League: Warriors out to spoil the party

The Warriors will look to spoil the Broncos' party in Brisbane tomorrow while ending their own season on a high. The Broncos, who need victory to secure home advantage for the first round of the playoffs, have billed the match as a tribute to frontrower Shane Webcke.

The veteran prop is due to retire at the end of the year after 12 first-grade seasons with the Broncos, and club officials are expecting a crowd of more than 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium.

Coach Ivan Cleary said the Warriors were preparing for an afternoon with plenty of atmosphere.

"It's probably the best stadium in Australia and to have it close to full is going to be awesome," Cleary said.

"It's a big day for Shane Webcke and a big day for the Broncos. We just have to go up there and try to spoil the party, I guess."

The Warriors have already done a fair amount of spoiling over the past month on the way to a four-match winning streak. Their defeats of Cronulla and North Queensland put a big dent in those clubs' playoff hopes, which have since been extinguished.

Their shock victory in Melbourne ended the Storm's unbeaten home record this year, while the sequel to their defeat of the Sydney Roosters last weekend was the dumping of opposition coach Ricky Stuart.

The encounter between the Warriors and the Broncos has all the makings of a big bash up the middle.

Webcke is part of a heavyweight Brisbane pack, who overwhelmed their lighter Parramatta opposites last weekend, while the Warriors don't lack muscle themselves.

The visitors will also carry a touch of emotion out with them, with stalwarts Awen Guttenbeil and Brent Webb making their last appearances before heading to the English Super League. The Warriors sit in ninth spot and the semifinals are out of reach.

Broncos v NZ Warriors
Suncorp Stadium, 4.30pm tomorrow

Broncos:Justin Hodges, Steve Michaels, Brent Tate, David Stagg, Karmichael Hunt, Darren Lockyer (c), Shane Perry, Shane Webcke, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tonie Carroll,
Interchange (from): Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw, Ben Hannant, Casey McGuire, Darius Boyd.

Warriors: Brent Webb, Patrick Ah Van, Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki, George Gatis, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbeil, Micheal Luck, Louis Anderson.
Interchange: Todd Byrne, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira.

- NZPA