New Zealand Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos Preview
The Warriors lost home advantage with the Magic Round clash taking place at Brisbane home venue Suncorp Stadium. With a +3.5 start, it's hard to ignore the Broncos with the line with Reece Walsh to be the key man.
- This game is at Suncorp Stadium and the Warriors have not beaten the Broncos in Brisbane since 2018.
- Brisbane have won 3 of their last 4 Magic Round games.
- The projected 50.4 total points and the current Under 52.5 gives extra room against that number.
- Reece Walsh has scored 7 tries in his last 7 games at Suncorp Stadium.
Head to Head Stats
The Broncos have won three of the last five games against the Warriors. Brisbane won the most recent meeting 26-12 last season, while the Warriors took the earlier 2025 matchup 20-18.
The venue tilts this matchup, with the Warriors still searching for their first Brisbane win over the Broncos since 2018.
New Zealand Warriors Form - 4 Wins In Last 5
The Warriors come into Magic Round fresh from the bye and with a stack of reinforcements. Mitch Barnett, Ali Leiataua and Wayde Egan all return from concussion, which gives Andrew Webster more stability through the middle and spine.
They have won four of their last five games and have averaged 28.8 points across that stretch. The issue is the venue. This matchup is not in New Zealand, and the Suncorp factor changes how the market should be read.
The Warriors still have threats everywhere, including Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the wings. They can win this game, but the number is too generous with Brisbane getting points in Brisbane.
Brisbane Broncos Form - Injuries Hampering Broncos
Brisbane have been hit hard by injuries and have lost back to back games, but Reynolds returning from concussion changes the look of the side. He comes straight back into halfback, which moves Ben Hunt to the interchange and gives the Broncos a better late-game shape.
Philip Coates debuts on the wing for Antonio Verhoeven, while Jack Gosiewski is also out after a head knock. Xavier Willison shifts to prop and Jaiyden Hunt comes into the back row, so the forward pack is not at full strength.
That is why the Under makes sense alongside the Broncos line. Brisbane can keep this close through Reynolds' kicking, Walsh's broken-play threat and better venue familiarity, but they do not need to turn it into a shootout to cover +3.5.
New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos Team News
Mitch Barnett, Ali Leiataua and Wayde Egan all return from concussion for the Warriors. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is out with a shoulder injury, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is not named and Luke Metcalf is also missing from the squad.
For the Broncos, Adam Reynolds returns from concussion at halfback, pushing Ben Hunt to the interchange. Philip Coates debuts on the wing for Antonio Verhoeven, while Jack Gosiewski is out after a head knock.