Broncos win in dour contest

The Brisbane Broncos have ground out a hard fought 10-2 victory over the Cronulla Sharks tonight in front of 8369 loyal supporters.

Both teams headed into the match looking to chalk up their first win of the season after a poor start in round one resulted in losses. It seemed neither side had done the necessary work during the week however, with both sides coming up with plenty of drop ball and some lazy penalties around the ruck resulting in a largely uninspiring first half of footy.

Both teams went close to scoring a couple of times but it was Jack Reed who went the closest for the Bronco's after crossing in the corner in the 33rd minute. The try was soon disallowed though, with the video referee ruling Alex Glenn had impeded Ben Barba in the build up.

In the end it was the home team taking a narrow lead into the break after Shark's fullback Michael Gordon nailed a penalty goal from 38 meters out just before halftime.

The Bronco's came out of the blocks in the second half showing a lot more intent with the ball in hand and they would soon capitalize with the first try of the night coming through replacement winger Corey Oates who picked up a wayward offload from Reed to crash over. It was halfback Ben Hunt the orchestrator though, who sent Reed into space after a beautiful piece of play looking inside and passing out.

Bronco's lock Corey Parker nailed the sideline conversion to give the visitors a 6-2 lead after 47 minutes.

Mistakes soon crept back into play for both teams with Shark's winger Sosaia Feki coming up with the most costly one after spilling the ball whilst trying to return a well timed kick from Hunt back into the field of play. Bronco's winger Lachlan Maranta was there to pick up the scraps and feast on his first meat pie of the year.

Hunt's conversion attempt bounced away off the right hand upright, but his team held a handy eight point margin heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Shark's had plenty of chances to get back into the contest late but couldn't find the keys to unlock the Bronco's defense which was probably the most pleasing aspect of their performance tonight.

After equaling their longest losing streak on their own turf of nine games, things don't get any easier for the Sharks who travel to Melbourne next Saturday night for a clash with the Storm. The Bronco's will play host to the Cowboys in a Queensland derby on Friday night.

3 points - Ben Hunt
2 points - Justin Hodges
1 point - Paul Gallen

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (2)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (10)
Tries: Corey Oates, Lachlan Maranta
Conversions: Corey Parker (1/1), Ben Hunt (0/1)

Welcome to Leagueunlimited's live coverage of this early season crunch match between the Cronulla Sharks and Brisbane Broncos. Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season after a disappointing start last week.
Andrew Fifita will clock up his 100th NRL game and Andrew McCullough will step out for game 150.
Look out for a return to form from Ben Barba tonight who was shown the door by Broncos coach Bennett during the off season. The Broncos will be looking for plenty of impact from their bench tonight with Sam Thaiday to add some spark along with debutantes Joe Ofahengaue and Kodi Nikorima.

LATE MAIL SHARKS - Young star Valentine Holmes comes onto the wing in jersey 18 to replace Mitch Brown

LATE MAIL BRONCOS - Corey Oates in jersey 18 replaces Dale Copley on the wing who injured his calf at training during the week

1: Were under way at the Shire with the Sharks getting 1st use of the steeden

3: A good 1st set making 60m from the Sharks & Kahu took a good high ball

3: The Broncos find the line on the last 25m out from Cronulla line

4: Fifita cleans up a wayward offload from Gallen

5: Ben Hunt sends a high ball up but straight down Gordon's throat

6: Robson sends up another high one but Kahu again solid at the back

7: A quick spread to Brisbanes right with good balls from Hunt & Hodges put Maranta in space but he coughs up the pill, Sharks scrum on their own 20

8: Bukuya spills it for the Sharks, Brisbane ball

9: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Alex Glenn makes an unforced error.
Glenn fails to lay the ball correctly

10: Repeat set Cronulla, Wade Graham with a neat grubber gets a result

12: Penalty Sharks against McCullough for holding on too long

12: Beale held up over the line, tackle 3

13: Penalty against Hodges for lifting above the horizontal

14: Penalty Broncos against Fifita for being in front of the kicker

15: Good defence early from the Broncos

15: McCullough finds the line 10 out from Sharks line with a stabbing kick from dummy half

16: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Paul Gallen makes an unforced error.
forward pass to Prior. Bris ball 30m out from Sharks line

17: knock on from Oates but it was a tough ask around his bootlaces from a Hodges pass

19: Kahu cleans up a Robson kick on his own 20

19: Big Sammy Thaiday is off the pine & into the action...

