Broncos too strong for slow starting Raiders

The Brisbane Broncos have put together a strong second half to down the Canberra Raiders 24-14, in front of 10090 rugged up fans at GIO Stadium this evening.

The Raiders started slowly, as they have done in most of their games this season, while the Broncos looked slick in the first twenty minutes.

Jack Reed opened the scoring for the night in the 13th minute, working the slimmest of blind sides after a Broncos' break to plant the ball down on the left edge. Corey Parker added the extras, and the Broncos led by 6.

In the very next play after the kick off, Andrew McCullough sparked his team further, kicking a 40/20 to give his side a brilliant attacking opportunity. The Broncos then worked the right edge, with Edrick Lee pushing up and in way too early, leaving a two man overlap outside him. Ben Hunt scored himself yet another try assist, passing to Jordan Kahu, who strolled through and increased his team's lead. Corey Parker again kicked the goal.

A 12 point lead is no cause for concern in the Raiders' camp though. They hit back in the 23rd minute, after Edrick Lee redeemed himself somewhat with a brilliant pass to Blake Austin at speed, who sprinted through some broken defence to score.

The Broncos' first half was punctuated with handling errors - nine in the first half alone - and the Raiders' second try came off the back of one of these. Jarrod Wallace first lost the ball in a tackle, and then backed it up with a penalty for his involvement in the play the ball. From the resulting set, Jarrad Kennedy isolated Jack Reed in defence, and went straight through a gap to score. Croker added the extras, and the scores were all tied up.

The highlight of the first half was definitely after the siren though. The Raiders rushed to pack a quick scrum wit 11 seconds remaining in the half, hoping for a late try before half time. They set their entire backline out to the right of the field, and then went the blindside - hoping to catch the Broncos napping.

What happened was completely different.

Edrick Lee lost the ball in a tackle on the left edge, merely 3 metres out from the Broncos' line. The Broncos swooped on it, and sprinted down the right touchline, before playing hot potato the entire way down the field. The ball touched almost every set of hands across the field, ending in the arms of Lachlan Maranta, who scored in the left corner after the half time siren to put his team in front at the break. Jordan Kahu failed with the conversion attempt, but the Broncos went to half time leading 16-12.

The second half was all Broncos though, with the Brisbane side keeping their opponents scoreless throughout the second stanza. The Broncos extended their lead further in the 57th minute, after Corey Oates crossed near the left sideline, before two penalty goals from Corey Parker took the lead to 24-12, where it remained until full time.

One highlight for the Raiders was the "tackle of the year" from Josh Papalii, who rushed up and hit Josh McGuire heavily, right under the ribs in a copybook tackle. Unfortunately for the Raiders, you don't get bonus points for big hits.

The Broncos will head home to take on the Manly Sea Eagles next Friday night, while the Raiders will look to regroup when they meet the Knights on Saturday at Hunter Stadium.

Match Details

Canberra Raiders 12 Brisbane Broncos 24
Venue: GIO Stadium
Crowd: 10090
Halftime Score: Canberra Raiders 12 Brisbane Broncos 16

CANBERRA RAIDERS (12)
Tries: Blake Austin, Jarrad Kennedy
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

BRISBANE BRONCOS (24)
Tries: Jack Reed, Jordan Kahu, Lachlan Maranta, Corey Oates
Field Goals:
Conversions: Corey Parker (2/3), Jordan Kahu (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Ben Hunt
2 points - Jarrod Croker
1 point - Anthony Milford

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to a cold GIO Stadium this evening for this match between the Raiders and the Broncos. Both teams have several changes from the lineups named on Tuesday afternoon.

For the home side, Jeremy Hawkins is out, with Sisa Waqa pushing out to the wing, and Jarrad Kennedy moving into the centres. Kyle O'Donnelll drops off the interchange bench, with Luke Bateman and Shannon Boyd making up the bench.

Both Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday will not back up for Brisbane after Wednesday night's State of Origin win, although Darius Boyd, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett and Corey Parker will all play. Jordan Kahu moves into the centres, with Daniel Vidot taking the vacant wing spot. Adam Blair will start at prop, and Matt Parcell has been named to make his debut off the interchange bench.

Minutes away from kick off - the teams just leaving their sheds.

