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In the highest scoring finals game in NRL history, the Brisbane Broncos pinched a 16-point win at Suncorp Stadium over the Gold Coast Titans, amid some controversial refereeing.
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Unfortunately, the game isn’t going to be remembered for the tries scored, or a fantastic first half from both sides, but the decisions that marred it all the way through.
The Broncos got the majority of the decisions, as the Titans got no luck from the referees or the bounce of the ball.
Incredibly, Gold Coast actually led at halftime, playing very good footy, but with an injury to Ashley Taylor in the back end of the first half, and Jarryd Hayne dropping the kick-off to start the second, things turned pear-shaped.
Despite the drop, Hayne was the Titans’ best player, and he helped keep them in the game on numerous occasions, with Tyrone Roberts also stepping up in the absence of Taylor.
Anthony Milford was fantastic for Brisbane though, getting out and running the ball, while Ben Hunt added plenty with his kicking. The pair’s combination helped set up the win.
Darius Boyd did the necessary damage at the back of the field, and with the forward pack dominating the second half and patches of the first, the Broncs managed to run away with the game.
Brisbane should be far from happy with their efforts though – letting in 28 points is simply not good enough.
The try scoring got underway in just the third minute, as Chris McQueen touch down off a kick. The Titans’ first set ended in a drop-out, before Taylor put a kick up which was spilled by Corey Oates, straight down into the waiting arms of McQueen, who scored.
There was then controversy as Jordan Kahu scored a penalty try. After a Corey Oates break from their own half, he looked to be put down in a try-saving tackle by Hayne, but a pass saw Kahu get over the line, only to have the ball kicked out by Konrad Hurrell.
But the kick was against the rules, resulting in a penalty try.
It didn’t take long for the Titans to hit back, with David Mead going over in the corner from a wonderful Taylor grubber at the line, which split the defenders in half.
Brisbane then scored the first of two quickfire tries, after another break down the left-hand side, a quick play the ball, and Kahu romped over. Jarrod Wallace scored the second, crashing over through some soft defence up the middle after Corey Parker through a nice, flat ball.
It looked like that was how we would go to halftime, until the Titans ran the length of the field and Hayne put a kick up for Josh Hoffman to score on the stroke of the break.
It didn’t take long for scoring in the second half to get underway, with Alex Glenn touching down through some of the worst defence you are ever likely to see from Chris McQueen, after an Andrew McCullough pass set up the try.
Glenn extended the lead for the Broncos off a Hunt grubber that rebounded loose in the in-goal.
Oates got his name on the scoresheet with a try in the corner, despite a challenge in the middle that would have gone to the bunker nine times out of ten – nonetheless it was a fantastic ball from Boyd.
McQueen gave Gold Coast a chance at life in the 65th minute, reducing the gap to 12 as he ran straight through the line off a lovely Nathan Peats pass.
The luck continued to go against the Titans though, as Milford attempted to extend the lead with a field goal, only to have it deflected to Greg Bird, who dropped it – Milford chased through to clean it up and score.
Ryan James went over to give hope of a comeback, before a half-chance was pulled up for a forward pass to Konrad Hurrell, and the Broncos capped off the game with another try for Oates in the corner.
In the end, it’s the Broncos through to the second round of the finals, but with a lot of work to do.
It was a gallant effort from the Titans, and a fantastic season, but just not to be in the end.
Final score
Brisbane Broncos 44
Gold Coast Titans 28
Match statistics
Tries: Broncos (8), Titans (5)
Goals: Broncos (6/8), Titans (4/5)
Possession: Broncos (59%), Titans (41%)
Completions: Broncos (31/42), Titans (20/28)
All runs: Broncos (161), Titans (127)
All run metres: Broncos (1469), Titans (1072)
Line breaks: Broncos (7), Titans (2)
Offloads: Broncos (6), Titans (8)
Tackles: Broncos (249), Titans (299)
Missed tackles: Broncos (19), Titans (26)
Penalties: Broncos (9), Titans (4)
Errors: Broncos (9), Titans (13)
The Roar’s NRL Finals MVP
3 – Anthony Milford
2 – Jarryd Hayne
1 – Darius Boyd