The Brisbane Broncos have gotten their NRL season off to a strong start with an eight-point victory over the Cronulla Sharks in the opener at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Cronulla Sharks 18
Brisbane Broncos 26
It’s finally here! The 2017 NRL season kicks off with reigning premiers the Cronulla Sharks taking on the Brisbane Broncos, both clubs out to prove the doubters wrong. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).
No team has gone back-to-back in the NRL since the Broncos did it in 1992 and 1993, and the chance for the Sharks to do it seems small.
Some are questioning whether the club will make the top eight this season, and it’s a valid query.
The biggest problem for the Sharks is no Michael Ennis. He steered the side around the park for the majority of last season and was a big reason they made their finals push and eventually took home the Provan-Summons trophy.
His replacement for the season ahead is youngster Jayden Brailey and while he took out Holden Cup player of the year and impressed in the World Club series, he has a long way to go to match the level of Ennis.
Ben Barba will also be missing for the Sharks after an off-season filled with controversy. Without Valentine Holmes on the park for the first few weeks, that’s going to hurt their chances here.
If the Sharks are to win this opening match of the season, they must win the battle of the forwards, which will be easier said than done, and their halves – Chad Townsend and James Maloney – will need to find immediate form.
That battle of the forwards should be in the Sharks favour, but it’s hard to say what the Broncos are going to produce.
It almost feels like a changing of the guard in the Queensland capital this season, with Corey Parker retiring and a host of youngsters vying for spots, including Joe Ofahengaue, Herman Ese’ese and Tevita Pangai Junior.
While the Broncos starting pack is still strong enough, those three must provide the depth needed to play 80 minutes of quality football if the Broncos are going to make a push.
There are also questions about Darius Boyd being named captain, while a lot of the pressure will fall on Anthony Milford’s shoulders to create points.
Ben Hunt didn’t have the greatest time in 2016, so will need to improve but there is no question the key creative man for the Broncos is Milford, and that the Broncos may need to run up a lot of points to remain competitive with an inexperienced pack.
Last time these clubs played was during Round 9 last year, in what was a thrilling and high-scoring encounter as the Broncos went down by two points.
Prediction
It’s going to be an interesting match this – an important one at that. Two sides expected to be on the cusp of the eight, but the Sharks should get it done at home.
Sharks by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 NRL season opener from 8pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Funnily enough no mate.Had a surgery job ,sitting down on a hard seat and standing of a long time a no no. Was I disappointed with teh crowd numbers? Yes,but understand why. I understand all seating was sold.The day had rain on and off ,and stopped an hour or so prior.Unless you want to stand on the hill or sides with no cover and expect a family to do likewise, it's not going to happen, especially on uncertain weather and an 8pm Thursday night. The crowd looked more than 13,000 so the figure would have been correct.I expected about 15,000(given fine weather) but the Broncos brought no one.Given teh same conditions the crowd would have been smaller on a Monday night IMO. You can usually get a feel for the final crowd, about 1 1/2 hours prior to kick off.If all stands are near full, you;d expect 15,000 plus.Even 30minutes prior to kick off,plenty of unfilled seats. I based this on a game against Souths about 3 years ago,when stands were all full at least once hour prior to game, and people were still strolling in 20minutes after kick off.Crowd 19,000 plus. Until such time as there is more seating provided, more cover, and better scheduling crowds near 20,000 will be hard to crack. Will be interesting to see the crowd against the Dragons at the ground on a Sunday twilight,given decent weather.
MAX
Guest
The Match Stats tell the horror of the night on one page.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That was an 80/20 ball not 50/50...
Renegade
Roar Guru
Were you there CC? It felt like there was more than 15 and closer to 17.... need a proper stadium if that really was only half full.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yeah pretty ordinary and disappointing crowd.Thought 15,000 would be the mark they'd get.Must have thought a loss was in the offing. All seats however sold.Think mainly locals ,Broncos brought SFA. Agree re Thursdays. Crowd on the hill was ordinary,wet ground,8pm families can watch it at home live on 9. or Foxtel. NRL Memberships are up 15% at this stage to record levels and the Sharks up around 20% for 2017.People pick and choose their nights. $1.9bn makes them learn .Scheduling will be left to the NRL from 2018
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Can't say I recall a lot of ruck penalties against the Sharks for speed in the first half -- the one against Gallen was for a pretty flagrant grab at the ball, and there was one against Fifita for a flop. I thought the refereeing was fairly lenient in that regard actually.
