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Match Preview

Broncos v Knights: Upton ready to fire; Karpani back on deck

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Sunday afternoon football at Suncorp Stadium awaits, with the Broncos hosting the Knights in a blockbuster preliminary final.

The home side have had a week off to prepare and have vowed they have taken the lessons from last year's upset loss to the Sharks at this stage of the competition and will be ready to face their rivals.

The head-to-head results are an even split of three wins apiece, but the Broncos have had the better of the recent form, winning the past two matches, including Round 8 encounter where they came back from a slow start to post a 46-18 victory.

The Broncos have only been beaten once this year, by minor premiers the Roosters, with their last game a 50-4 win over the Cowboys, where former Knight Tamika Upton running riot with a hat-trick.

Newcastle travel north off the back of three wins on the trot, including last week's elimination final win against the Gold Coast.

While it was a dominant opening to the match, catapulting to a 24-0 lead in the 41st minute, they took their sword off the neck of the Titans to allow them to make a game of it in the second half, before eventually securing the 34-20 win. 

Team News

Broncos: Destiny Brill returns to the line-up in a boost for the side, coming onto the bench in her return from a calf injury. Azalleyah Maaka reverts to the reserves. Coach Scott Prince has made one more change, with Hayley Maddick elevated to the starting side on the wing, shifting Shenae Ciesiolka to the bench after starting against the Cowboys in Round 11. Reegan Hicks is the 18th player. 

Knights: Only one change to the team that got the job done against the Gold Coast Titans last week, with Simone Karpani coming onto the interchange bench after missing the game after suffering a head knock. Her return shifts Viena Tinao to 18th player. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Tamika Upton
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Botille  Vette-Welsh
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Kerri Johnson
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Mele Hufanga
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Julia Robinson
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Tenika Willison
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Hayley Maddick
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Keighley Simpson
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Gayle Broughton
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali Brigginshaw
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Tayla Predebon
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jada Ferguson
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Brianna Clark
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Tiana Davison
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Lauren Dam
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Fane Finau
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Romy Teitzel
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Keilee Joseph
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Kayla Romaniuk

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Destiny Brill
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jules   Kirkpatrick
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Chelsea Lenarduzzi
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Simone Karpani
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Shenae Ciesiolka
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Sienna Yeo
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Shalom Sauaso
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Grace Giampino

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Reegan Hicks
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Viena Tinao
  • Reserve for Broncos is number 19 Azalleyah Maaka
    Reserve for Knights is number 19 Leilani Ahsam
  • Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Tafito Lafaele
    Reserve for Knights is number 20 Grace Kukutai
  • Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Tara McGrath-West
    Reserve for Knights is number 21 Lilly-Ann White
  • Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Skyla Adams
    Reserve for Knights is number 22 Joeli Morris

Broncos Ins

  • Destiny Brill
  • Reegan Hicks
  • Skyla Adams
  • Tara McGrath-West

Knights Ins

  • Grace Kukutai
  • Leilani Ahsam
  • Lilly-Ann White
  • Simone Karpani

Broncos Outs

Knights Ins

Match Officials

  • Referee: Kasey Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Broncos have scored 78 points in their last two games against the Knights.
  • Knights right winger Sheridan Gallagher has scored 18 tries in her last 19 games.
  • The Broncos have lost their last three finals games.
  • Knights left winger Keighley Simpson has scored four tries in two NRLW appearances.
  • Broncos fullback Tamika Upton has scored 18 tries in her last 10 games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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