Broncos v Titans: Waka to debut; Breayley-Nati wrist no risk
The Broncos are on the hunt for their first win, but face a tough task ahead of them against the Gold Coast Titans who are undefeated after two rounds of competition.
Brisbane were well in the hunt against the Roosters last week until a poor period before half-time where they let in two tries put them on the back foot to effectively shut them out of the game.
The game also proved costly with forward Brianna Clark set to miss the next two matches after (pleading guilty) to a Grade 1 Shoulder Charge for a hit on Jess Sergis, with Clark joining Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (who is serving a four-match suspension) on the sidelines. Lavinia Gould has been named in the reserves and is back in the selection frame, after she missed last week's loss due to suspension as well.
The suspensions have highlighted Brisbane's biggest issue so far this season, with Prince likely to call on his players to improve their discipline if they are to upset the Titans.
In good news, they have gold medal winners Gayle Broughton returning from a back injury and new signing Stacey Waka - a former rugby sevens teammate of Broughton - named at centre, fresh from her recent Olympics triumph in Paris.
The Gold Coast come into this game following a strong win against Wests Tigers, but coach Karyn Murphy will expect a better start from her charges, who let in early points last week, before a Jaime Chapman hat-trick helped inspire the win.
In their Round 2 victory, the Titans also saw hooker Brittany Breayley-Nati and winger Emily Bass both not finish their game, but both have been named to feature against the Broncos.
Match: Broncos v Titans
Round 3 -
home Team
Broncos
9th Position
away Team
Titans
1st Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Broncos: Some huge inclusions with Gayle Broughton returning from a back injury to partner Ali Brigginshaw in the halves. Broughton's former New Zealand rugby sevens teammate Stacey Waka has been named to make her NRLW debut at centre, fresh from winning gold at the Paris Olympics. Lauren Dam moves out to the wing and Bree Spreadborough is 18th player. Skyla Adams moves from five-eighth to the bench. Brianna Clark is out with suspension, so Chelsea Lenarduzzi is the new starting prop. Lavinia Gould is on the extended bench, as is Shenae Ciesiolka who has been sidelined with a hand injury.
Titans: With two back-to-back wins secured, coach Karyn Murphy has named an unchanged 17 for this weekend's local derby clash against the Broncos. While winger Emily Bass and hooker Brittany Breayley-Nati were unable to finish the game against Wests Tigers, both have been named to start, with Breayley-Nati being given every opportunity to prove her fitness after picking up a wrist injury. Cook Islands and Kiwi Ferns prop Ngatokotoru Arakua has been named to replace Georgia Sim as the side's 18th player.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Hayley MaddickFullback for Titans is number 1 Evania Pelite
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Julia RobinsonWinger for Titans is number 2 Georgia Grey
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Mele HufangaCentre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
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Centre for Broncos is number 4 Lauren DamCentre for Titans is number 4 Niall Williams-Guthrie
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Stacey WaakaWinger for Titans is number 5 Emily Bass
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Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Gayle BroughtonFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali BrigginshawHalfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Keilee JosephProp for Titans is number 8 Shannon Mato
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jada FergusonHooker for Titans is number 9 Brittany Breayley-Nati
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Chelsea LenarduzziProp for Titans is number 10 Jessika Elliston
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Tazmin Rapana2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Rilee Jorgensen
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Shaylee Bent
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Jasmine FogaviniLock for Titans is number 13 Georgia Hale
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Destiny BrillInterchange for Titans is number 14 Lily-Rose Kolc
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Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Tafito LafaeleInterchange for Titans is number 15 Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell
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Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Mariah DenmanInterchange for Titans is number 16 Laikha Clarke
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Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Skyla AdamsInterchange for Titans is number 17 Dannii Perese
Reserves
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Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Bree SpreadboroughReplacement for Titans is number 18 Ngatokotoru Arakua
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Reserve for Broncos is number 19 Lavinia GouldReserve for Titans is number 19 Matekino Gray
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Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Hannah LarssonReserve for Titans is number 20 Georgia Sim
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Ashleigh WernerReserve for Titans is number 21 Lailani Montgomery
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Shenae CiesiolkaReserve for Titans is number 22 Malaela Sua
Broncos Ins
- Ashleigh Werner
- Gayle Broughton
- Lavinia Gould
- Shenae Ciesiolka
- Stacey Waaka
- Tafito Lafaele
Titans Ins
- Lailani Montgomery
- Malaela Sua
- Matekino Gray
- Ngatokotoru Arakua
Broncos Outs
- Brianna Clark
- Bridget Hoy
Titans Ins
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have won five from eight at Brisbane venues.
- The Titans have won two of their three games against the Broncos.
- The Broncos have conceded 80 points in their past three games.
- Titans centre Jaime Chapman has scored 12 tries in her past eight NRLW games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
