The Stats Zone
March 1 2023, 16:57 · Ash Wheldon

Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023

Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023
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THE FACTS

When is Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos on and what time does it start? Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos will take place on Friday 3rd March, 2022 – 09:05 (UK)

Where is Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos taking place? Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos will take place at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith, Australia

Where can I get tickets for Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos? Click here for ticket information on 2023 NRL matches

What channel is Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos 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 Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos? 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

THE TEAM NEWS

PENRITH PANTHERS

  • Penrith Panthers made it back-to-back Premierships as they defended their crown with a comfortable win over Parramatta Eels in last season's Grand Final with Ivan Cleary’s men harbouring hopes of a three-peat.
  • The Panthers fell short in the World Club Challenge against St. Helens but will be in much better shape for this, although they will have to deal with the loss of Taylan May for the entire campaign after he suffered an ACL injury against the English outfit.

Starting 13: Edwards, Turuva, Tago, Crichton, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yeo – Interchanges: Luke, Sorensen, Leniu, Salmon – Reserves: Hosking, Eisenhuth, Peachey, Cogger, Smith

Unavailable: Taylan May (Injured)

BRISBANE BRONCOS

  • Brisbane Broncos somehow missed out on a spot in the finals in 2022 as they lost five of their final six games to finish the regular season in what was a hugely disappointing end to what had been a promising campaign.
  • The Broncos will view a top eight spot as the bare minimum this season but they have been forced into a re-jig for this opening contest with new signing Reece Walsh out with a facial fracture so Selwyn Cobbo will slot in at fullback.

Starting 13: Cobbo, Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Arthars, Mam, Reynolds, Jensen, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan – Interchanges: Paix, Palasia, Flagler, Taupau – Reserves: Mariner, Piakura, Willison, Madden, Hoeter

Unavailable: Kobe Hetherington (Injured), Reece Walsh (Injured)

THE PREDICTION

Penrith Panthers will look to put their World Club Challenge disappointment behind them at the first opportunity as they take on Brisbane Broncos in their opening game of the new NRL season. The reigning back-to-back premiers will be confident on home soil having shown how difficult they are to beat at BlueBet Stadium over the past few years. The hosts have been forced to move a few key men on to remain compliant with the salary cap but with the Broncos showing a real inconsistency when it mattered last year, the Panthers should have enough to prevail in this opening game.