With teams breathing down their neck, the Broncos simply had to win at Suncorp Stadium against the Eels last night. A victory would go a long way towards ensuring a finals spot.
A loss would send Queensland football into disarray after disappointing seasons from the Titans and Cowboys.
The sense of desperation was clear from the onset and, with both teams appearing to fear a loss rather than boldly showing the courage required to snatch victory, the match took quite some time to get going.
Just a pair of penalty goals bothered the scoreboard attendants early during a tense opening 20 minutes, with the scores level at 2-2.
Maiko Sivo scored unopposed in the left corner for the Eels after 24 minutes, yet the Broncos responded after a superb run from Darius Boyd and the subsequent try to human cannonball David Fifita, that gave the Broncos an 8-6 lead after 32 minutes.
Just a dopey late penalty from the Eels affected the half-time score and the Broncos accepted the two points with open arms to head to the sheds with a 10-6 advantage. It all felt a little eerie and as though something was about to explode. How correct that feeling proved to be.
It took less than three minutes in the second-half for the Broncos to stake their claim. Darius Boyd trailed a grubber kick into the in-goal to score and the conversion sent the home side well clear at 16-6.
Andrew McCullough found his way to the sin bin soon after; holding down Sivo following a stunning run down the left wing, yet his mates did a superb job in holding the fort in his absence.
When McCullough returned, the Broncos galvanised, as they have all season. In spite of many questioning their credentials, Brisbane continue to look more threatening the longer the season goes.
As for Parramatta, well they did exactly what we didn’t expect. They fought, scrapped and refused to die. Blake Ferguson scored the most astonishing try in the corner to pull the Eels within six before Kane Evans crashed over with three minutes remaining to level the scores at 16.
How Jamayne Isaako’s 80th minute field goal attempt missed is beyond me; the post playing a role as the match headed to golden point.
It took just over a minute for the Broncos to seal the deal after another astonishing run from David Fifita. My heart was racing and I’m sure every fan of the game was on the edge of their seat as Isaako slotted the field goal that confirmed the Broncos’ 17-16 victory.
In the early Friday night match the Warriors continued their poor finish to the 2019 season when Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs put them well and truly to the sword at Mt Smart Stadium.
I’m not a Warriors fan. If I was, I would be asking for my money back after another listless season where the club never really threatened. The Warriors medium term trajectory is unsustainable and after another season of mediocrity, Stephen Kearney’s position must be seriously in question.
Eventually, and after some early resilience, the Bunnies confirmed their top four credentials and took control of the contest. It began with a Cameron Murray try in the 16th minute as he slid rather fortuitously across the wet surface to score.
The flood gates appeared to have opened after a 27th minute try to Alex Johnston and with a subsequent 14-0 lead established after 32 minutes, the Warriors looked likely to suffer another embarrassing loss.
To their credit, the home side refused to provide a saloon passage into the top four for the cardinal and myrtle. First half tries to Adam Pompey and Ken Maumalo brought the Warriors within four at the break and there was something of an ominous feeling in the air for Souths, as the teams headed to the sheds.
Any such feeling proved to be utterly inaccurate, as the Bunnies used two second half tries and the boot of Adam Reynolds, to establish a 30-10 lead with seven minutes remaining. A late Reynolds field goal extended the lead to 21 and the Bunnies moved temporarily back into the top four on the back of a 31-10 victory.
The Rabbitohs appear to be locks for action in the final three weeks of the season and the Warriors look very similar to the impostors they have been for so long. The definition of insanity comes to mind when the discussion turns to the New Zealand Warriors.
As for the Eels and Broncos, well, they made my night and I’m sure the night of many a rugby league fan.
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Roar Rookie
The NRL confirmed Ashley Klein cooked the result last week and they give him another opportunity. He has pics of someone...
steve b
Roar Guru
Head of refs comes out and admits Parra were robbed and it was there for all to see . The game has become a lottery .
souvalis
Roar Rookie
They’re not good stats, simple as that..this is the player reportedly on the richest contract in Bronco history and you’re wetting yourself over a grubber and kick meters, if you want to sook about it go ahead.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
'Nah. not watching... didn't see a thing.' That sentence certainly speaks volumes. If you actually believe everything you just wrote, that says far more about you than anything else.
