Reece Walsh, the Broncos' fullback has been in white-hot form to emerge as one of the most dangerous players in the game. Getty Images.
The high-flying Broncos are top dogs at the Penthouse heading into round 8 and warm favorites ($1.64-$2.27) at TIO stadium in Darwin against the 12th placed Eels.
It's their best start to the season in eight years since 2016.
They've been in white-hot form and displaying some of the athleticism, speed and pace they've threatened to unleash for years.
They have won 6 from 7, with only one loss back in round 6 to the Raiders (14-20).
Gutherson bleeds for the Eels in the R7 30-4 win over the Dogs. Getty Images.
The Eels, meanwhile, have won 3 from 7, looking to win their third straight, trying to build some kind of momentum in their slow crawl back up the ladder after spending the first quarter of the season closer to the basement.
After defeating the Dogs 30-4 yesterday to record their third win of the year, the Eels have improved their statistical position: now the 5th best attack (average 23.29ppg) and 7th best defence (21.43ppg).
This week is the first time all year the Eels' points differential is in the black. It's been in the red all year, until today's win over the Dogs.
Still, the Broncos are statistically light years ahead: currently, the best attack (28.86 ppg) and 3rd best defence (16.57ppg) behind the Panthers and Souths.
The Broncos along with Souths have the most lethal right edge in the competition scoring more tries than any other team. A sweeping Walsh, Staggs and Cobbo alert.
We've been doing it tough, but have a great record at TIO and against the Broncos in recent years.
At TIO: 6 from 8
The Eels have won 6 of 8 games at TIO.
But last year's round 8 encounter at TIO was a disaster for the Eels being massacred 35-4 massacre by the then-white-hot Cowboys.
6 from 7
Over the last four years, from 2019, the Eels have won their 6 of their last 7 against the Broncos with an average score of 36.4 - 11.7. (24.7 average margin).
They have been high-scoring affairs with a collective score of almost 50 points a game (48.1 average).
Last TIO meet: An Anzac Massacre
Two years ago, on the same night, at the same place, at the same time of the year these two last met here. On Anzac Friday.
It was their one and only meet at TIO, and the Eels massacred the Broncos 46-6 back then in R7, 2021.
So much has changed since then. Except for Sivo. He scored a triple on that night. He scored another double yesterday, too.
Sivo scores a hat-trick at TIO in R7, 2021, Anzac Friday. Getty Images.
Back then, the roles were somewhat reversed. The Broncos were coming second-last (1/5 wins) whilst the Eels were flying high in third place (4 /5 wins).
But that was two years ago (when the Broncos came 14th, third-last, to miss the eight coming off their first spoon in 2020).
There may be a few familiar faces, but the Broncos spine is completely revised from then Walsh, Mam, Reynolds, Walters (replacing Isaako, Croft, Dearden, and Turpin). The Eels spine, though, is essentially the same other than Hogso-Hands replacing Reed.
Reynolds has caused a metamorphisis in the Broncos. Getty Images.
So, we could probably dismiss recent history over the last five years in favour of the last seven weeks.
The 2023 Broncos are a different beast.
They've got so much firepower, speed and origin class players out wide with the likes of Cobbo, Staggs, Farnsworth, and man of the moment, Walsh. X-factor on steroids.
Cronk even compared Walsh to Billy Slater.
“He has got care factor for his performance and he is a student of the game."
“He spoke about calling some people after the Raiders game about how can I get better? What areas can I improve?"
“I played with a fullback Billy Slater who had the same mindset. Do what the opposition doesn’t want you to do. Be involved. Be on the footy and be a threat.”
Haas is in menacing best form. Getty Images.
Then, there's origin hardmen in the engine room such as Capewell, golden-boy Carrigan and Fledgler and Haas, probably the best prop in the world at the moment - although Paulo and RCG might have something to say about that.
The clash in the forwards will be a sight to behold.
RCG was one of the Eels' best yesterday against the Dogs. Getty Images.
Stay in the arm wrestle
The Dolphins and Raiders, the only team to defeat the Broncos this year, can give us some clues.
That is, if stay in the arm wrestle into a dogfight - despite all their blazing gunfire - you can unsettle them.
Bear in mind, statistically the Dolphins and Raiders score less and concede more per game than the Eels do heading into round 8.
On this year's form, the Broncos are likely to score a convincing and demoralizing win over the Eels who have shown some defensive vulnerabilities.
This is a litmus test for the Eels to see if they still have what it takes to fight-toe-to-toe with the big improvers this year.
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