Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers Betting Prediction

The Brisbane Broncos have surrendered top spot in the rugby standings, and they will now be battling to get back on track this weekend. They had been the long-time leaders in the NRL, but defeat in their previous outing has allowed the Rabbitohs to overtake them.

Things could get worse for the Broncos this weekend, as they could drop further down the standings if they are beaten at home by the Penrith Panthers. You can find the latest rugby odds and our Broncos vs Panthers prediction below.

Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers

Location of the Game: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia.

Date and Time: Thursday, May 18. 5:50 AM ET.

How to Watch: NRL Player

Before making rugby league predictions on this NRL showdown, it is worth examining the head-to-head record. There have been 41 previous clashes between the Broncos and Panthers, with the Broncos holding a healthy advantage.

Brisbane has claimed victory on 24 occasions, while the Panthers have recorded 16 wins. Meanwhile, there has been one previous draw between the sides. The latest meeting came back on March 3, with the Broncos edging to a 13-12 win on the road.

It has been a testing period for the Broncos, as their place at the top of the NRL standings has come to an end.

They dropped to second in the standings last weekend, as they were comfortably beaten 24-16 by the Storm. That defeat was their second in three outings, with their only win over that period coming on the road against the struggling Sea Eagles.

Still, the Broncos have impressed over the early months, as they have won 73% of their matches. They have also scored an impressive 282 points. However, they will need to sharpen up defensively over the coming weeks, as they have allowed 194 points across their eleven matches this season.

The Broncos may have beaten the Panthers earlier in the season, but they haven’t registered two wins in a single campaign over their rivals since 2017.

Any doubt that the Penrith Panthers remain among the top teams in the NRL was routinely put to rest in their previous outing. The reigning champions produced an excellent display to dismantle the Roosters by a 48-4 scoreline.

That was their second straight victory, and coach Ivan Clearly would have been delighted with his team’s response after losing two on the bounce against the Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers.

The Panthers are slightly stronger than their rivals defensively coming into this round, as they have allowed just 121 points this term. Meanwhile, they have a completion rate of 81%.

Suncorp Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Panthers in recent seasons, as they have won each of their last four at the Brisbane stadium.

Adam Reynolds could be fit enough to start for the Broncos after returning to action last weekend. Meanwhile, Corey Oates could also be set to turn.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the Panthers, with Spencer Leniu the only big-name absentee once again.

• Brisbane Broncos: +190
• Penrith Panthers: -239

• Brisbane Broncos (+7.5): -105
• Penrith Panthers (-7.5): -115

• Total Points: Over 39.5 (-110) Under 39.5 (-110)

The odds don’t appear to have missed the preferred Broncos vs Panthers prediction this weekend, as the visitors look excellent value for a third straight win.

The Panthers have an excellent record at Suncorp Stadium, and they were back to their very best last weekend. We expect that momentum to continue to build on Thursday with a straightforward win on the road against the Broncos.