Macho
Guest
Another Klein close finish - you would be disappointed if you were Nine and you didn't get one
RoryStorm
Guest
I'm just glad the Storm played the Broncos a few weeks back. Even though we gave the Broncos a hiding that night, it was plain to see that once the Broncos got some confidence they were going to be tough to beat. Especially in Brisbane.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Seriously ? They’re good stats ? 130 meters is average, in earlier games rookies Douhei and Drinkwater on peanuts ran more as did Roger whose team got flogged.. Putting a grubber thru for someone else to fortuitously get to and fall on is a world of levels lower than dirtying yourself and actually going thru the line .. Where are the all important line break stats..you know the very raison d’etre of the million dollars ? Duck eggs..the actual tries ? Then there’s defence, goodness, Evans had no trouble beating him for 6 points..Fergo toyed with him in the ‘forward pass’ rort and he wasn’t even in the wide angle shots when Sivo and Fergo got across.. Nah, not watching...didn’t see a thing.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Grubber kick equals try assist..great now we’re in Aiden Sezar and Riley Jacks territory.. ..Fergo went through him on the ‘forward pass’..then Evans went thru him for 6 points..wasn’t even in the panorama shot when either Sivo or Fergo got over.. 130 meters? Rookies Drinkwater and Douhei ran for more..RTS’ side got flogged and even he ran more as well.. Here’s the thing, why is the most elusive runner in the side
Rob
Guest
They got penalised for a kid doing a grass cutting legs tackle on a rampaging Sivo. Without that leg up from the officials the Eels were struggling. Absolutely ridiculous a small young half cuts a charging 105kg winger down in a beautiful low tackle and it cost his team. Surely when you consider the benefit players achieve in a 3 on 1 wrestling tackle the kid deserved at least a second to make sure he had stopped a rampaging opponent?
Rob
Guest
He’s doing the kicking cleaning up at the back and returning the football. I think since he moved to fullback the Broncos are getting their $. Teddy and Turbo do nothing in kick metres. Any 7 that averages over 280m a game is helping his team IMO.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Milford's stats from last night: 130 run metres 1 try assist 5 tackle breaks 2 offloads 479 kick metres But, you know, sure, he's totally just doing nothing but passing. Do you actually watch him play?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Wow, imagine if the Manly had Tom T. just stand and pass for the entire game..or the Roosters told Teddy ‘just pass it son’ in the clutch as Milford does to earn their millions...but, if you’re happy with the ‘effort’ he’s putting in, just shovelling, what can I say other than the bar is pretty low..
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Roar Rookie
No they don’t but Boyd’s lateral movement from an arguable offside position was completely different. If he stood still like Lodge he’d have had no issue but the lateral movement makes it obstruction. Although I guess I’d have accepted it if the Eels where afford such a luxury to win the game. Have a great weekend.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ha, I'm just glad it was NQ who put the pups to bed for this year. You're poor missus would be hearing my name for weeks if we had to do the job next week... :)
Nat
Roar Guru
For fear of being considered bias I'll give you a better example - 2015 GF. Have a look at the 'blockers' to JTs FG. Then show me one time I or any other Broncos roarer blew up about it. That literally cost us the GF but they don't have to get out of the way of the chaser.
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Roar Rookie
You’d accept the Eels winning with the same breaches whilst kicking the winning FG in golden point?
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
There's no doubt that the Bronco's forwards are something special Nat. Really enjoyable to watch them play - particularly Bulldog bound Fifita. It would be a damn shame if the mighty 'blue and white dynamite'/'barking beauties' were to get over the Bronc's next week and cost them a final's spot....yep, it would be a damn shame... ;)
Nat
Roar Guru
Wow, to consider our best efforts have been with rotating halves. At least this has given O'Sullivan his chance. He seems to be playing better here than with Norths (could also be better cattle around him too).
Emcie
Roar Guru
Yep, what could have been with a bit of stability... And that's just the halves- the backs and the forwards haven't been much better off injury wise
Matt P
Roar Rookie
If you actually think Milford's been 'a poor man's dummy half' then I don't know what to say. He's playing two spine positions at once and if you can't see the effort he's putting in then I really don't know what to say.