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Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos Tips & Preview - Broncos to struggle without Origin stars in NRL

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 01 Jul 2025

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Jeremy Darke 01 Jul 2025

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Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos expert predictions for Friday’s Round 18 NRL game
Canterbury have better depth despite Origin absences
Brisbane struggles on the road and have key players missing

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Canterbury Bulldogs (Getty Images)

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos Preview
Head to Head
Canterbury Bulldogs Form
Canterbury Bulldogs Team News
Canterbury Bulldogs Team List
Brisbane Broncos Form
Brisbane Broncos Team News
Brisbane Broncos Team List

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos Preview

Both teams are heavily affected by the Origin period but the Bulldogs have better depth and can cover the line as a result. Brisbane can struggle for quality field position and struggle to break the 18.5 points team points line in the match.

Brisbane are 1-4 when playing away from Suncorp Stadium in 2025
Brisbane’s attack averaged just 18 points per game without Reece Walsh in the side in 2025.
Canterbury Bulldogs are ranked 1st in Tackled in Opp20m vs Brisbane Broncos's defence ranked 15th
Bronson Xerri has scored in his last two games against Brisbane.

Head to Head

Brisbane are one of just three teams to beat the Bulldogs this season, beating Canterbury 42-18 back in Round 8.

Since the beginning of the 2019 season, Brisbane hold a commanding head-to-head lead winning seven of nine matches.

The previous four matches between the two clubs have gone over the game total.

Canterbury Bulldogs Form

Canterbury went down to Penrith 8-6 in Round 17 in one of the best rugby league games you will ever see, even if there were so few points in it.

Two teams played the game to perfection and it was a superb charge-down that won it for Panthers, otherwise as the score suggests there was nothing between these two teams.

Canterbury are the benchmark in many ways this season, but none more than how they control the game with territory and building pressure, leading the NRL in possession, territory and tackles inside opposition 20m.

The only criticism they could receive is their ability to turn their pressure into raw points. With the amount of ball played in their opposition's 20m, the Bulldogs should be scoring more. They rank 12th in the NRL in tries scored per tackles inside opposition 20m (11.4 tackles/try).

Canterbury Bulldogs Team News

Stephen Crichton, Max King, Kurt Mann and Jacob Kiraz will all miss the match due to origin duties while Daniel Suluka-Fifita has been ruled out with concussion.

Blake Wilson and Enari Tuala will come into the backline while Harry Hayes and Sam Hughes will start at prop. Lipoi Hopoi and Kurt Morrin come in off the bench.

Canterbury Bulldogs Team List

1. Connor Tracey

2. Blake Wilson

3. Bronson Xerri

4. Enari Tuala

5. Marcelo Montoya

6. Matt Burton

7. Toby Sexton

8. Harry Hayes

9. Reed Mahoney

10. Sam Hughes

11. Viliame Kikau

12. Jacob Preston

13. Bailey Hayward

Interchange

14. Lachlan Galvin

15. Josh Curran

16. Lipoi Hopoi

17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves

19. Jake Turpin

20. Jethro Rinakama

21. Jack Todd

22. Luke Smith

23. Jack Underhill

Brisbane Broncos Form

The Broncs’ are back on the rise with three wins on the trott, including their latest two against top eight teams the New Zealand Warriors (26-12) and Cronulla Sharks (34-28).

The Brisbane attack has ignited again after a real dull patch in the seven games prior where they won just once. During that span they averaged just 18 points per game. In their previous three matches they have almost doubled that total with an average of 35 points per game.

It is no surprise that it has been the return of Reece Walsh that has sparked the Broncos revival, with the Brisbane fullback lighting up the stats sheet since his return three games ago.

Walsh has two tries, four try assists along with two linebreaks and five linebreak assists while running for at least 126m per game.

Brisbane Broncos Team News

Reece Walsh, Gehamat Shibasaki, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are all out on Origin duty.

Selwyn Cobbo comes back into the Broncos side in the No. 1, while Deine Marinier returns in the centres. Xavier Willison starts at prop with Kobe Hethrigton starting at lock.

Tyson Smoothy and Jaiyden Hunt come onto the bench.

Brisbane Broncos Team List

1. Selwyn Cobbo

2. Josiah Karapani

3. Kotoni Staggs

4. Deine Mariner

5. Jesse Arthars

6. Ezra Mam

7. Adam Reynolds

8. Corey Jensen

9. Cory Paix

10. Xavier Willison

11. Brendan Piakura

12. Jordan Riki

13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange

14. Billy Walters

15. Jaiyden Hunt

16. Tyson Smoothy

17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves

18. Delouise Hoeter

19. Ben Talty

20. Blake Mozer

21. Va'a Semu

22. Josh Rogers

Verdict

Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos

Canterbury will hold Brisbane to under 18.5 points and cover as the 5.5-point favourite. Bronson Xerri will score his third try in three games as a Bulldog against Brisbane.

Canterbury -5.5

Handicap/Line

@10/11 - 3 Units

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Brisbane Under 18.5

Team Total

@9/10 - 2 Units

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Bronson Xerri

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Bronson Xerri

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