The Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos have won the past five NRL premierships between them, but their 2026 campaigns could not be any different.
The Panthers are flying high on top of the NRL ladder, while the Broncos are on an eight-match losing streak and on the brink of their premiership defence ending.
The Broncos likely need to win their remaining eight matches to play finals, and must start that winning streak against the premiership frontrunners.
Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 6:45pm
TEAM LISTS: Panthers vs Broncos
Panthers
Penrith welcome back State of Origin trio Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo.
The Panthers also welcome back centre Casey McLean and backrower Isaiah Papali’i from injury.
Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos have been plagued with injury in 2026.
Needing a win tonight, they get a stack of players back.
Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan return from Origin duty.
Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Brendan Piakura are also returning for the reigning premiers.
Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 6:35pm
Is tonight a must-win match for the Brisbane Broncos?
Realistically, the Brisbane Broncos need to win all eight remaining matches to have a chance of playing finals this season.
Since the Dolphins joined in 2023 to make the NRL a 17-team competition, over 27 rounds, these are the teams that finished eighth on the ladder:
- 2025: Roosters — 32 points (13 wins), +132 differential
- 2024: Knights — 30 points (12 wins), -40 differential
- 2023: Raiders — 32 points (13 wins), -137 differential
Two of the three seasons have required 13 wins to make the finals.
The Broncos have five wins, with eight matches remaining.
That means they would need to win all eight matches to reach the points tally which was good enough for eighth place in the previous two years.
It means tonight really is must win match for the reigning premiers, who have lost their past eight games in the NRL.
Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 6:32pm
What time is kick-off in the NRL tonight?
Here is when kick-off in the clash between the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos is in your state or territory:
- 7:50pm AEST: NSW, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, PNG
- 7:20pm ACST: South Australia, Northern Territory
- 5:50pm AWST: Western Australia
- 9:50pm NZST: New Zealand, Fiji
- 10:50pm: Tonga, Samoa
Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 6:30pm
Welcome to the ABC Sport NRL live blog
Good evening, Australia.
Welcome back to ABC Sport’s live digital coverage of the 2026 NRL premiership season.
Tonight, round 20 of the premiership begins with one match:
- Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
Be part of the conversation and join the blog throughout the evening by letting us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Let’s go.
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