Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has issued a warning to the Panthers’ fragile left-side defence that they can expected to be targeted in Sunday’s blockbuster preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
While the Bulldogs were thrashed 46-26 in their semi-final against the Panthers at Accor Stadium last Sunday, Canterbury still managed to score four tries and each of them came down Penrith’s left side.
Scott Sorensen, Blaize Talagi, Casey McLean and Brian To’o all defend on the left side for the Panthers.
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“We just have to keep focused on ourselves,” Staggs said.
“We know their left edge struggles. Our main focus is breaking them down and then hitting their edges.
“I still don’t think we need to change anything. We have stuck to our game plan the whole year and it has worked.”
The Panthers have won nine of their last 10 games against the Broncos, including the 2023 grand final, where the Panthers famously came back from 24-8 down with just 18 minutes remaining to secure a stunning 26-24 win.
But Staggs said the Panthers don’t concern him.
The Broncos have won all five of their games since Round 24 without captain Adam Reynolds and playmaker Ezra Mam, who will both return from hamstring injuries against the Panthers.
“I don’t feel intimidated by them at all,” said Staggs.
“I said it from day dot, when we did lose Ezra and Reyno, I was still confident in this team that we could go all the way. We have shown that and we will show it again on Sunday.”
Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould highlighted the issue with the Panthers’ left-side defence.
“I know it was a big win but with the ball the Bulldogs did have, they scored four tries through their left-hand defence and probably should have scored another couple,” Gould told Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
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“It is a target for the Broncos. They have some big people on that side of the field like Kotoni Staggs. That is where he runs the ball.
“It will come down to possession and field position and where the game is played. If (Nathan) Cleary can … have the Broncos coming off their own goal line then they will wear the Broncos down.
“If the game is loose there are opportunities to break this Panthers defensive line down, unlike in previous years. Their left-hand defence does struggle.”
Staggs has 25 line breaks from his 22 games, which is the most he’s ever had in a season, and also has 11 tries in 2025.
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