All you need to know about Broncos v Warriors NRL preliminary final

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As cries of ‘Up the Wahs’ ring out loud and proud across the country, the Warriors are closing in on finally making this their year.

Having endured a stellar season under new coach Andrew Webster, the Kiwi club, who ran 15th last year, are now a solitary win away from a third grand-final appearance, as they chase a maiden premiership.

Their 40-10 semifinal trouncing of the Newcastle Knights in Auckland last weekend was ultra-impressive, but now standing between them and the big dance are the brilliant Brisbane Broncos, in front of what will be a 52,500-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

Kevin Walters’ side finished within a whisker of the minor premiership and have themselves been a turnaround story this year after missing the playoffs the past three seasons.

They will, rightly, go into Saturday night’s preliminary final as favourites, well-rested after their 26-0 qualifying final rout of the Melbourne Storm a fortnight ago, but the Warriors sure won’t mind an underdog tag, and with some sure-fire support from the throng of New Zealanders in the Queensland capital, could there just be an upset brewing?

With some mouth-watering matchups on the cards – most notably between fullbacks Reece Walsh and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, halfbacks Adam Reynolds and Shaun Johnson, props Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake, and loose forwards Patrick Carrigan and Tohu Harris – this promises to be a beauty to buckle up for.

Kerry Marshall/Getty Images

Warriors captain Tohu Harris gets wrapped up during his side’s last clash against the Broncos, in Napier, in May.

THE GAME

What: Broncos v Warriors

Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kickoff: Saturday, 9.50pm (NZ time)

Coverage: Live blog on Stuff from 8.30pm.

THE TEAMS

Broncos: Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars, Kotoni Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds (capt), Thomas Flegler, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan. Interchange: Tyson Smoothy, Brendan Piakura, Kobe Hetherington, Keenan Palasia.

Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Tohu Harris (capt). Interchange: Dylan Walker, Jazz Tevaga, Bayley Sironen, Josh Curran.

THE REFS

Referee: Gerard Sutton

Touch judges: Phil Henderson, Drew Oultram

Senior review official: Ashley Klein

THE ODDS

Broncos $1.26 Warriors $3.70

THE WEATHER

Partly cloudy. South to southeasterly winds. High of 23deg C, low of 14.

THE HISTORY

Played 47: Broncos 26 wins, Warriors 20 wins, one draw

This year (May 27, Napier): Broncos 26 Warriors 22

THE BIG STORYLINES