Round 11 in the NRL season kicks off on Thursday night as the Knights take on the Broncos from McDonald Jones Stadium! As always, Greg Davis has you covered for the round opening clash preview and betting tips below.
Remember to head to our NRL Tips page for updates on all of the Round 11 action.
Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos Betting Tips
McDonald Jones Stadium, Thursday 19th May, 7.50pm (AEST)
Squads
Newcastle
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitchell Barnett 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Leo Thompson 17. Mathew Croker 18. Tex Hoy 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Dane Gagai 21. Jake Clifford 22. Sauaso Sue 23. Pasami Saulo 24. Brodie Jones
Brisbane
1.Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Brenko Lee 19. TC Robati 20. Rhys Kennedy 21. Ezra Mam 22. Jordan Pereira 23. Ryan James 24. David Mead
Match Preview
THE Milf’s six appeal.
That’s what this Thursday’s clash between the red-hot Brisbane Broncos and revitalised Newcastle Knights is all about.
Former Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford will make his club debut for Newcastle against Brisbane after leaving Red Hill at the end of 2021.
Milford was the much-maligned million dollar-a-year man towards the end of his tenure at the Broncos with critics lining up around the corner to question his commitment to the cause, dodgy defence and lack of involvement in attack.
If Corey Oates had stayed on his winger in the dying minutes of the 2015 grand final, Brisbane would have beaten North Queensland in that decider and Milford would have won the Clive Churchill Medal for man-of-the-match.
Things could have been very different now – Wayne Bennett would still be Broncos coach for starters – if that sliding doors moment went the way of Milford and Brisbane but here we are in 2022 with Kevvie Walters in charge of the Broncos and Milford wearing the no.6 jersey of the Knights.
Newcastle snapped a seven-game losing streak with a gritty-not-pretty 16-6 win over Canterbury to open Magic Round last Friday night at Suncorp Stadium with the scrappy encounter between the bottom two teams on the ladder bringing about the demise of Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett who resigned two days later.
The final score actually flattered the last-placed Bulldogs as Newcastle dominated the contest after halftime, bombing one near-certain try and having one try disallowed because of a dubious obstruction decision.
The sense of relief in the Knights camp post-match was palpable and gives Newcastle a much-needed circuit breaker. But the confidence and momentum that they earned from the hard slog against the Dogs may not be enough to knock over the Broncos.
Brisbane is taking a four-match winning streak with them to the Hunter after they were simply superb in the 38-0 dismantling of Manly in the second match of the Friday night double-header of Magic Round.
Their wingers combined for five tries which means there is plenty of excellent work happening inside them. The Broncos pack was dominant and captain Adam Reynolds was at his brilliant best directing Brisbane around the park.
Walters has stressed to his troops the need to win away from Suncorp Stadium with the ability to get on the road, hang tough and come home with two premiership points a hallmark of a good side.
Brisbane has too many weapons firing right now to drop this one to the Knights. If the Broncos are fair dinkum about playing finals in 2022, this is a match they should win and win well with Reynolds calling the tune.
Selwyn Cobbo 1st Try ($8.25 at Ladbrokes)
Brisbane 13+
$2.60 (1.5 Units)
