NRL Match Preview: Round 18 v Broncos

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Fri 3 Jul 2026, 09:05 AM

The warning for the travelling Sharks may well be to beware a battered and battling Broncos side for when the two teams meet at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Broncos come into the match 13th on the NRL ladder, with just five wins from 15 matches played and having lost their past seven games. It is the worst losing streak for a Premiership winning team in over 70 years.

Like the Sharks they have a number unavailable while in Origin camp, with a handful of players also sidelined with injury.

However, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon and his team are having none of the negative chat around Brisbane’s prospects and are aware of the challenge awaiting them in a match crucial to maintaining a place inside the NRL’s top eight.

“They are the reigning premiers, and I thought they played well against the Roosters last week, unfortunate not to get the win, so we’re under no illusions as to the challenge,” Fitzgibbon expressed.

In fact, the records show the Broncos hold a considerable edge when it comes to games played between the two teams, Brisbane winning 41, the Sharks 23 of the 64 previous matches, while Cronulla have been successful in just seven of the 24 games contested at Suncorp Stadium.

Adding to the unpredictability of the contest and the potential result, both teams head into the match minus their Origin players, while regular Brisbane halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam are missing due to injury.

While Sharks Origin stars Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey and Briton Nikora will watch on from their respective training camps, Fitzgibbon is confident in the players set to take their place, with Jayden Berrell and Hohepa Puru to share the hooking role, while Tuku Hau Tapuha comes into the 17 in place of Fonua-Blake.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in those players, they are valuable members, they’ve made the most of the opportunities they’ve had and we think they can get the job done. It will be a difficult one, but they’re looking forward to it,” Fitzgibbon said.

One player getting his first chance to shine in the top grade in 2026 is Hau Tapuha, standing almost two metres tall and tipping the scales at 115kgs, an imposing figure who has been added to the interchange bench.

“Tuku plays his first game for the season, big ‘Tooks’, he’s been playing well for a number of weeks now for the Jets so we’re excited for him to get his chance,” Fitzgibbon said.

Otherwise, the Sharks team takes on a look similar to the one which won four games straight, before a last start loss to the Roosters.

In games played away from Ocean Protect Stadium this season, the Cronulla side have won three of eight, with two of these wins coming in the past three games, against the Bulldogs at Suncorp during Magic Round and at Mt Smart in Auckland against the Warriors.

At Suncorp Stadium, the Sharks have an overall record of 12 wins in 33 games, however their recent form reads well, with wins at four of their past five games at the venue (Roosters, Broncos, Eels and Bulldogs).

A strong start also appears essential to the Sharks winning prospects, with wins in seven of eight matches in 2026 when leading at halftime, as opposed to just one of six when trailing at the break.

And while their overall record of late is poor, at Suncorp Stadium the Broncos have also struggled, losing their past four, and seven of nine games this year.

The Broncos beat the Sharks 34-28 in the most recent last clash in Round 16 last year, in a game in which the Cronulla team led 28-12 in the 53rd minute before conceding 22 straight points.

The Sharks v Broncos match is scheduled for a 7.30pm kickoff, with the two 24-hour team lists below.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 4 Jul

9:35 am

Broncos

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Hayze Perham

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Grant Anderson

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Thomas Duffy

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Broncos is number 8 Va'a Semu

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Thomas Hazelton
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Berrell
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Preston Riki

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Xavier Willison

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Blake Mozer

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Ben Talty

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Jaiyden Hunt

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jesse Arthars

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Josh Rogers

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Mawene Hiroti
Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Luke Gale

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Harrison Hassett