2021 NRL – Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels taking place? Friday 12th March, 2021 – 09:05 (UK)
Where is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels taking place? Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Where can I get tickets for Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels 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 Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels? 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
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Starting 13: Isaako, Coates, Farnworth, Niu, Mead, Milford, Croft, Pangai Jnr., Turpin, Lodge, Glenn, Riki, Carrigan – Interchanges: Asiata, Flegler, Bullemor, Te’o – Reserves: Dearden, Kennar
Unavailable: Kotoni Staggs (Injured), Jesse Arthars (Injured), Dale Copley (Injured), Payne Haas (Suspended)
- Brisbane Broncos’ horrendous 2020 culminated in the ignominy of finishing with the wooden spoon and they will hope that the only way is up as they look to embark on a new era with Kevin Walters coming in as the club’s new head coach.
- There has been a lot of upheaval at the Broncos with plenty of players departing including David Fifita who opted to sign with Gold Coast Titans but with just a handful of low-profile additions, Walters will need to get the best out of plenty of last year’s under-performing squad.
- Brodie Croft is perhaps the most surprising pick in Walters' first game in charge with Tom Dearden named in the reserves while Jamyane Isaako is handed first crack at fullback with Tesi Niu lining up in the centres.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Starting 13: Gutherson, Sivo, Opacic, Blake, Ferguson, D. Brown, Moses, Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Matterson, N. Brown – Interchanges: Kaufusi, Papali’i, Hipgrave, Smith – Reserves: Dunster, Lussick
Unavailable: Michael Jennings (Suspended), Marata Niukore (Suspended), Bryce Cartwright (Injured), Michael Oldfield (Injured)
- Parramatta Eels crumbled when it mattered most last year as they failed to capitalise on their top four finish on the ladder with Brad Arthur’s side struggling defensively in their two losses in the finals, conceding 74 points in those games.
- That is an area they will be keen to improve on in 2021 but their squad looks weaker this time around and there looks to be a lot riding on how their bench and fringe players perform if they are to retain their spot in the top four.
- Marata Niukore is banned so there is a gap to fill in the pack for this opening game with new signing Keegan Hipgrave given the chance to stake his place for a claim in the side from the bench while Tom Opacic will take the spot of Michael Jennings in the centres.
THE PREDICTION
Brisbane Broncos will look to bounce back with a vengeance in 2021 after their diabolical showing last year. They will hope Kevin Walters can guide them back into contention for the finals but he looks to have a big task on his hands with serious question marks surrounding their roster. They face a tough opening game against a Parramatta Eels side that finished in the top four last year but failed to fire in the finals. They should be competing at the right end of the ladder once again this time around and having won the last three clashes between the two teams, the Eels are likely to prevail once again while they can also cover the -7.5 handicap.
