The Panthers are now just 80 minutes away from a sixth consecutive grand final appearance and a crack at a remarkable five-peat.
Standing in their way are the Broncos, hell bent on avenging their defeat in the 2023 decider and delivering a first title in 19 years to Red Hill.
From gun No.1s Reece Walsh and Dylan Edwards to electric centres Kotoni Staggs and Izack Tago to forward leaders Payne Haas and Moses Leota, there's mouth-watering match-ups across the park on Sunday as the season goes on the line for two powerhouse clubs.
In the only meeting between the sides in 2025 it was the Panthers running away with a 32-8 victory at Magic Round - just the third win in the opening nine rounds for the premiers as they made a horror start to their campaign.
Remarkably they sank to last place after 12 rounds but the champs refused to panic and hauled themselves up the ladder with nine wins on the bounce between Round 13 and Round 23.
Ivan Cleary's men look to be peaking at precisely the right time but the Broncos on home soil pose a very different threat than their two finals victims so far, the Roosters and Bulldogs.
The Broncos have won 10 of 14 at Suncorp Stadium this season and will ride every ounce of energy from the 50,000 fans set to pack into The Cauldron on Sunday afternoon.
Match: Broncos v Panthers
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Broncos
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
7th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Team News
Broncos: Skipper Adam Reynolds is back after missing five games with a hamstring injury while Ezra Mam also returns via the bench from a hamstring injury. The loss of Billy Walters to an ACL injury sees Ben Hunt return to five-eighth while Tyson Smoothy takes over at lock from the suspended Pat Carrigan. Winger Selwyn Cobbo dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update after initially being listed among the reserves following his return from a hamstring injury through Queensland Cup last week. Brisbane will line up 1-17, with Jesse Arthars remaining in the squad as 18th man.
Panthers:No injury concerns and no changes for the defending premiers, with Liam Martin (ribs) and Casey McLean (hip) both good to go despite injury scares last Sunday. Superstar Nathan Cleary hasn't lost a daytime game since Round 19, 2019 against the Raiders, as he aims for a sixth consecutive grand final appearance with the Panthers. Penrith will line up 1-17, with Daine Laurie the 18th man.
Match: Broncos v Panthers
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah KarapaniWinger for Panthers is number 2 Paul Alamoti
-
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat ShibasakiCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
-
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Deine MarinerWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ben HuntFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
-
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey JensenProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory PaixHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
-
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Tyson SmoothyLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Ezra MamInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Brad Schneider
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe HetheringtonInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Liam Henry
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Xavier WillisonInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Isaiah Papali'i
-
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Ben TaltyInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Luke Garner
Reserves
-
Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Jesse ArtharsReplacement for Panthers is number 18 Daine Laurie
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Broncos have won nine of their past 10 finals matches at Suncorp Stadium.
- Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has won his last 26 daytime games.
- The Broncos have scored 128 points in their last three games at Suncorp Stadium.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored 17 tries in 17 finals games.
- Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has scored six tries in his last five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
