Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders: NRL live scores, blog

Just had a look at the full replay. The Broncos certainly upped their intensity in the second half and Milford proved to be the difference with a couple of deft kicks plus a brilliant solo try. Didn't think the Raiders did too much wrong in that last 20 minutes apart from a couple of poor reads from Austin which opened up the Raiders defence and couple of dropped balls by Lui and Oldfield didn't help. Abbey played really well in the first half but looked tired for the last 20 minutes. You can't question his skill and endeavour but he needs to get in to the gym and build himself up physically and aerobically if he wants to play at this level. Thought Hodgson was outstanding and Sezer and Soliola were pretty good as well. Sometimes the results of games come down to key moments late in the game and Milford was the man to deliver these on the night.

Ricky has had enough chances. With the side that he has, he should have achieved more, especially last year. This year Hodgson was injured which was a huge blow. However the fact that Kurt Baptise had to be released due to salary cap pressure is unforgivable. He would have been an ideal replacement this year. If reports of Jack Wighton being on 800K over the next four years is true, we need a Raiders Royal Commission. Ricky may have the support of the board & most of the playing roster, but he has lost the fans. I am continually disappointed by the lack of ownership by Ricky of the poor results, the lack of ownership of the poor game plans, poor interchange, poor game management. I'm sick to death of hearing, "The boys are hurting in there in the sheds." They should be, they aren't the local Saturday Pub side, they are being paid to perform at the highest level. I believe that this Raiders side could if they were managed properly. Here's a tip Ricky, why not start the game with Boyd & Paulo, I bet there is no side in the competition who can counter them in the first 20 minutes of a game. On the back of their defence & metres gained, quick play the balls & offloads. The Raiders will have 18 points in the bag. But I guess it's too late to try that now our season in done. That's right BOYD & PAULO are going next year. I'd love to give Shannon Boyd an exit interview. Why are you going Shannon, you grew up at Cowra just down the road? It couldn't be that the coach is a wanker is it?

Yeah Paulo was an absolute monster when he was on, wasn't upset in the slightest with the limited minuits he saw as a Broncos man. Soliola started to really tire towards the end there and stopped being a threat defensively once the smaller guys could just run around him, is that common? Maybe it's Rickys use of the bench that's hampering the Raiders in the back end of games. Abbey looked good, the Broncs targeted him for most of the game and it wasn't untill right at the end that he started to crack, but by that time the Raiders were right on the back foot. Good signs for the rookie.

Its bizarre how it keeps happening again and again and again..... like Ground Hog Day with slightly different scenarios each time but the same results ...... and you wake up and you've lost again. They have a lot of talent in their squad but don't have the on and off field leadership to take games by the scruff of the neck and win. Ricky was a very clever half - he's proven that he can assemble a decent squad - but he just can't get the results you'd expect as a coach with the talent he has available. It's so frustrating because you know the Board are going to stick with Ricky (pardon the pun) so we have to hope as supporters that he can turn it around. Just on the game - I can't believe that Liam Knight didn't even get a run off the bench, Zero flippin minutes! Why? Plus Junior Paulo only played for 23 minutes. And Ricky wonders why Sia Soliola looks gassed? Ricky's use of the bench at times is abysmal. I hope that they persevere with Brad Abbey. I think he has some talent at full back. And if Jack comes back this season they might want to consider giving him a crack at 5/8 in place of Austin. It would certainly stiffen up the defence on that side. What have they got to lose now that the season has slipped away?

Funnily enough Brisbane went through a similar season during the dark ages (2012/2013 I think) where if games only went for 70min they would have been undefeated but ended up fighting to get into the 8. They'd be great for most of the game and then a 50/50 would go against them or they'd conceed a silly error or penalty and the team would just crumble. Couple seasons later and they're in a Grand Final with pretty much the same team. It's all just attitude and the more you let it fester the worse it gets. I've seen it in plenty of teams seasons to different degrees (cowboys pre Greene comes to mind) but I cant recall a club thats allowed it to go on for as long as Canberra has.

Incredibly disappointing that the Raiders keep putting themselves in positions to win games and can't close them out. I can think of 6 games this year where they have been in front at the 65 minute mark and lost. And the most frustrating thing is Ricky Stuart appears to have no answers or strategies in place to fix it. Stuart has assembled a very talented squad at the Raiders but has massively underachieved. His record of one finals series appearance in five seasons is appalling and would see most coaches at risk of getting their marching orders.

I said they needed 30 but the Faders would still have found a way.

Condolences to all Raiders fans including my uncle who have to put up with that on an ongoing basis I think the performances of both teams tonight gave a pretty good reflection of their somewhat bizarre contrasting records. 8 Broncos 15 9 0 6 -40 0 20 9 Raiders 15 6 0 9 32 0 14 Brisbane, especially some senior players (read: Boyd and Thaiday), play some atrocious, lackadaisical footy at times but have the ability to close out games that are in the balance (excepting any matches against Melbourne). Canberra have an immensely talented group of individuals that have the ability to put teams to the sword but their big names (many Raiders fans lay the blame squarely on Austin and Sezer but I haven't seen enough of them this year to comment) just seem to lack both consistency and self-belief at crucial moments.

At 0-16, did any one really expect anything else?

Are you being ironic? Nothing to work on next week their season is over.

Listening to the Fox commentators trying to analyse a game is painfull...

Great comeback from the Broncos. Canberra played a great first half and should be proud of their efforts tonight. Ricky will be disappointed but plenty to build on next week!

It has to Ricky. Except for 2008 Sharks were the same when he was here. They could lose from anywhere and usually did. No team that can rack up leads the way they do should lose so regularly.

Great comeback win Broncos. I am still not in anyway convinced by Broncos. Defence is still very questionable.

Probably that last call around Whitehead. Nice when you can focus on something in the last 30 secs that could have won the game and ignore the other 79 mins.

Rather be a Raiders supporter than any other. Get of your pedestals- no one died or lost a sheep station. Disappointed- a little, we still giving it a shake but really life will go on and the earth keeps turning. Some need to get a perspective of important issues. Go and pile on the Eels or the Cows too if it makes you feel bigger.

Yes but it was the Raiders!

And Croker shouldn't be captain. Hodgson should be captain

Thanks for the call mate