Brisbane Broncos 30 (Tristan Sailor, Josh Rogers, Selwyn Cobbo, Adam Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs tries; Adam Reynolds 5/5 goals) def. Parramatta Eels 24
10-12
The Broncos have clawed their way back from defeat, turning a 16 point deficit into a hard fought 30-24 victory.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Broncos. After they kicked off to the Eels, they conceded an astonishing 75m and to put the cherry on top, Cobbo spilled the cross-field kick to gift Parramatta possession inside their 10m zone. It only took a handful of plays for the Eels to strike, Gutherson with quick-hands was able to put Penisini into a mile of space and Will was able to stroll over.
The try came down to poor edge defence. Mariner jammed in on Gutherson while Arthars stayed out and found himself in no-man's land.
Moments later, the Eels were gifted a six again after Gutherson was the beneficiary of a fortunate six again call. Off the ensuing set, Arthars failed to compete for the ball allowing it to bounce. Eels winger Sean Russell did well to keep the ball in the field of play before Gutherson was able to gather the ball, put it on the boot and Ofahengaue was able to beat Carrigan to the ball and plant it down for a 12-0 lead.
The Broncos were beginning to get desperate and trying to force the play. Skipper Adam Reynolds put up a towering bomb for Kotoni Staggs, but the tap back from Staggs put the Eels into an acre of space. The Eels played through their set of six before a lovely pass to Talagi set-up a two on one and Sivo was able to dot down.
Once again, the Broncos edge defence was exposed. Staggs fell for the decoy of Gutherson, but Cobbo stayed out and Talagi had all the time in the world to put Sivo over.
Shell-shocked, the Broncos turned to their skipper Adam Reynolds and he responded in kind with his kicking game proving the Broncos most likely attacking threat. Reynolds went desperately close to kicking a 40/20 only for Gutherson to save the day for the Eels. Although replays suggested the Eels custodian may have gone out.
Both teams had their opportunities. Selwyn Cobbo made a timely intercept to put the Broncos on the attack. Adam Reynolds tried to run across field to draw in the defence, but Sivo was easily able to pick off Cobbo and drive him into touch ending the Broncos first raid.
Then moments later, Sivo nearly scored an identical try only for the cavalry to arrive. Once again, Staggs jammed in on the decoy of Gutherson with Cobbo staying out. However Cobbo was able to tap Talagi's pass to Sivo and that gave the Broncos troops enough time to drive Sivo into the corner.
After a repeat set, it appeared the Eels were only moments away from extending their lead. However, Mariner was able to time his tackle on Gutherson to perfection and force the turn-over.
From the ensuing set, the Broncos spread it to Kotoni Staggs who made a powerful run down the right hand-side. The Broncos followed up through Sailor who split them down the same channel, kicked ahead, but was unable to ground the ball before being cradled over the dead-ball line. Fortunately for the back-up fullback, in trying to lock up the ball, Sivo had made head high contact gifting the Broncos another opportunity.
However it came to naught. Part-way through the set, Carrigan forced an offload, Reynolds opted for a grubber behind the line. Sivo had seemingly tapped the ball dead, but Staggs couldn't help himself and made one desperate lunge only to send the ball dead and let the Eels off the hook.
Just when it appeared the Broncos would self-destruct they held their nerve and eventually opened their account with a strong try to Sailor. Reynolds once again drifted across field, drew in the defence of Asi and was able to set-up a 1-1 for Sailor. Sailor brushed off the tackle of Talagi before sizing up Gutherson and beating him for pace on his outside. Reynolds nailed the tough conversion and the Broncos were on the board.
Then off the kick-off, Kobe Hetherington stumbled into a head high tackle to put the Broncos on the attack. Then part-way through the set, the Broncos set-up a big backline down the left, only for Rogers to step inside and slide over to reduce the margin to 4 points.
The Broncos were on fire and went very close to equalising before half-time. Reynolds put up a high kick for Staggs, Staggs once again tapped the ball back but this time it landed in the hands of the Broncos. They kept it alive for Mariner who got over the line, but the Eels scrambled well and the three defenders were able to hold the ball up.
