TWL Rd 11 Preview: Wahs to shut out the noise and buck depleted Broncos in Magic Round
The Warriors have had a week off, but it's been anything but quiet during the bye ahead of one of the most-hyped regular-season matches in recent memory.
WARRIORS V BRONCOS - 6.05PM (NZT)/4.05PM (AEST) SUNDAY, MAY 17 @ SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE
The Storylines
One of the biggest regular-season matches in the Warriors’ history has been partially overshadowed by the sensational developments around a player who isn’t even in the team at present.
The Luke Metcalf situation ensured the Warriors spent their bye period in the thick of the NRL news cycles — and how unsettling it all proves to be for the in-form side remains to be seen.
Focusing on the positives, the Warriors are humming: second on the ladder with a 7-2 record and riding a four-match winning streak.
The 5-5 Broncos are 11th, grappling with similar inconsistency that marked their 2025 campaign before they clicked into gear and surged to premiership glory.
Initially dealing with a heavy injury toll magnificently to win five of six games, they lost 38-24 to the Roosters after trailing 30-0 at halftime and were swamped 32-4 at Manly last weekend.
The pressure is on the Broncos in the marquee match of Magic Round — but Reece Walsh and co. should revel in the underdog tag with a veritable army of Warriors fans bearing down on Suncorp Stadium.
Meanwhile, State of Origin selection adds another element to this blockbuster showdown.
Warriors quartet Mitch Barnett, Jackson Ford, Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell are reportedly set to be selected, while a huge game could push Tanah Boyd and Alofiana Khan-Pereira into the frame. The Broncos have Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Gehamat Shibasaki and Ezra Mam in the Queensland mix.
Ins and Outs
Ali Leiataua returns from concussion with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (shoulder) ruled out, while Mitch Barnett returns in the front-row. Jackson Ford moves back to the bench and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava drops to the reserves. Te Maire Martin replaces Metcalf on the six-man bench.
Adam Reynolds is a massive inclusion for Brisbane, pushing Ben Hunt to the interchange. Philip Coates will debut on the wing with fellow rookie Antonio Verhoeven (shoulder) injured. JackGosiewski (head knock) will miss this game, so Xavier Willison goes to prop and Jaiyden Hunt gets a second-row start.
The History
Overall record: Played 51 – Brisbane won 28, Warriors won 22, draws 1; Brisbane scored 1,078 points, Warriors scored 996 points.
Biggest wins: Brisbane – 44-6 at QEII Stadium, 1995; Warriors – 56-18 at Suncorp Stadium, 2013.
Longest winning streaks: Brisbane – 9 matches (1995-2000); Warriors – 4 matches (2002-03).
Finals: Played 2 – Brisbane won 2.
Most appearances: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane) – 25; Corey Parker (Brisbane) – 24; Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 23; Alex Glenn (Brisbane) – 22; Sam Thaiday (Brisbane) – 21; Petero Civoniceva (Brisbane) – 17; Stacey Jones (Warriors) – 17; Josh McGuire (Brisbane) – 17; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 17.
Most tries: Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane and Warriors) – 9; Michael De Vere (Brisbane) – 9; Francis Meli (Warriors) – 7; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 7; Darren Lockyer (Brisbane) – 6; Wendell Sailor (Brisbane) – 6; Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors) – 6.
Most points: Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 99; Michael De Vere (Brisbane) – 88; Corey Parker (Brisbane) – 82; James Maloney (Warriors) – 56; Darren Lockyer (Brisbane) – 55; Adam Reynolds (Brisbane) – 44; Stacey Jones (Warriors) – 43.
THE RIVALRY: WARRIORS V BRONCOS
The Warriors’ rivalry with the Broncos kicked off via an epic contest in their 1995 premiership debut. Competition between the two clubs has consequently held a special place in the Auckland-based club’s narrative ever since, and has produced many thrillers, brutal encounters and memorable blowouts.
The Stats
The teams have split their last eight matches, winning four each — but the Broncos are unbeaten in the last four at Suncorp Stadium. The Warriors’ last win in Brisbane was back in 2018.
None of the clubs’ last 18 regular-season matches have produced more than 50 points.
The Broncos are just 2-3 at Suncorp Stadium this season.
The Warriors are 3-1 in Australia in 2026 and 11-5 across the ditch since the start of last season.
