The Brisbane Broncos produced a substantial second-half performance to come from behind and defeat Parramatta 18-6 in atrocious conditions at Parramatta stadium last night. If this is an indication of life after Darren Lockyer, Broncos fans would be happy with what they saw.
Conversely, the Eels came into the 2012 NRL season with new recruit Chris Sandow, hoping to solve their long-running halfback woes and put a forgettable 2011 campaign behind them
Parramatta began with a try less than 10 minutes into the first half, when former Souths halfback Sandow kicked the ball deep near the Broncos in-goal area, and capitalised on an error by Gerard Beale.
Brisbane’s first half was littered with handling errors, and the Broncos failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities.
The Eels in turn failed to capitalise, only leading by six points at the break.
The tide turned completely in the second stanza, the Broncos looking like a different team.
A well executed set play involving Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges allowed Yow Yeh to get across the line. Corey Parker tied up the scores with a side-line conversion.
The match then turned firmly in Brisbane’s favour when Peter Wallace put a grubber through from inside the Eels’ 10 metre line which took a deflection from an Eels player, resulting in the former New South Wales halfback regathering his kick for an easy try.
The result was put beyond doubt when the Broncos scored their third try of the half, when Andrew McCullough put Ben Hannant through a hole, confirming the Broncos first win of the 2012 NRL season.
The Brisbane side can take a great deal of confidence out of the result, their first win in the post-Lockyer era.
The Eels, however, need to get a win on the board against the Warriors next weekend, and find the attacking potency that they lacked against Brisbane. They failed to score in the final 76 minutes of the match. The attacking potency is there for Stephen Kearney’s men, they just need to gel as an attacking unit.
Corey Norman made an impressive contribution in the place of Lockyer and will look to improve as a player, taking his form into the Broncos’ next game against the North Queensland Cowboys next Friday night.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Dubble, I think you'll find Brisbane will challenge the top tier teams. I was impressed by the structure they exhibited without Lockyer. Wallace seemed to grow in stature and presence which is what needs to happen. The Broncos have an outstanding young fullback and excellent three-quarters (Yow Yeh, Hodges, Reed). But their best feature is a pack that is athletic and skillful- Thaiday's offloads killed Parramatta last night and then you add Parker, Glen, Civoniceva and you have a good team. Parramatta, by comparison, looked extremely ordinary. Hayne and Tonga won't add enough to make this team a contender. Their pack is one-dimensional - just grinders- and they don't have strength at 6 or 9.
Broncos Hilevuo
Roar Rookie
I don't know about the Broncos not being able to beat the top five or six, because they have a great amount of depth in that squad to have the consistency & strong season that the capabilities of the Brisbane Broncos 2012 team possesses this year, we'll see what happens throughout the 2012 NRL Premiership season. Pumped that the footy's back, & can't wait to go to the Brisbane v Cowboys match next weekend.
Troy Vayanos
Guest
Not the best performance from either sides but given the conditions it was expected. I think Brisbane will be delighted with their first win of 2012 without Darren Lockyer. Peter Wallace stepped up which was good and they at least finished the game off a bit stronger.
Dubble Bubble
Guest
The Broncos only really managed to win because the Eels in the second half kept gifting them possession and territory. Neither team really seemed to know what to do when near each others try line. Not a great performance from either side. I think The Broncos will be able to beat the lesser teams but are going to struggle against the top five or six in the comp and as a result will miss the eight.
Gerry @ YourLawnAndGarden
Guest
@Steve and @Crosscoder, Be careful! Can't wait for the dogs to rip into the panthers tonight. About the Broncos Eels game and TV coverage last night, it was good to watch and see the 2012 season under way without any hiccups. However, I don't understand why they had Darren Lockyer on the side line as commentator when he can't project his voice. I thought it made the coverage a bit amateurish. Nothing against Lockyer, but he should stick to what he is good at.
oikee
Guest
My aunty died, my wife lost her slippers, i'm only 4. :) Never doughted the Broncos ;) nice grinding win and now looking forward to the Cowgirls next week-end.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
A Bulldog?
Steve
Guest
There was a dog on my driveway so I couldn't get my car out of the garage. I swear I'll go next time. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Broncos Hilevuo
Roar Rookie
Very true it was pretty miserable conditions, but in any case Chris Sandow's play-maker position really should help & produce some attacking play with his five-eighth Ben Roberts I think it is, they have the roster to put on a consistent & really decent 2012 NRL season.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
The set play the Broncos did for that try to Yow Yea was pretty solid, but I can't help but think that it should have been shut down when Thaiday had the ball. There really wasn't much commitment to halt it early, as they saw there was a backline and sort of waited to see what would happen. Good performance from the Broncs, and the first half goal line defence from Parra was solid.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
I live in Parramatta near the river and it had busted its banks. You literally couldn't walk next to the river. Normally on a Saturday night the entire strip of restaurants is full to the brim, but there was no one there.
James
Guest
-- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
James
Guest
They banned junior passes earlier in the week so I'd say they were heading for a sellout before the rain shifted. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No 18,000 would have been nice,yet the area was not comfortable with flooding everywhere,with live Tv coverage,incessant rain,and the end areas having no cover.I am surprised they got over 10,000. Would you attend if your house was under flood alert,or take your family out in those conditions, when you can see it in the comfort of your home? Incessant rain affects crowds in sydney for all codes.
Broncos Hilevuo
Roar Rookie
The way the Eels played in that second half & the inability to take advantage of the Broncos lack of ball control throughout the first half the Eels didn't really deserve a sellout.
yewonk
Guest
obviously parramatta made no effort with getting a sellout.
NFS
Guest
It was a very wet night. When it is dry im sure they'd get more
Sportfreak
Guest
Are we comfortable with a crowd of 11000? Disccus