Thursday night footy – Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Ladder Position:
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 2nd
Brisbane Broncos: 8th

Premiership Odds:
South Sydney Rabbitohs: $4
Brisbane Broncos: $34

Form Guide:
Brisbane Broncos: 2-3
South Sydney Rabbitiohs: 3-2

Round 22 Result:
Brisbane Broncos: Lost to North Queensland, 34 – 30
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Lost to Sydney Roosters, 18 – 14

Thursday, August 16 at Suncorp Stadium. Kick off from 7.50pm

Two teams coming into round 23 looking to atone for losses kick off the weekend of footy on Thursday night.

After back-to-back losses against opponents they should have easily account for, we’re about to find out exactly what the Brisbane Broncos are made of.

In what has become the must-watch fixture of the NRL season, the Cowboys and the Broncos played out another classic, with the North Queenslanders taking the points in spectacular fashion.

It leaves Wayne Bennett’s men languishing in eighth position, just two premiership points clear of the white-hot Wests Tigers, who have an easier run home to the finals.

Despite going down in heartbreaking fashion last week to the Sydney Roosters, the Bunnies are in prime position to secure a top-two finish. A win against the Broncos on Thursday would all but assure their position.

Will it be Brisbane that stops the rot or can the Bunnies condemn their opponents to a third-straight defeat?

Predicted line ups

Brisbane Broncos

1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Gehamat Shibasaki, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 David Fifita, 13 Joe Ofahengaue,

Interchange: 14 Sam Tagataese, 15 Patrick Mago, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 Kotoni Stags

South Sydney Rabbitohs

1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Hymel Hunt, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Richie Kennar, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)

Interchange: 14 Braidon Burns, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola

Players to watch

Brisbane – Andrew McCullough

McCullough’s battle against Damien Cook could be the decisive factor in deciding the outcome of this match. Cook has been in career-best form this season and is just two weeks removed from his one man demolision job against the Melbourne Storm. If McCullough can at least break even the Broncos are right in the contest.

South Sydney – Damien Cook

Expect anyone different?

The Dally M favourite has been dynamic this year and has singlehandedly lifted his team in Inglis’ absence. GI’s return is imminent but don’t expect the NSW Blue‘s influence to curtail any time soon.

Thursday night footy – Who wins?

This game presents as the perfect opportunity for the Bunnies to bounce back.

South Sydney confront a team fresh off a fortnight of embarrassing performances. The Broncos missed their chance to solidify their position inside the top eight and now have to cause at least one upset in the final three weeks of the season.

There was no shame in South’s defeat to the Roosters last week, and we’re anticipating they atone for that loss in emphatic fashion to kick off the round.

Result: South Sydney Rabbitohs – $1.58