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Broncos v Eels: Adams to debut; Cross-code Kelly to start

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Brisbane play their season opener at Suncorp Stadium and host a new-look Parramatta side who are looking to improve on their wooden spoon finish in their 2023 season.

Scott Prince has the reins for his second season, while the Eels have new coach Steve Georgallis in charge who has already made a number of changes, including naming dual Australian international in rugby league and rugby union Mahalia Murphy as captain and Abbi Church as her deputy.

Both sides come into their Round 1 game with wins under their belt from their trial matches.

The battle of the halfbacks will see Ali Brigginshaw and Rachael Pearson reprise their rivalry last on show in the recent State of Origin series.

Broncos originals - Brigginshaw, Julia Robinson, Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Lavinia Gould - have all been named to feature in their seventh season in the NRLW, while Mariah Denman, a fellow 2018 original who was named the Broncos player of the season last year, will play in her fourth after taking time away to start a family. 

Team News

Broncos: Playmaker Gayle Broughton has not been named after undergoing surgery just prior to Christmas to fix a painful back injury, with Skyla Adams to make her NRLW debut partnering with skipper Ali Brigginshaw in the halves. Adams was part of the senior Maroons squad this year and also played in the Under 19 Origin for Queensland. Winger Bree Spreadborough who was signed from the Central Queensland Capras will also make her debut with with club. Lock Keilee Joseph will play her first game for the Brisbane after signing from the Roosters in the off-season. There are no changes to the 1-17 for the Broncos an hour from kick off, with Tafito Lafaele the 18th player.

Eels: New coach Steve Georgallis has named a strong side for his first official NRLW game in charge, with PNG powerhouse Elsie Albert named as starting prop after injury woes saw her only feature in one match last year. Newly-appointed captain Mahalia Murphy will line up in the second row, with deputy Abbi Church in the no.1 jersey. Blues Origin halfback Rachael Pearson will guide the side while Georgallis has also handed out a number of NRLW debuts, including to New Zealand Black Fern and Super Rugby player Rosie Kelly in the centres. There are no changes to the 1-17 for the Eels an hour out from the game, with Rosemarie Beckett the 18th player. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Hayley Maddick
    Fullback for Eels is number 1 Abbi Church
  • Winger for Broncos is number 2 Julia Robinson
    Winger for Eels is number 2 Zali Fay
  • Centre for Broncos is number 3 Mele Hufanga
    Centre for Eels is number 3 Rory Owen
  • Centre for Broncos is number 4 Lauren Dam
    Centre for Eels is number 4 Rosie Kelly
  • Winger for Broncos is number 5 Bree Spreadborough
    Winger for Eels is number 5 Monique Donovan
  • Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Skyla Adams
    Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Cassey Tohi-Hiku
  • Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali Brigginshaw
    Halfback for Eels is number 7 Rachael Pearson

Forwards

  • Prop for Broncos is number 8 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala
    Prop for Eels is number 8 Elsie Albert
  • Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Jada Ferguson
    Hooker for Eels is number 9 Rueben  Cherrington 
  • Prop for Broncos is number 10 Brianna Clark
    Prop for Eels is number 10 Madeline Jones
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Mariah Denman
    2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Boss Kapua
  • 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Romy Teitzel
    2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Mahalia Murphy
  • Lock for Broncos is number 13 Keilee Joseph
    Lock for Eels is number 13 Kennedy  Cherrington

Interchange

  • Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Lavinia Gould
    Interchange for Eels is number 14 Taneka Todhunter
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Chelsea Lenarduzzi
    Interchange for Eels is number 15 Tyla Amiatu
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Tazmin Rapana
    Interchange for Eels is number 16 Jade Fonua
  • Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jasmine Fogavini
    Interchange for Eels is number 17 Ruby-Jean  Kennard-Ellis 

Reserves

  • Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Tafito Lafaele
    Replacement for Eels is number 19 Rosemarie Beckett

Match Officials

  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • Broncos finished fourth on the ladder in the 2023 season while the Eels finished last on the ladder in 10th.
  • Ali Brigginshaw finished the 2023 season with 84 points from 10 games (nine regular season, plus finals week 1).
  • Broncos powerhouse Mele Hufanga was second on the top try scoring list in 2023 with 10 from 10 games.
  • The Broncos require one try to become the first club to score 150 NRLW tries.
  • The Eels have defeated the Broncos once in three attempts.
  • Broncos centre Shenae Ciesiolka has scored three tries in three games against the Eels.
  • The Broncos will have the chance to become the first NRLW team to score 150 tries in Saturday’s clash with Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. A foundation club of the NRLW in 2018, the Broncos have scored
    149 tries from 33 games.

Additional stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.