The Roosters have beaten the Broncos 24-22 in a thrilling finish in the first qualifying final at Allianz Stadium after leading 14-6 at half-time.
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Final score
Sydney Roosters 24
Brisbane Broncos 22
The 2017 NRL finals kick-off with the second-placed Sydney Roosters taking on the third-placed Brisbane Broncos. Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a live blog of the second qualifying final on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, starting from 7:55pm (AEST).
The Roosters go into the match as favourites after three wins on the trot, though last week they only scraped home against the Titans.
The Broncos have won four of their last six, with both losses coming against fourth-placed Parramatta. Last week, they beat the understrength Cowboys in Townsville.
The two teams have met twice this season. In Round 6, the Broncos thumped the Roosters 32-8 at Suncorp, but the Roosters turned the tables in Round 13, with an 18-16 victory just after State of Origin Game 1.
Broncos captain Darius Boyd is out with the hamstring injury he suffered last week, with Wayne Bennett naming halfback Kodi Nikorima at fullback, and Benji Marshall taking Nikorima’s number 7 jersey. Outside back David Mead has been named on the bench as backup.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has been named on an extended bench, after suffering a groin injury, and could be a late inclusion.
The winner tonight will earn a week off and go straight into the grand final qualifier in two weeks’ time, where they will play either the loser of tomorrow’s Storm vs Eels game, or the winner of the Sharks vs Cowboys game on Sunday.
The loser will face the winner of tomorrow night’s elimination final between the Manly Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers in sudden death next week.
Prediction
Roosters by 4.
Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a live blog of the second qualifying final between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, starting from 7:55pm (AEST). It should be a cracker!
Psychodelia
Guest
DJ I am sick of Blair getting the captaincy. I'd rather have Matt Gillett. Broncies are my team but I'm very disappointed with their lack of consistency in the past few weeks.
db
Guest
That's like saying a team with Chad Townsend is no chance of winning a premiership.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They probably should have looked at it but I think it would have been a try anyway. Oates never lost the ball like Mitchell did. It was definitely on the way out of his grip but he never completely lost it.
Matt
Guest
Not to forget there's no way Oates scored the first one in the corner. Dropped it cold. Haven't seen a try scored next to the corner post in years that didn't need at least one look - and here we are in a qualifier for a prelim and it doesn't matter. Was the moment in the game for me, the refs decided they needed to impose their influence, make it close. I wish they could get it through their thick skulls, people are not entertained by close games at the expense of the rulebook being tossed out the window.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Pearce was fine tonight and he's already won a premiership.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Mark my words, one day someone will accidentally cop a fend in the face and fall down go boom, and it will be made illegal.
Wild Eagle
Guest
The experienced players who you would expect to stand up in games like this like Blair and Benji Marshall were poor overall and ultimately were the difference. Blair looks like he struggles to think properly. Inglis terrorised teams greatly in his younger years and comparisons to other players are often ludicrous but Latrell Mitchell is so dangerous that he could end up somewhere near Inglis in terror value. NSW certainly need him to. Mitchell Pierce just seems to find a mistake at crucial times which eases the pressure on the opposition. Strangest thing about this game was that the Broncos were really poor at times and the Rooters were really good for most of the time but it went down to the wire.
Emcie
Roar Guru
nope
elvis
Guest
Did anyone else see a massive forward pass in the lead up to Mitchell's try? Or did I imagine it?
elvis
Guest
Deserving winners? I saw the game as very even, you have been listening to too much channel 9.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks Emcie, and for your comments throughout the game too. It all helps.
JVGO
Guest
Difficult to believe that a side with either Benji or Pearce at half could win the comp; I guess they cancelled each other out tonight. Benji would have to turn the clock back...a long way. Mitchell there's nothing to get back to.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Thats intense
Scott Pryde
Expert
PSA The finals continue at 4:10pm (AEST) tomorrow with Stuart Thomas in the chair for the Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels. I'll be on for the following elimination final at 7:40pm (AEST) between the Manly Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks Dutski
Emcie
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call john
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on the coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to all those who commented as well. Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I think its more that for pretty much the last three years they haven't had a kicking game and Benji comes in and starts playing pressure footy with clearing kicks when the rest of the team have had a game plan based around keeping the ball in play and wearing teams out for the last month or so
Jimmmy
Guest
If Roberts had a done a bit better aerial work, ala Soward I would have to give it a 10. As is a 9.5.