Well, it was an extraordinary performance by the Broncos after their first-up loss to the Dragons.
Whatever coach Wayne Bennett said during the week at training certainly did the job, but it was Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys who almost stole the game in the dying moments by setting up what looked like a certain try to Scott Bolton – only to see Bronco Tevita Pangai Junior crash tackle Bolton straight into the upright and take the ball on the line.
Indeed, it was a match-winning performance by Pangai, who scored one try and almost scored another. But the Broncos’ performance was simply a great team effort with the Broncos halves doing a lot of running.
The Cowboys, for their part, started the game strongly and looked completely in charge for the first ten minutes, but then the Broncos regrouped and the Cowboys struggled to cope with the Broncos strong running game.
In the attack, Cowboys Jordan McLean, Jason Taumalolo and Matt Scott who had run freely in the first ten minutes were finding it difficult to make progress into the Broncos defence.
Maybe it was the big crowd at the Broncos home ground or maybe it was Wayne Bennett’s words during the week, but whatever it was the Broncos will have gained confidence from the game and now also have two points.
The Broncos did pay a price for their win, with Jordan Kahu taken from the field during the game with a broken jaw. He will probably miss at least six weeks.
For the Broncos, the question is how long can the team perform at this level without burning out or suffering an unsustainable injury toll? That is a question that only time will answer.
The Broncos play Wests Tigers away next week and will need to find a replacement for Kahu.
For the Cowboys, the first ten minutes was perfect and possibly no team in the competition could have withstood the Broncos intensity after that, but one lesson was clear: the return of Michael Morgan is desperately needed to take the opposition focus away from Johnathan Thurston and provide a second set of fifth tackle options.
The Cowboys play the Storm away next week and will be desperate to have Morgan back.
ferret
Guest
Great effort by the Broncs. Should be relatively straightforward to replace Kahu. Opacic is a much better defensive centre than Kahu who should play wing and no-where else. Plus Jack Bird is coming back in a couple of weeks.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
I remember when Tariq Sims use to inflict such physical domination when he started out at the Cowboys, but fizzled out from being an Origin contender to a bench player/occasional starter. The challenge for Pengai Jr, is to maintain his high impact game on a week-to-week basis, in a way Taumololo has done for the past 3 years now.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
TPJ certain ly was impressive on Friday night..He was particularly strong in the closing 10 minutes with his defense. The cowboys were coming for the Broncos and TPJ was up to the task. Really looking forward to watching him, Roberts and Milford this year.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I think you are right about the experience and confidence gained playing for Tonga against the big name teams and I think he scored 1 try.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
At least there are only 2 byes this year only one of which Round 17 Broncos have to play in, so the real issue is injuries that may come out of origin. So no origin excuses really until round 17.
Nat
Roar Guru
I was at a function at the new Bronco centre on Thursday and the team was running through their plays. Honestly, I wasn't impressed because I expected to see them throwing it around, Jet or Opacic never touched it. I came away with two thoughts 1, They are preparig for a big forwards battle. 2, The halves are going to run all day, because they kept running it into the waiting defence or kicking to the in goal. Turns out, that was the plan and it worked. To see TPJ up close, the bloke is a beast and being around the Tongan WC team has obviously stepped him up another level in attitude and work ethic. Every team needs a mongrel forward and looks like the Broncos have found one.
DeltaTango
Guest
I can't believe the amount of people that wrote of Brisbane after Rd 1. It was just a bad game. They were always going to bounce back at home. Pangai Jnr is a serious player. "For the Broncos, the question is how long can the team perform at this level without burning out or suffering an unsustainable injury toll? That is a question that only time will answer." Like the last few years, Broncos will be top 2/3 pre origin. Then win 50% of games post origin. We will def lose Boyd. McGuire and Gillett but potentially also Oates and Milford. Maybe Roberts and Bird with NSW. Origin could really hurt this year. "The Broncos play Wests Tigers away next week and will need to find a replacement for Kahu" Opacic then once fit, Bird, surely.