There was something about the Broncos versus Roosters clash that led many to believe Brisbane had more than a hope in Hades.
I’m not quite sure why, considering the Roosters 8-1 record and the Broncos’ rather questionable recent form. Yet, to their credit, Brisbane lifted and challenged the Roosters from the outset.
It was to be the Chooks over the line first when James Tedesco crossed after nine minutes, as Cooper Cronk sat idle in the sheds thanks to an early professional foul. Payne Haas responded with a bullocking try in the 18th minute to level at 6-6, before the Broncos dug in courageously.
The Roosters created chances, but Anthony Seibold’s side held firm; converting a penalty, before making a crucial error close to their own line and allowing the Roosters a clean shot in the red zone.
To everyone’s surprise, the Tricolours couldn’t crack the Broncos and soon after, the Brisbane pack muscled up to the best team in the competition. It was inspiring stuff; Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Tevita Pangai and Haas displayed a level of aggression and application unlike anything Bronco fans have seen all season.
After a late Roosters penalty, the teams headed to the sheds at 8-8 and an upset was in the offing.
With planet earth thinking a Trent Robinson half time spray would bring the Roosters to life and encourage the visitors to put the Broncos to the sword in the second-half, what followed was surprising.
The Broncos took up the arm wrestle and despite some hair-brained sixth tackle moments at both ends of the field, the contest grew and grew while the scoreboard remained stagnant.
Matt Gillett missed a golden chance to score in the 60th minute when he spilled a ball after bursting through a gaping hole in the Roosters’ defence. Soon after, Alex Glenn was over the line but unable to ground the ball.
In the same set, Anthony Milford took a close range field goal opportunity to give the Broncos a 9-8 lead with 15 minutes remaining on the clock.
With Suncorp in raptures, new Bronco recruit James Segeyaro crashed over from close range and the home side had built a seven point lead with ten minutes remaining.
The Roosters pulled within five after a penalty goal; they huffed and puffed late, but the Broncos held on for a brave 15-10 victory that re-invigorates their season.
It was the effort the Broncos fans have been waiting for all season and the loss that Roosters supporters probably knew was inevitable. Based on the two teams’ recent form, not many expected either to occur last night.
If Penrith fans were anticipating or expecting a return to form against the New Zealand Warriors at Panthers Stadium, they will be extremely disappointed this morning.
The Panthers’ performance did little but confirm the plain, simple and ruthless NRL fact that they are well off the mark in 2019. So much so, that the Warriors cleaned them up 30-10 at the foot of the mountains.
It was a continuation of the schoolboy, error-riddled play of the home side, despite the significant personnel changes made by coach Ivan Cleary. From the outset, New Zealand out-enthused and out-executed Penrith, with two first half tries helping to set up a 14-0 lead at the break.
To describe the Panthers’ attack against the Warriors as impotent is being somewhat kind. Nathan Cleary and James Maloney continued their below average start to the season and, until the mountain men find a better play late in sets than merely handing the ball to Viliame Kikau and hoping for a miracle, they will not make dents in NRL defences.
It was a truly awful first half from Penrith, yet entirely consistent with their form of the last month. Without the ball, the Panthers did their best impersonations of fire hydrants, with a mountain of missed tackles hampering their efforts to revive their embattled season.
Sadly, the pattern of recent performances continued; plenty of possession and field position, yet little to show on the scoreboard.
The second half was a continuation of the first, with the Warriors patient and precise in attack and the Panthers fumbling and bumbling whenever the try line came within sight. Patrick Herbert knocked over penalty goal after penalty goal to slowly extend the lead and the home side remained scoreless until late in the contest.
Kodi Nikorima announced himself to the Warriors’ fans with a brilliant solo try in the 58th minute and with ten minutes remaining the 24-0 score line said it all.
Even two long awaited tries to Penrith in the final ten minutes did little to halt the Warrior’s momentum as Agnatius Paasi crashed over in the 74th minute to keep the margin safe for the visitors.
Stephen Kearney will be proud of his Warriors on the road. Their discipline in defence, ball control and application were much improved on recent efforts and the fact they were able to resist the predictable NRL momentum shift and a Panther comeback, speaks volumes about the Warriors attitude and performance.
As for the Panthers? At 2-8, it might be time to start planning for 2020.
