2020 NRL Nines

[Big Pete]

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Brisbane Broncos
HBF Park, Friday 14 February 2020
Kick Off: 9:05pm

North Queensland Cowboys
Michael Bell, Jake Clifford, Scott Drinkwater, Mitch Dunn, Kyle Feldt, Jake Granville, Coen Hess, Peter Hola, Connelly Lemuelu, Esan Marsters, Josh McGuire, Tom Opacic, Reece Robson, Dan Russell, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi, Jason Taumalolo (c), Shane Wright.

Brisbane Broncos
Jamayne Isaako, Tesi Niu, Herbie Farnworth, Izaia Perese, Anthony Milford, Brodie Croft, Tom Dearden, David Fifita, Payne Haas, Ethan Bullemor, Jake Turpin, Cory Paix, Thomas Flegler, Jesse Arthars, Ilikena Vudogo, Corey Parker, Kotoni Staggs.

 

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos vs. Melbourne Storm
HBF Park, Saturday 15 February 2020
Kick Off: 4:10pm

Brisbane Broncos
Jamayne Isaako, Tesi Niu, Herbie Farnworth, Izaia Perese, Anthony Milford, Brodie Croft, Tom Dearden, David Fifita, Payne Haas, Ethan Bullemor, Jake Turpin, Cory Paix, Thomas Flegler, Jesse Arthars, Ilikena Vudogo, Corey Parker, Kotoni Staggs.

Melbourne Storm
Nicho Hynes, Dean Ieremia, Brenko Lee, Marion Seve, Sandor Earl (c), Cameron Munster, Cooper Johns, Tui Kamikamica (c), Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Max King, Chris Lewis, Tom Eisenhuth, Trent Loiero, Justin Olam, Darryn Schonig, Siti Moceidreke, Judda Turahui

 

[Big Pete]

Glenn and Coates have pulled out of the team.

Brisbane have opted for a 17 man squad with Staggs to come in.

 

[Big Pete]

North Queensland 17 def. Brisbane Broncos 11 (Turpin, Arthars tries; Isaako 1/2 goals)

Cowboys (From L To R)
14. Michael Bell 8. Kyle Feldt 7. Jake Clifford 10. Josh McGuire 9. Jake Granville 10. Jason Taumalolo 1. Scott Drinkwater 4. Esan Marsters 5. Hamiso Tabuai Fidow

Interchange: 3. Tom Opacic 6. Reece Robson 11. Coen Hess 15. Peter Hola 17. Mitch Dunn

Broncos (From L To R)
2. Herbie Farnworth 12. David Fifita 6. Anthony Milford 10. Payne Haas 9. Jake Turpin 8. Thomas Flegler 7. Brodie Croft 5. Kotoni Staggs 1. Jamayne Isaako

Interchange: 4. Jesse Arthars 13. Ethan Bullemor 14. Tom Dearden 15. Cory Paix 16. Tesi Niu


A disappointing result for the Broncos, they came to the 9s with a relatively strong roster and a lot was made of the inclusions of Haas, Fifita, Milford and Isaako. As it happened, none of those players stood out for the Broncos and the team was piped by one of the plays of the day as Scott Drinkwater sent Queensland Junior Rep Hamiso Tabuai Fidow on an 80m race for the ball which he won quite comfortably.

I wanted to highlight the performance of Payne Haas. I believe the Broncos planned to build their game around him, but the Cowboys were onto it and raced up on him incredibly early to prevent him from building any speed up. Haas' inability to punch holes through the middle disrupted the Broncos momentum and the forward came up with a few costly errors including a turn-over that led to the Drinkwater try.

It wasn't all bad news for the Broncos. Tom Dearden had a couple of touches right before half-time that were incredibly promising. He forced a goal-line drop out with his own kick and chase when it looked for all money the Cowboys would make it into the field of play. Then in the dying seconds he linked up with Niu down the right edge before holding up a lovely ball for Turpin to score and give the Broncos an unlikely 7-4 half-time lead. I thought Niu was also very impressive and the Cowboys had a difficult time reading his foot work down that right-hand corridor.

Brisbane now have to rely on the result of the Sea Eagles/Cowboys game and defeat Melbourne by a considerable margin if they hope to advance. They'll have to do it without Anthony Milford who picked up a hamstring strain and will miss the rest of the tournament.

 

[GoTheBroncs]

Well not too much to get excited about here I'm afraid...

 

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos 12 (Isaako, Staggs tries; Isaako 2/2 goals) def. Melbourne Storm 8

Brisbane Broncos (From L To R)
2. Herbie Farnworth 4. Jesse Arthars 14. Tom Dearden 10. Payne Haas 9. Jake Turpin 12. David Fifita 7. Brodie Croft 5. Kotoni Staggs 1. Jamayne Isaako

Interchange: 8. Tom Flegler 15. Cory Paix 16. Tesi Niu 17. Ilikena Vudogo 18. Corey Parker

Melbourne Storm (From L To R)
2. Dean Ieremia 15. Justin Olam 6. Cameron Munster 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 9. Harry Grant 8. Tui Kamikamica (c) 7. Cooper Johns 13. Tom Eisenhuth 4. Marion Seve

Interchange: 1. Nicho Hynes 3. Brenko Lee 14. Trent Loiero 16. Darryn Schonig 17. Siti Moceidreke

Brisbane walked away with a bittersweet 12-8 victory over Melbourne. Brisbane fell well short of the 18 points required to make the final and did well to fight back from an 8 point deficit.

It's well and truly become a cliche for the Broncos, they let too many chances go begging. In the first half the Broncos created three scoring opportunities and failed to convert any of them. Arthars was pulled down just short after a freak-ish flick-pass by Farnworth, Paix had won the race to the ball but kicked it dead in the excitement and Farnworth was unable to push the pass around Moceidreke to put Vudogo over in the corner.

Instead they were their own worst enemy with Melbourne scoring off the back of two mistakes from the Broncos. Flegler had the ball rocked loose and was made to pay as Melbourne ran their entire set at him eventually finding their way to the line via Fa'asuamaleaui. Then Vudogo's lack of desperation was exposed as he was caught in-goal after a lax chase.

Fortunately they held their nerve and capitilised on back to back errors from Melbourne. The Broncos stand-out player of the tournament laid on a pass for Isaako to score in the corner. Then minutes later, Paix put an inch perfect grubber through for Staggs who swarmed on it with ease. It is worth noting the Broncos were lucky to get away with a forward pass for the Isaako try, but they had their share of tough calls through out the tournament so they evened up.

The Broncos had an opportunity to put the game to bed via a long range effort for Isaako but Jamayne overran the pass from Niu. That gave Melbourne an opportunity to steal the game at the death but Jake Turpin produced one of the hits of the tournament on Fa'asuamalueai to cause a turn over.

The Broncos NRL 9s 2020 performance fell well short of the mark with big guns Anthony Milford, Payne Haas and David Fifita all failing to fire. However some of the young players like Farnworth, Dearden, Niu and Paix put their hands up for further consideration.