
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Starting 13: Isaako, Oates, Staggs, Boyd, Arthars, Milford, Croft, Flegler, Turpin, Haas, Glenn, Hopoate, Carrigan – Interchanges: Farnworth, Ofahengaue, Kennedy, Bullemor – Reserves: Dearden, Lodge
Unavailable: Jack Bird (Injured), Jordan Kahu (Injured), Sean O’Sullivan (Injured), Keenan Palasia (Injured), Tevita Pangai Jnr. (Suspended), David Fifita (Injured)
- Brisbane will hope to carry on where they left off as the NRL season resumes with the Broncos coming into this game with a 2-0 record having won both of their matches before the campaign was temporarily halted.
- The Broncos showed some real signs of attacking prowess in their opening two games and they will be desperate to maintain that as they face Parramatta, a team they will be eager to prove a point against having suffered a humiliating, record-breaking 58-0 loss in last season’s finals.
- The extended break has given Matt Lodge a chance of making his return to action sooner than expected while Alex Glenn will come in for his first game of the season following a hamstring injury but the Broncos will be without boom forward David Fifita due to a knee issue.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Starting 13: Gutherson, Sivo, M. Jennings, Blake, Ferguson, D. Brown, Moses, Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Matterson, Niukore – Interchanges: Takairangi, Stone, Evans, Terepo – Reserves:
Kaufusi, G. Jennings
Unavailable: Nathan Brown (Suspended)
- Parramatta took full advantage of some porous Gold Coast defensive efforts to earn a big victory in their last game before the season was suspended and they come into this having won their two games so far this year.
- The Eels ran in seven tries including four in the final 20 minutes of the contest against the Titans with that result backing up their opening round victory over Canterbury but this will be a tricky reintroduction to action as they travel to Suncorp Stadium to face Brisbane.
- The Eels are in rude health although they are without the suspended Nathan Brown with Marata Niukore set to line-up at lock while Parramatta will be hoping that Reed Mahoney is not kept out by a foot problem.
THE PREDICTION
Brisbane and Parramatta have the honour of getting the NRL season back underway following its enforced suspension and the pair should serve-up an exciting contest. The Broncos maintain that revenge is not a factor ahead of this game but after the Eels annihilated them in last season’s finals, it is difficult to envisage that it will not be on the players’ minds. Both teams come into this 2-0 and are likely to produce plenty in attack but the Broncos have the advantage of playing at home and with a big point to prove, they are likely to earn the victory to maintain their 100% start to the year.