Broncos v Cowboys: Nu'uausala returns; Weale sidlelined
The Broncos have surged into second spot on the NRLW ladder after posting three wins on the trot, but face an in-form Cowboys side who have also secured three wins, but sit outside the top four.
In a short competition, every game matters and both sides won't need any extra motivation to perform in the Queensland derby match.
The Broncos bounced back after trailing the winless - but spirited - Wests Tigers at half-time last week, bursting from the sheds after the break to run in seven unanswered tries including a double to fullback Hayley Maddick for a 44-14 win.
North Queensland on the other hand started well in their match against the Raiders and were able to hold out their fightback in the second half to post their 28-18 victory.
Cowboys forward China Polata was hit with a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact offence, but is free to play despite her early guilty plea and has received a warning and $400 fine.
Match: Broncos v Cowboys
Round 6 -
home Team
Broncos
2nd Position
away Team
Cowboys
7th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Teams news
Broncos: Forward Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala makes her return after serving a four-game suspension, pushing Lauren Dam into 18th player duties, with Skyla Adams reverting to the reserves alongside Mariah Denman, Bree Spreadborough and Jasmine Fogavini, who is making her return from a shoulder injury.
Cowboys: There two main changes for this week's Queensland derby see Makenzie Weale sitting out after suffering a head knock, bringing Sareka Mooka and Shaniah Power to the bench, moving Shellie Long into the reserves. As has been the case for the past few weeks, co-captain Tallisha Harden has been named to start with Lily Peacock on the bench. Fran Goldthorp has been named as the new replacement player as she aims to return from a back injury, while new signing Lavinia Tauhalaliku has been named in the reserves after joining the club from Manly’s Harvey Norman NSW Premiership team.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Hayley MaddickFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Krystal Blackwell
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Julia RobinsonWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Vitalina Naikore
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Mele HufangaCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Jakiya Whitfeld
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Shenae CiesiolkaCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Jasmine Peters
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Stacey WaakaWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Libby Surha
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Gayle BroughtonFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tahlulah Tillett
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali BrigginshawHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Kirra Dibb
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Brianna ClarkProp for Cowboys is number 8 Tallisha Harden
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jada FergusonHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma Manzelmann
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Chelsea LenarduzziProp for Cowboys is number 10 Harata Butler
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Tazmin Rapana2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 China Polata
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Keilee JosephLock for Cowboys is number 13 Bree Chester
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Destiny BrillInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jetaya Faifua
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Tafito LafaeleInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Lily Peacock
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Lavinia GouldInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Sareka Mooka
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausalaInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Shaniah Power
Reserves
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Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Lauren DamReplacement for Cowboys is number 18 Francesca Goldthorp
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Reserve for Broncos is number 19 Skyla AdamsReserve for Cowboys is number 19 Ebony Raftstrand-Smith
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Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Mariah DenmanReserve for Cowboys is number 20 Lillian Yarrow
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Jasmine FogaviniReserve for Cowboys is number 22 Shellie Long
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Bree SpreadboroughReserve for Cowboys is number 23 Lavinia Tauhalaliku
Broncos Ins
- Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala
- Bree Spreadborough
- Jasmine Fogavini
- Mariah Denman
Cowboys Ins
- Ebony Raftstrand-Smith
- Francesca Goldthorp
- Lavinia Tauhalaliku
- Lillian Yarrow
- Shaniah Power
Broncos Outs
Cowboys Ins
- Makenzie Weale
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have won four from four at Totally Workwear Stadium.
- The Cowboys have won three of their past four games.
- Broncos centre Mele Hufanga has scored seven tries in four games at Totally Workwear Stadium.
- The Cowboys second-rower Tiana Raftstrand-Smith has scored three tries in her past four games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
