The One New Zealand Warriors secured a victory against the Broncos in their NRL Indigenous Round match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The game, which kicked off at 7:35 PM local time, saw the Warriors maintain an unchanged 19-man squad from their previous win against Penrith.
The starting lineup for the Warriors remained consistent, featuring the same combination that played in their recent victory. The six-man bench included Sam Healey, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Taine Tuaupiki, and Adam Pompey. NRL rookies Luke Hanson and Makaia Tafua were omitted, along with second rower Morgan Gannon.
Luke Metcalf made his second consecutive start at halfback for the Warriors. He had previously delivered a strong performance against Penrith, stepping in after Te Maire Martin was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Martin is anticipated to miss the upcoming two games against Brisbane and South Sydney.
Walsh suffers significant injury
In the 17th minute of the match, Broncos star Reece Walsh sustained a long-term ankle injury. The incident occurred during an attempt to offload the ball, involving a Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad hip-drop tackle. Walsh initially tried to continue playing but was assisted off the field two minutes later, unable to bear weight on his leg.
Following the injury, reports indicated Walsh suffered a high ankle sprain and would undergo scans. He was later seen in a moon boot and on crutches, raising concerns about the injury’s severity. Commentators noted his inability to walk or put weight on the leg, suggesting it could end his season. The injury also places his World Cup hopes in doubt, with the tournament scheduled to begin in October.
The Broncos are awaiting the results of Walsh’s scans to determine if he can return this season. His absence is a significant concern for the team.
Warriors’ strong performance
Metcalf, in his first start at halfback in 405 days, scored two tries and kicked four goals from five attempts. His performance also included a line break, a line break assist, a try assist, four tackle breaks, and 519 metres from 18 kicks. The Warriors secured only their second victory over Penrith since 2019 and their first at Go Media Stadium since 2018.
With the Sydney Roosters defeating the Panthers, the Roosters are now at the top of the table, followed by Penrith. The Warriors and the Dolphins are also in strong positions. The Warriors’ remaining four regular season games include away matches against the Broncos and Rabbitohs, followed by home games against the Knights and Sea Eagles.
The Broncos, a 2025 premiership-winning side, have dropped on the ladder, having lost eight of their nine games since the Warriors’ 42-12 victory over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. Erin Clark and Wayde Egan continued their streak as the only Warriors players to appear in every game this season, making their 21st appearance.
The Warriors’ confirmed lineup for the match against the Broncos included Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Alofiana Khan-Pereira on the wings, and Ali Leiataua and Leka Halasima at centre. Chanel Harris-Tavita played at five-eighth, with Metcalf at halfback. The forward pack featured James Fisher-Harris and Mitchell Barnett as props, Egan at hooker, and Kurt Capewell and Jacob Laban in the second row, with Clark at lock. The Broncos lineup included Walsh at fullback, Josiah Karapani and Grant Anderson on the wings, and Kotoni Staggs and Deine Mariner at centre. Ezra Mam played at five-eighth, and Thomas Duffy at halfback. The Broncos’ forwards included Xavier Willison and Payne Haas as props, Billy Walters at hooker, and Jaiyden Hunt and Jordan Riki in the second row, with Patrick Carrigan at lock. The match officials included referee Wyatt Raymond and senior review official Chris Butler.
Te Maire Martin is expected to miss the next two games against Brisbane and South Sydney.
Source: warriors.kiwi