Reece Walsh has five try assists in his three games against the Warriors.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored in each of his last five games against the Broncos, including two doubles.
Leka Halasima has scored in both of his matches against the Broncos.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored in all five of his career appearances against the Broncos, including two doubles.
5 Key Match-ups
Taine Tuaupiki vs Reece Walsh: Tuaupiki was excellent in his sole individual match-up with Walsh to date — last season’s golden point win in Auckland — and has capitalised on his recent opportunity in the No.1 to be one of the high-flying Warriors’ best. But Walsh remains the game’s most dangerous, effervescent talent and can singlehandedly take this game away from the visitors.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira vs Phillip Coates: With a great record against Brisbane and coming off three straight doubles, AKP will be looking to expose the Broncos debutant. The brother of Xavier Coates, 19-year-old Phillip is another big, athletic freak…but this is a tricky one-on-one assignment against the quicksilver Khan Pereira.
Tanah Boyd vs Adam Reynolds: Penning a three-year extension is a huge vote of confidence for breakout halfback star Boyd, but the Metcalf noise can’t have been easy to navigate and this shapes as the biggest game of his career to date. The Broncos look far better when injury-prone veteran Reynolds is on deck and he has been a frequent thorn in the Warriors’ side. Similar styles with an equally vital role to play for their team on Sunday.
James Fisher-Harris vs Xavier Willison: In an injury- and suspension-hit pack, Willison has been outstanding at prop, lock or second-row. The young giant is back up front this weekend with Haas, Jensen and Gosiewski out — and he’ll lock horns with his Kiwis captain, Fisher-Harris. JFH has been one of the NRL’s standout front-rowers and will look to set the tone early with his run-on partnership with Barnett restored.
Erin Clark vs Pat Carrigan: Two of the best No.13s in the business are set for a titanic battle. Clark’s form has hit another gear recently, mixing typical industry on both side of the ball with line-breaks and try assists. After sitting out a two-match suspension, Queensland staple Carrigan made 91 tackles across the Broncos’ losses to the Roosters and Sea Eagles but will want to add more punch in the attacking department to combat the Warriors’ marauding pack.
Last time they met
The Warriors’ 26-12 loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in Round 17 last year could have been viewed with rose-coloured lenses courtesy of a gallant rearguard second-half performance after getting steamrolled in the opening 40 minutes, but the most crucial upshot may come in the form of serious injuries to a pair of spine stars.
The Broncos comprehensively outmuscled a rattled and disjointed Warriors outfit to lead 18-0 at the break, with a try right on halftime an apparent backbreaker.
But the visitors dug in and regrouped – in the face of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (41st minute) and Luke Metcalf (67th minute) to trim the deficit to 20-12 with plenty of time on the clock…and subsequent opportunities that slipped agonisingly out of reach. Gehamat Shibasaki’s second try with five minutes left put the result to bed.
Despite the impressive regroup with a rejigged and depleted line-up, the Warriors’ first back-to-back losses in 2025 heading into their last bye left them in a critical spot with a new halfback and fullback required, on top of NRL-quality centre and wing stocks already being threadbare.
Why the Wahs Will Win: The Warriors boast a stable line-up in tremendous form across the board and a seemingly clear advantage in the engine-room and interchange departments, while there’s some inexperience out wide that could leave the Broncos vulnerable. A massive Wahs contingent in the crowd doesn’t hurt, either.
Why the Wahs Will Lose: The bye, on top of an inevitably distracting news week, leading into such an enormous occasion could upset the momentum the Warriors have built up. Walsh leads a cohort of big-game players eager to assert the Broncos’ status as the surrogate Magic Round hosts.
The Punt: Head to Head — Warriors $1.70, Broncos $2.15; Line — Warriors -2.5; Total Points Line — Over/Under 51.5 Points
Best Anytime Tyrscorer Options — Alofiana Khan-Pereira ($1.57), Reece Walsh ($1.85), Leka Halasima ($2.35), Jesse Arthars ($2.80), Chanel Harris-Tavita ($3.70), Jordan Riki ($5.25)
The Verdict: The Warriors only need to stick to the blueprint that has been so successful throughout 2026, rumble the Broncos through the middle, build pressure and cut down the time Walsh, Reynolds and Mam have with the ball. This feels like more than two competition points up for grabs — and it’s there for the taking. Warriors by 6