Dean - Surry Hills
Roar Pro
I thought all areas were policed reasonably well. There were some inconsistent ruck speed penalties that were afforded to The Broncs in the first half, and also a single lost ball call after a tackle that should have resulted in a penalty to The Sharks that pushed the tide against them. Crow-Nulla had their opportunity late in the game, but failed to convert them into 2 glorious premiership points.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I get what you mean though I don't notice it too much since I ignore most of what commentators say lol. I believe Lee will miss out to Beale on the wing where he's better suited to. Lee rushing in on Moga when the Sharks had 4 on 3 in defence for the Oates try was just plain dumb. There's a reason the Raiders dropped him and suspect this would be one of them. On another note Moga was very good tonight. Close to the line he looked like he was going to carry the Sharks forward pack with him over the line. I suspect he'll get a healthy SuperCoach score to top it all off as well.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I dont think I really said what I meant to. I think Hunts errors get amplified by the commentators etc. His switch of play pass to Milford was beautiful. Beale was the worst I agree, mainly is defense. Lee started off well, but he dropped a 50/50 and then whent downhill. Sharks are in trouble if Lee/Bird is their edge combo.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
"Last play and Townsend sends the kick across the field, but a great take from Kahu." This was where it fell apart for the Sharks for mine. Maloney needed to get the ball and the kick had to be in behind the line and into the Broncos in goal. If the Sharks get a repeat set of 6 at this point I would have backed them to score and go ahead. With momentum behind them at that stage they should have gone on to win. The kick was not placed or weighted to give any attacking player a first chance at the ball and just turned possession over at a crucial time. Beale was terrible! He scored a try that most, if not all FB's, would have been in position to score but beyond that he was out of position, slow to cover and woeful in defence. He should have showed Kahu the side line and then taken him into touch but over ran the play and forced Kahu to step inside leaving Beale clutching at thin air. He also was out of position to cover the kick from Milford and too slow to react to get to the ball. Later for the Milford try Beale was AGAIN to slow to react to cover Milford coming back on the inside and was in a position to make a play at the ball defensively at the line but pulled out at the last second. A good coach would have moved Bird back to FB and corrected the deficiency IMO. Fa' Brown or Beale could have been moved to the centre (preferably Brown). Brailey looked good at dummy half. Plenty of positive signs. I hope rumours about Seggy returning aren't true and the kid gets a chance to claim this position. Full credit to the Broncos who did well to weather the early assault and turn momentum around.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Kahu was terrific tonight. Amazed me that before this pre season he'd never actually practiced goal kicking. I know he wants that centre spot but he just seems so much better on the wing.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Problem with Hunt is that he is beginning to become consistently out of form. I have him a pass last year because the mental hurdle of that dropped catch must've been playing on his mind and even then he was still playing pretty good. He just wasn't very good tonight though there were good signs. His ball to Boyd was played as good as anyone could've played it and while he had the odd slip up he had a dig in defence. As for Lee being in the duds I like to only pick one guy from each side. I thought while he didn't exactly play bad Beale was more costly to the Sharks than Lee was. Not by much though.
Big Daddy
Guest
How about the crowd tonite , pretty average considering it was season opener and defending premiers at home. All this talk about clubs having 20k plus member's but still getting small crowds. NRL are to blame for putting on Thursdays. When will they learn.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Agreed, the refereeing was consistent and not hyperactive.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Lee has to be in your duds. I think Hunt gets unfairly criticised as well. Maloney and Townsend made as many errors as he did, but he gets brutally treated because he isnt Kevin Walters. He is also out of form and he probably needs a few games to warm into the season.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
NSW blooded something like 9 players over the last 2 years.
Big Daddy
Guest
Gallens use by date is up. Nothing but a ball hog. If he changes his mind about playing SOO Laurie will put him in and deprive one of the up and comers from getting a game.NSW have to bite the bullet and put some young guns in even if it means losing a series again.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Benji Marshall - Injured.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
They could've penalised more but only for a few minor infractions that we'll see let go all year. Sharks and Brisbane probably could've been pinged a few more times on their lines. Would've been interesting to see how they applied the new approach to sin binning for multiple infractions. Unfortunately If that games an example it appears the refs may be putting the whistle away is the red zone. Good game from them though. Nothing blatantly obvious missed apart from a forward pass or two.
Emcie
Roar Guru
what's your last name paul?