Magic Mike
Roar Rookie
The panrith forwards are good in getting the team to the opposition's 20. It's just that the halfs are a sleep or incapable of orchestrating or creating anything to score points. I say drop Nathan Clear and Maloney to the NSW Cup asap. Cleary for start is over rated and under achieving. Get him time to grow and develop in the Reserve Grades.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Penrith really stuffed themselves up. A team going this bad would normally see the coach in danger, but after chasing and committing the way they did. They will have to ride it out with Cleary. Every week there are new questions though. Are Penrith that bad, are the Warriors that good. A tipsters nightmare.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
The poor Roosters have to travel to Newcastle this week too and then later in the year they have to go to Canberra!!! In August. It's going to be cold! So they have 6 games outside of Sydney this year (Mel, Bris x 2, Newcastle, Canberra, Adelaide). Such a rough deal for the chooks. Really feel for them. Was anyone complaining when the Titans played in Sydney two weeks in a row then flew back to the Gold Coast then out to Auckland with a 5 day turnaround? Please, Roosters have it made.
Neel
Roar Guru
So far, so good for the Warriors with Nikorima. Next week will be an interesting clash between the Broncos and Warriors.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Against warriors in their home it might be hard to back up from that effort. Nikorima should have a big game. Wouldn't be surprised with a Warrior win.
Rellum
Roar Guru
There is no issue to fix for the Roosters. One difficult week is just something they might just have to put up with. If that is "fixed" next year and other teams have to suffer instead then questions need to be asked about what say the Roosters really have.
Paul
Roar Guru
and I'll bet the Warriors will be asking for a change too, as I said earlier
Paul
Roar Guru
You're missing my point. I'm saying this problem about this piece of scheduling will be fixed next year, for sure. It won't only be Easts but the Warriors who will want a change. The other travel issue is a completely different can of worms.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
It was only 4 days if counting isn't a strength. It's a shorter commute than driving across Sydney.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
That gruelling 60min flight is a killer. Surprised they could even get on the paddock.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You are missing the point. The Roosters have one tough week of travel and you are talking about that issue being fixed next year. The Cowboys, Warriors, Storm, Broncs and Titans do that sort of travel all season long. How do you fixed that up? When it comes to travel the Roosters have it easier than anyone.
Larry1950
Guest
Tough draw for the poor hard done by roosters, second time they've had to travel outside sydney since week 1 in melbourne. Just for the record, their magic round opponent also had to travel so they weeren't alone. Stop bleating, the loss takes pressure off
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I know that but Manly were crippled by the Super League war and have never fully recovered. A team like Broncos with a huge stadium and a huge pool of fans for themselves are never going to have to take 'home' games away. It's just an observation.
Bazza
Roar Rookie
The same can be said of the Warriors. Played Saturday in Brisbane then come back to Penrith to play the following Friday. Unless they stayed over, a lot more travel than the Roosters.....and the Warriors managed to win both games.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Maybe they do but the travel hardly stops the Storm winning all the time the Broncos winning a whole heap of titles and the Cows being one of the top team for ages. Any team in the comp would die to have a whole city like Brisbane largely to themselves with all the benefits that come with it. If the Broncos aren't the most advantaged team in the comp then who are?
Fraser
Roar Rookie
They didn't have to travel two times. They chose to. Blame the Roosters coaching staff.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Manly choose to do that in order to generate more money for your club.
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair cop, Rellum. Although I didn't mention it, the Warriors had just as tough a go of the travel with trips to Bribane and Sydney in back to back weeks. As I posted else where though, I'll bet the schedule will be completely different for the games before and after Magic Round, compared to what was offered up this year.
Paul
Roar Guru
terrific comment, Emcie, you're boys deserved their win for sure and you're right you have every right to enjoy that.
Paul
Roar Guru
why not Snoop. The facts seem pretty clear to me. The Roosters played a really tough game in Brisbane last Sunday, then had to return for another tough game on a Friday night. Brisbane on the other hand, played in Brisbane last Friday night, against a depleted Manly side that lost even more players as the game went on. They had a much longer period to recover before playing last night. Did the Broncos deserve to win - absolutely, but I'll bet the same sort of scheduling won't happen next year because it clearly favours one team.