Brisbane Broncos vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview & Prediction | NRL 2024 | Regular Season
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Last season’s beaten Grand Finalists Brisbane Broncos have a mammoth task on their hands to even make the finals this year and their task could be made more difficult as they take on one of their top eight rivals.
START DATE/TIME: UK - Saturday 13th July, 2024 - 10:35a / AUS - 7:35p / US EST - 5:35a / US PST - 2:35a
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will not be broadcast live in the UK / This match will be broadcast live on Fox League in Australia / This match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports in the US
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will be streamed live on Watch NRL in the UK / This match will be streamed live on Kayo Sports in Australia / This match will be streamed live on Watch NRL in the US
BRISBANE BRONCOS FORM: FIVE STRAIGHT LOSSES FOR BRONCS
It was another poor showing from Brisbane as they fell short against reigning premiers Penrith Panthers last week. That is now five successive defeats and the pressure is well and truly on the out-of-form Broncos.
LAST FIVE: LLLLL
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS FORM: DRAGONS SUFFER HEAVY LOSS
The Dragons went into their clash with Sydney Roosters having won three of their prior four matches but were well-beaten by the Chooks. They will be desperate to bounce back here as they aim to apply some pressure on the teams above them on the ladder.
LAST FIVE: WWLWL
BRISBANE BRONCOS TEAM NEWS: WALSH, COBBO, HAAS AND CARRIGAN ON ORIGIN DUTY
As they aim to end their losing streak, the Broncos will have to make do without some of their most important players. Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan are all in their respective Origin camps but in some better news, Kotoni Staggs and Jordan Riki are back on deck.
Starting 13: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Joshua Rogers 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Tyson Smoothy Bench: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau Reserves: 18. Vaa Semu 19. Cory Paix 20. Israel Leota
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS TEAM NEWS: LOMAX AND HUNT MISSING
As with their opponents, the Dragons are also missing some key players with Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax away for Origin. Their absence opens the door for Jesse Marschke and Mikaele Ravalawa to come into the side.
Starting 13: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Tom Eisenhuth Bench: 14. Hame Sele 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila Reserves: 18. Jack Bird 19. Savelio Tamale 20. Fa'amanu Brown 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Michael Molo
BRISBANE BRONCOS VS ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS PREDICTION
Brisbane Broncos will have had aspirations of competing for the Premiership once again this season but their challenge is badly faltering and there is now a real danger that they do not even make the finals. They find themselves out of the top eight on the back of a five-game losing streak and now need to navigate the rest of the Origin period. They face St. George Illawarra Dragons without a quartet of vital players and therefore, the away side make real appeal with the aid of a start on the handicap.
BRISBANE BRONCOS VS ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS TIP: ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS +10.5