Coming out from half-time, it appeared the Broncos were going to pick up where they left off. Cobbo made a big bust up the middle and had the Eels at sixes and sevens. However off an attacking formation down the right, Rogers spilled the ball and let the Eels off the hook.
The Eels recovered well and looked like they were going to set-up camp on the Broncos line. Brown put in a well weighted grubber for a goal-line drop out, only to get smashed by Piakura after the kick to draw the penalty. The Eels took the conservative option and made it an 18-12 ball-game.
This move would seemingly back-fire when Tuilagi was ruled to have lost the ball. The Eels challenged the decision, claiming that Mozer had stripped it but the bunker cleared Mozer of any wrong-doing. Off the ensuing scrum, Mariner all but busted through only for a boots lace tackle to drag him down. The Broncos failed to capitilise on it and when Reynolds threw a rushed pass to Staggs, the centre spilled the ball and the Eels breathed a sigh of relief.
The Eels then had a golden opportunity to extend their lead after Taupau gave away a costly late tackle penalty. However off the ensuing set, Cartwright threw a dusty cut-out pass to Russell and the winger couldn't gather it.
Then moments later, Cartwright made a half-break only to be pulled down by Piakura. Piakura then came in over the top and dislodged the ball to gift the Broncos an attacking opportunity. It was another fortunate call in the favour of the home-side.
The Broncos were finally able to capitilise. Reynolds played early to Sailor, Sivo jammed in off his wing to protect Talagi and Sailor summed it up nicely with a good pass to Cobbo. Reynolds with the difficult conversion piloted it over and the Broncos had levelled the scores after 55 minutes.
Just when it appeared the Broncos were getting on top, Sailor threw a horrific pass out of dummy half. Staggs couldn't handle and kicked it back towards the Broncos try-line with the Eels in hot pursuit. The Broncos found themselves back on their goal-line, only for Tuilagi to attempt a charge down and gift the Broncos a repeat set.
Just when the game appeared to be settling into a grind, the Eels launched a shallow bomb for Cobbo. Rookie Blaze Talagi beat his opposite to the ball, kept the ball alive and the Eels were able to spread it to Penisini who had a mile of room. However the Broncos eventually recovered and were able to turn the game into an arm-wrestle.
Both teams went set for set challenging the other to go with them. In the end, it was the Eels who would falter. Will Penisini threw a dusty passs to Talagi, Talagi fumbled into Penisini and Reynolds was able to race onto the ball into open space and score an emphatic try under the posts.
With their tails up, the Broncos went back to back. Reynolds put up a difficult kick for Sivo who spilled back to Reynolds. Adam then summed up the situation, stepping back on the inside and putting in a well weighted grubber for Staggs to swoop on and score to give the Broncos a 12 point buffer.
The Eels upped the ante in the final 10 minutes. Despite failing to recover the short kick-off, they put in a strong defensive set to keep the Broncos at bay. Then Gutherson put in a risky kick inside his own 20m for his winger. It appeared the bounce was going land Russell into touch, but the Eels winger kept the ball alive and the Eels found themselves on the attack. The Eels attempted to spread it left and were able to earn a repeat set after Cobbo failed to take an intercept.
Off the ensuing set, the Eels struck back to set up a grand-stand finish. Daejarn Asi with a well weighted grubber behind the line caught Sailor out and Lane took his opportunity to reduce the margin to six.
Just when it seemed like Reynolds had delivered a master-class on kicking, the skipper turned the ball over with a terrible kick out on the full. This gave the Eels a golden opportunity to send the game into golden point but they couldn't deliver. Dylan Brown had a night to forget coming up with two consective unforced errors and the Broncos were able to hang on to keep their faint finals hopes alive.
In the wash-up Reynolds and Carrigan were praised for their efforts. Reynolds for his leadership and his kicking game, Carrigan for his work-rate in the middle. Sailor, Staggs and Cobbo all received praise and fans were happy with the service provided by Mozer.
The Broncos still have to win their remaining games agains the Dolphins and the Storm. Meanwhile they have to hope the Dragons lose two of their remaining three games against the Sharks, Eels and Raiders. Brisbane themselves will have to be better, they won't get away with that effort against the Dolphins.
