The Brisbane Broncos have moved into a preliminary final against the Melbourne Strom at AAMI Park next week after a gripping 13-6 victory against the Penrith Panthers.
It took around sixty minutes for the Panthers to seem likely after the Broncos took the early lead yet their offensive failings came back to haunt them, as they were unable to convert their possession into points.
An early try from Corey Oates saw the Broncos go into half-time with a 6-0 lead, however the latter stages of the half saw the Panthers have the better of proceedings without being able to impact the scoreboard.
It seemed a night for head knocks, with Peter Wallace, Oates, Jai Arrow and Sam Thaiday all suffering injuries that required an HIA. The trio of Broncos players were deemed unfit to return yet Wallace was given permission to re-enter the fray.
With a solid completion rate and a weight of possession in the opposition attacking zone, the Panthers launched wave after wave at the Broncos in the second forty, before Regan Campbell-Gillard scored to draw the visitors within six points.
Further opportunities presented themselves yet the Broncos defence stood firm. With only one healthy body on the bench, the Broncos were brilliant in scrapping their way to victory in what was a physical contest that could have easily gone against them if the Panthers had shown more in attack.
A cleverly and professionally taken field goal from Jordan Kahu with minutes remaining iced the game and the Broncos will dust themselves off, check their injury status and prepare themselves for the Storm in Melbourne.
The Panthers will lament their inadequacies in attack and lick their wounds before reflecting on a great charge into the finals that, quite frankly, could have gone further.
All in all, a terrific contest where both teams had their chances and the professionalism of the Broncos against the youth of the Panthers potentially became the difference between the two teams.
Matt
Guest
Check with a mate before airing my opinions publicly?!? Hey, it's not Communist North Korea, Muzza. People in this country are allowed to publicly air their opinions, aren't they? Thanks for the heads up though. Haven't read the Telegraph yet. I didn't realise Kim Yong had taken up office here already.
Ray Maltbykm
Guest
At least it will not be two Sydney teams in the GF
Mike from tari
Guest
I'm not a Broncos fan & I didn't really care who won but I like to watch a fair & level playing field & we are not getting that because the whistle blowers are carrying out selective penalisations.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
You're whinging about something every team has done every week, but it's only an issue when certain teams do it?
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
The ref had to blow the whistle because Arrow was going in to make another tackle. He was in immediate danger, a second head knock within 30 seconds could have really done some serious damage.
dayer
Guest
lol, you might think the Refs would have the decency and maturity to control the game by the rules ... whinging comes because the refs do not do their job right... go the Bronx
dayer
Guest
you are absolutely 101% CORRECT ... and I am a Broncos supporter, its a big embarrassment to say the broncos defended well, when all the onside/ruck rules were broken and the refs and the commentators were up themselves. the broncos were very, very LUCKY to win. hope they can beat Storm BUT reality says they won't. go the BronX
Big Daddy
Guest
Its called duty of care. The referee has a responsibility of the players welfare and is obliged to stop the game. Overall a good hard game with no major controversies.
dayer
Guest
great dream but unfortunately you wake up after the broncos lose ... go the broncos
Noel
Guest
Arrow was in the line for about 4 tackles before play was stopped. Oh, and when May went off, he took an eternity. I think you're looking for reasons to be outraged. It was a real tough game by two very determined sides. I, for one, enjoyed it.
kevin
Guest
It did seem the panthers were missing an extra half in attack , even if only to take some attention off cleary ...
Matt
Guest
Horseshit, or should I say Broncoshit. Oates had a stranglehold on the ball until well after the contact. Use those eyes on each side of your heads. But then I guess you'd still just say "neigh"
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Given everything that happened last week, I was assuming everyone would have the decency and maturity to lay off the whinging and bashing, even if just for a week. Looks like I assumed too much.
muzzamite
Roar Rookie
There's always disappointed fans when a team gets eliminated, but maybe you should ring a mate before whinging publicly. The best team won last night, refereeing was consistent the whole game, nothing to bang on about. Perhaps the clumsy attack from Panthers could take some criticism. Broncos played the better finals footy. As for ref stopping game for Oates, all kudos to ref. The ball was knocked on, accidental offside. Ref decided not to play advantage, all Broncos only concerned for the injured players. Playing advantage is not compulsory.
Dan
Guest
Watch it again. The ref blew the whistle immediately because Oates lost the ball into Milford which is an accidental offside. It was the correct call.
Matt
Guest
All well and fine to hear responses from Bronco fans - what else are they going to say but deny, deny, deny. Anything from the experts? Tim Gore, Scott Pryde, and the author claiming here the Panthers were brushed aside? Seriously, once they were up by 7 all they were intent on doing was lying on the player, because the refs had made up their minds they weren't using the bin this week. God help tonight's game. I thought the scrutiny on the refs last week would instantly smarten them up for this game? I guess the untouchables remain so.
robbo
Guest
You are kidding! This game has no cotriversy
Mike from tari
Guest
The Broncos tryline defence in the last 5 minutes was lauded by the commentators but they were never onside, not one of the outside backs had his foot on the tryline, the holding down in the tackle was the worst I have seen & Matt Gillett standing next to the dummy half when the ball is played tackles him from behind, no penalty, no sin bin, the Broncos were very lucky that the referees don't stick to the rule book & are blind Freddie's.
Tom G
Guest
Mate you have the hide to bag Barrett and then moan about that? How much luck do you think a side that can't score deserves?
Matt
Guest
Not sure in 109 years of Rugby League if a team was ever stopped from scoring a runaway try simply because an opposition player was down - oh wait. Correction. Yes there was one time in 109 years. September 15, 2017 - Lang Park. Who will ever forget. Not to be dismissive of Oate's welfare, just that this great game has never stopped like that in 109 years, simply because a player is hurt. It's not within the rules. It's not within the bounds of the rules that a ref should stop play. The debacle was, that the Broncos started cottoning on to this newfound advantage, and so each and every time they needed a breather, they knew the ref would not restart play until they were totally ready. Arrow gets hurt in a tackle. Play stops until Broncos are ready. Broncos are defending. Thaiday goes down in a tackle. Play stops until Broncos are ready. Broncos are defending. Nikorima gets hurt in a tackle. Play stops until Broncos are ready. Play is on Broncos try line. Amongst all this, there was time when Tyrone May went down injured. Play continued for an eternity, I think 4 tackles, and, oh yes, Broncos had the ball. Yeo gets hurt in a tackle, play never stops at all, and, hmmm? Broncos have the ball. Is something not adding up here? Don't want to be grouped in the same boat as Barrett and Flanagan, but seriously, in 109 years of rugby league, why wait that long, to make a change on the run where this is allowed to happen. What a farce of a finals series it will become, let alone the great game of rugby league forever more, if it can now be managed by the team in front with stoppages whenever required. Certainly the first involuntary needed attention, just that it wasn't legal to stop play. Thanks for the commentators repeated interjections to report that Oates was indeed alive and well.