Tricky clashes to test Broncos

BRISBANE’S premiership hopes will be put to the ultimate test, relaunching their season with two Suncorp blockbusters — including a clash with the Eels team that humiliated the Broncos 58-0 in last year’s finals.

The NRL yesterday released a revised premiership draw for rounds three and four, with the Broncos to re-open the Telstra Premiership on May 28 with a Thursday night home game against finals nemesis Parramatta.

The Broncos will then host reigning two-time premiers the Roosters in another Suncorp spectacular on Thursday, June 4. Fans will remain locked out of all NRL games.

After a two-month coronavirus-related hiatus, it is a daunting restart for the Broncos, who are just one of six unbeaten teams after defeating the Cowboys and South Sydney in the first two rounds. But the Broncos are about to confront a brutal fortnight with showdowns against the defending premiers and the Eels outfit which inflicted the worst loss in Brisbane’s history in last year’s Bankwest massacre.

The Eels ripped the Broncos apart in an 11-try hammering at Bankwest that prompted a sweeping club review in which Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold held one-on-one interviews with every Brisbane player.

Parramatta currently sits on top of the NRL premiership on percentages, but Seibold dismissed talk of Red Hill revenge, instead welcoming back-to-back blockbusters against the Eels and Roosters.

“We’re excited about the draw, they are two big games for us,” he said.

“I understand people will talk up the redemption theme with Parramatta, but we won’t be talking about redemption.”