Event of the Day: Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers
Our event of the day...
is the first of this season’s NRL semi-finals as the Brisbane Broncos face the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Regular season third place finishers Brisbane find themselves in the semi-finals after a narrow defeat to second-placed Sydney Roosters 24-22 in their qualifying final last week. The Panthers, having finished seventh in the league, successfully navigated their elimination-final clash at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney against slight favourites Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles who had beaten the Panthers 28-12 a week previously. Despite the Broncos finishing higher in the league (and having a superior head to head record), the Panthers will have the winning momentum coming into this match. It’s set to be a thrilling encounter.
In the 33 games between these two sides all time, the Broncos have emerged victorious 20 times and will have the added advantage of playing in their home town of Brisbane where they have beaten the Panthers four times in the past five meetings at Suncorp Stadium. While the Panthers have won four out of the last six clashes with the Broncos, the Brisbane-based team ran out 32-18 winners in the last encounter earlier this season despite an impressive fightback from the Panthers who scored three tries in eight minutes. Adding to the intrigue is Panthers head coach Anthony Griffin returning to his old stomping ground against the club he used to coach. With both sides possessing attacking potency, the impressive Suncorp Stadium is sure to be the location of a fiercely-competed spectacle in this semi-final between the Broncos and the Panthers.
Honourable mentions...
go to the Super League fixture between Leeds Rhinos and the Salford Red Devils at Headingley Carnegie Stadium. The Rhinos were comfortable 24-50 winners in their last match against the Red Devils.
In Rugby Union, the Aviva Premiership continues as Bath travel to Northampton, Worcester host Exeter and Sale take on London Irish at the AJ Bell Stadium is Salford. In Football, the Premier League returns to a Friday evening with a clash on the south coast as AFC Bournemouth host Brighton & Hove Albion at Vitality Stadium. Brighton will be full of confidence after their first win of the season, a 3-1 home victory against West Bromwich Albion. Bournemouth on the other hand are still searching for their first points of the season. The AFL semi-final between Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans takes place at the MCG with the winners booking a date with the Adelaide Crows in the next round. The Swans convincingly beat the Cats 107-61 in their last encounter. It’s day 2 of the USPGA Tour BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Whatever you're watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by NRL