The Broncos are riding a five-game winning streak and head into matches against the Eels and Rabbitohs in the next fortnight with a top-four berth still within their grasp.
With two matches against the Melbourne Storm still to come they will need to make hay against the teams who are playing only for pride across the last seven rounds of the season.
There is no doubt the Eels have taken steps forward in 2025 under Jason Ryles but they only have five wins to their credit and will need to dig deep to avoid their first wooden spoon since 2018.
The development of youngsters Joash Papalii, Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith, Charlie Guymer and Sam Tuivaiti is cause for genuine optimism moving forward but the task at hand is to spring some upsets in the run home and take some momentum into the 2026 season.
Match: Broncos v Eels
Round 21 -
home Team
Broncos
5th Position
away Team
Eels
16th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Broncos: Blues prop Payne Haas returns after being rested following Origin Three while winger Jesse Arthars plays his first game since Round 17 having recovered from a rib injury. Prop Corey Jensen (calf) is also back on deck and joins Kobe Hetherington, Billy Walters and Jack Gosiewski on the interchange.
Eels: A huge in for the Eels with star halfback Mitch Moses back on deck after four games out with a calf injury. Dean Hawkins moves to five-eighth and Joash Papalii slides to fullback to replace Isaiah Iongi (hand). Will Penisini returns from suspension in the centres so Bailey Simonsson drops to the reserves. Luca Moretti has been added to the bench. Knights-bound playmaker Dylan Brown is part of the extended squad.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Eels is number 1 Joash Papalii
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah KarapaniWinger for Eels is number 2 Zac Lomax
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat ShibasakiCentre for Eels is number 4 Sean Russell
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jesse ArtharsWinger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra MamFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dean Hawkins
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Xavier WillisonProp for Eels is number 8 J'maine Hopgood
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Ben HuntHooker for Eels is number 9 Ryley Smith
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Charlie Guymer
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jack Williams
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Eels is number 13 Dylan Walker
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Billy WaltersInterchange for Eels is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe HetheringtonInterchange for Eels is number 15 Luca Moretti
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Corey JensenInterchange for Eels is number 16 Matt Doorey
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jack GosiewskiInterchange for Eels is number 17 Sam Tuivaiti
Reserves
-
Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Tyson SmoothyReplacement for Eels is number 18 Dan Keir
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 19 Deine MarinerReserve for Eels is number 19 Jordan Samrani
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Selwyn CobboReserve for Eels is number 20 Bailey Simonsson
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Ben TaltyReserve for Eels is number 21 Toni Mataele
-
Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Jaiyden HuntReserve for Eels is number 22 Dylan Brown
Broncos Ins
- Corey Jensen
- Jesse Arthars
- Payne Haas
- Selwyn Cobbo
Eels Ins
- Dylan Brown
- Luca Moretti
- Mitchell Moses
- Toni Mataele
- Will Penisini
Broncos Outs
Eels Ins
- Isaiah Iongi
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have won their last four games against the Eels.
- The Eels have lost five of their last six games at Suncorp Stadium.
- Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki has scored eight tries in his last six games at Suncorp.
- Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr requires one try for 150 NRL tries.
- Broncos captain Adam Reynolds requires 14 points for 2500 career points.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