20: a kick from Jack Reed goes into touch, Sharks scrum feed 10m out from their own line

21: Penalty against Gillett for holding down too long. Sharks ball 40 out from Bris line

22: sloppy stuff with Bris cleaning up a loose offload from Fifita

23: Penalty against Heighington for a high shot

23: Bris ball on halfway

24: knock on from Milford under good pressure from Sharks defence

25: Ennis kicks on the last but with too much weight on it rolling dead

27: Repeat set for Bris with Hodges forcing it in goal & Feki booting it dead

26: Penalty against Ennis for a hand punching the ball loose

28: Hunt grubbers through on the last & Gordon comes up with just inside the field of play

28: Penalty against Jarrod Wallace in the ruck. Sharks ball just short of halfway

30: Ben Hunt cleans up a pass from Leutele who burst through on the left. Great scramble from The Broncos no 7 saving a try

31: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Valentine Holmes makes an unforced error.
Very sloppy attempt at a play the ball will give Bris another chance to attack

32: Penalty against Tupou for stripping the ball out

33: Feki cleans up a Hunt kick after it rebounded off another Shark

34: D.Fifita coughs up another error

34: VIDEO REF possible Broncos try, checking for obstruction & grounding

34: NO TRY obstruction against Alex Glenn impeded Barba

34: Ennis has just limped off for the Sharks

36: Repeat set for Cronulla off Robson's left footed grubber

37: Hodges cleans up an average kick on the last from the Sharks

37: A Hunt kick rebounds off Jeff Robson & rolls into touch, Cronulla feed on halfway

38: Penalty against Wallace for a dangerous lift

40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Gordon nails a penalty goal from 38m out to post 1st points

40: Graham kicks for his winger but it rolls out & thats time for some oranges

40: HALFTIME from the shire with the home team holding a narrow lead at the break. A pretty uninspiring half of footy really. Both teams look to still be shaking off the rust with some poor ball handling hurting both sides. The best halftime spray out of Flanagan & Bennett could decide this one..

41: Back underway with Gillett bringing it back for Bris

41: A good run from Hodges down the right

41: Handover to Cronulla with Nikorima coming up 5 short of the Sharks line

43: Sharks kick just rolls dead 20m tap Bris

44: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jordan Kahu makes an unforced error.
Another sloppy play the ball, Sharks ball 30m out on the attack

45: Hodges cleans up a Graham kick

45: Mick Ennis is back out there

45: Penalty against Gallen in the ruck

46: Bris ball 45 out from their line

47: VIDEO REF possible Broncos try...

47: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Oates. Kick to come.
Oates picks up a wayward offload from Jack Reed who burst onto a beautiful ball from Ben Hunt

47: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Parker nails it from out wide

49: Hunt fires a kick downfield which rolls dead

50: Parker cleans up a Robson grubber after some good play from the Sharks in the lead up

51: Young Joe Ofenhangaue is on for his 1st taste of it

51: A.Fifita tries a flick pass which goes straight to Parker

52: Hunt with a cross field kick goes dead off Jack Reed

53: A bit more attractive footy so far this half from both teams

53: Great take from Kahu taking a Robson bomb 10 out from his line

54: Milford knocks on under extreme pressure, Sharks ball in Bris red zone...

55: Penalty sharks

55: & again a penalty, Bris slowing the play down

56: Beale steps off his right but the Broncos take him over the line with good D in numbers

57: Penalty against A. Fifita for a hand on the ball

57: Bris ball just short of halfway

57: Robson cleans up a Milford offload

58: Thaiday cleans up a Barba bomb, Broncos ball

59: Penalty Sharks with Bris players offside from the kick

60: Robson grubbers but it rolls dead Bris 20m tap

61: VIDEO REF possible Broncos try...

61: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
Ben Hunt put a neat little kick through which forced Feki to try & get out of his ingoal, Brisbanes chase was too good though with the ball being forced free and Maranta picking up the scraps to score

61: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Ben Hunt unsuccessful.
Hunt's conversion bounces away off the upright

62: forward pass from dummy half & Cronulla have a chance to hit back

63: sloppy play from the Sharks & Brisbane clean up the loose ball

64: McCullough bombs across field but Holmes comes down with it & nearly bursts through

65: Penalty for the Sharks, they will get another chance to attack

67: Repeat set for Cronulla with Oates cleaning up a Gerard Beale grubber on the run

69: Another repeat set with Hodges cleaning up Robson's grubber

71: Great defence from Brisbane with Kahu crunching a runaway Jason Bukuya. Bris get a scrum feed after the ball rolls out

72: Holmes takes another bomb on his own 20

73: Penalty against Hodges for taking out a Sharks support player

74: Kahu picks up a grubber from Ennis, Bris working it out from their line

75: Milford rolls a kick into touch inside the Sharks 20, smart play

76: Fifita tries another offload but comes up empty, Bris ball

77: Sharks scrum 15m out from their line

78: Kahu another great catch at the back

79: McCullough kicks from dummy half finding touch 5 out from Sharks line

80: FULLTIME at Remondis with the Broncos coming out of a dour game with 2 vital competition points early in the season.
Thanks for joining us tonight folks, stay tuned for our match report to follow.