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Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels Friday 8:00pm at The Gabba, Brisbane / Yuggera-Turrbal

All to play for as finals draw nearer

The Brisbane Broncos and the Parramatta Eels will be looking for big performances from their milestone men during Friday night's showdown at The Gabba.

Coming into the late season contest in contrasting form, the Broncos could finish the year as minor premiers, while the Eels face a tightrope just to qualify for the finals after a worrying dip in form over the past month.

Returning home after a fifth win in succession, the Brisbane Broncos will be looking to all but guarantee a top two finish with victory on Friday evening. 

Sitting in second position on the same points as Penrith but with a vastly inferior points differential, coach Kevin Walters has been forced to make changes following a hard fought 30-14 victory over the Cowboys in Townsville last Saturday.

Welcoming back Adam Reynolds, Jordan Riki and Kobe Hetherington in place of Jock Madden, Corey Jensen and Xavier Willison, young gun Deine Mariner has been recalled on the wing after Jesse Arthars sustained a Category 1 concussion.

Finishing the regular season with a bye, an away trip to Canberra and final round showdown opposite the Storm at Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos could claim their first minor premiership since 2000 if results fall favourably over the closing rounds. 

Facing a precarious run home where one false move could bring the curtain down on their top eight chances, the Parramatta Eels will be fully aware of the need to come away from Brisbane with two premiership points.

Sitting outside the top eight on points differential in ninth position, the Eels hold a dominant record over the Broncos since 2017 with nine wins from 13 meetings.

Coach Brad Arthur has adjusted the squad that fought back to down the Dragons 26-20 last Sunday with Daejarn Asi replacing Arthur Stephen-Miller in the backline, Brendan Hands coming in for Makahesi Makatoa on the bench, and Andrew Davey switching places with Ryan Matterson in the second-row.

Coming up against the Roosters at home before an away trip to Penrith over the next fortnight, a bye in the final round could make or break the Eels' chances of qualifying for the finals for the fifth year in a row.

Last meeting: Round 8 2023 - Eels 16 Broncos 26

Who to watch: As speculation mounts over the long-term future of Payne Haas, the herculean front-rower will have his sights set firmly on a goal in the short-term: bringing a premiership back to Brisbane. Playing his 100th game for the club five years on from debuting as a teenager, the 23-year-old has established himself as a fixture of the NSW forward pack along with representing Australia. Averaging 190 running metres in just under an hour of game time each week, Haas shapes as the man most capable of making or breaking the Broncos' hopes of ending a 17-year title drought.

Lining up for his 150th appearance in blue and gold colours on Friday evening, Mitchell Moses will be looking to assert his credentials as a big game player. Experiencing many highs in 2023, including two appearances for NSW and a new deal with the club, the 28-year-old halfback faces the distinct possibility of missing out of September with a loss on Friday evening. Producing 15 try-assists, 13 forced drop-outs and a 79% goal-kicking strike rate, the Eels will need Moses to stand up and deliver in order to keep their season alive.

The favourite: Winning both of their previous appearances at The Gabba this season, the Broncos are expected to keep the wins coming at their makeshift home.

My tip: It remains to be seen whether Brisbane are good enough to play in a grand final this year. What is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt is that they are better than the team that did so last year. Broncos by 16.

1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Jensen

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Daejarn Asi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Andrew Davey 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Brendan Hands 18. Makahesi Makatoa

Referees: Adam Gee; Sideline Officials: Wyatt Raymond, Belinda Sharpe; Video Referees: Gerard Sutton;