And we're on. The Broncos kick off and the Raiders get first use of the football.

1: We've got our first penalty of the game, with the Raiders penalised for a high tackle against Josh Papalii.

2: On the last, the Broncos run the ball, but the last pass bounces hard off Jordan Kahu's chest, and goes to ground.

3: Shillington attempts an offload, but the Broncos recover the ball.

4: Big break from the Broncos. They then spread the ball to the right and find themselves in open space through Daniel Vidot, but Matt Gillett can't catch the flick back in field, and the try goes begging.

6: Now the Raiders get a penalty for laying in the play the ball. Looked a pretty lucky penalty to me. Austin kicks his team downfield.

7: Some exciting play on the last - the Raiders kick to the right, and tap back the bomb, but Jack Reed wraps the ball up and it's a handover. Great defensive set from the Broncos.

7: And that leads into another penalty to the Broncos, this time against Blake Austin.

9: Lot of penalties so far in this game, with the referees looking to stamp their authority early. Another one against the Raiders, gifting the Broncos an attacking set ten metres out from the Raiders' line.

10: But the pass to Josh McGuire isn't taken. Let off for the Raiders.

10: The Raiders bomb to Vidot on the last, but the Broncos block Edrick Lee from charging through, and Vidot takes the ball easily.

12: The only thing we've had more of than penalties so far is offloads - 4 to the Broncos, and 3 to the Raiders already.

13: We're going to the video referee for a possible Broncos try! After a big break down the left edge, the Raiders come up with a tackle, but Jack Reed heads down the narrowest of blind sides to skip over for a possible try. We're just checking that he hasn't gone out over the sideline.

13: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jack Reed. Kick to come.
And it's a try! Jack Reed stays in field by about 5 blades of grass, and plants the ball down for the first try of the night.

13: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker lines up a conversion from just inside the left sideline, and has no trouble with it.

14: 40/20 BRISBANE BRONCOS
Andrew McCullough kicks a 40/20.
And on the first set after the kickoff, Andrew McCullough has kicked a 40/20 for his side.

17: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jordan Kahu. Kick to come.
A big defensive error from Edrick Lee sees Jordan Kahu cross in the right corner. Lee came in way too quickly, and left a yawning two man overlap out wide. Another try assist to Ben Hunt.

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
And once again, Corey Parker puts it over the posts to extend his side's lead to 12.

21: The Raiders have started very,very slowly so far. On the last tackle, they fail to get to their kick as Sam Williams gets wrapped up with the ball.

23: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Blake Austin. Kick to come.
That's better from the Raiders! Edrick Lee comes back inside and takes a lovely flick pass from Jarrod Croker, before passing on his outside for Blake Austin to sprint to the line. The Raiders are on the board.

23: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker kicks the goal and takes himself two points closer to the 1000 points milestone, and his side two points closer to the Broncos.

25: Another penalty to Brisbane - this time against Shaun Fensom for flopping on the tackled man.

26: Wallace loses the ball, and the Raiders come up with it. The Broncos have come up with four unforced errors already tonight.

27: And now Wallace adds insult to injury by being penalised for mucking around in the play the ball. Brilliant attacking opportunity for the Raiders.

28: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jarrad Kennedy. Kick to come.
And it took just one tackle, with the Raiders isolating Jack Reed in defence, and Jarrad Kennedy running through a yawning gap.

29: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker adds the extras.

32: Quick hands from Kahu to Vidot almost results in a try down the right hand side of the field, but the Raiders' cover defence just gets there in time. Next play, the Broncos spread the ball left into open space, but a poor pass from Ben Hunt sees Jack Reed drop the ball above his head.

34: The Raiders kick high on the last, and Vidot drops the ball cold. There wasn't even a lot of pressure on him - classic Vidot.

35: The Raiders attempt to crash over from dummy half, but the defence is up to the task. On the last, the Raiders kick high and Edrick Lee looks to have scored, but the referee rules the ball has gone forward from the tap back. No try.

37: Yet another unforced error for the Broncos - this time against Francis Molo. We're almost into double figures.

38: The Raiders are heavily on attack at the Broncos end of the field, but Wighton drops the ball. The Broncos then make a big break down the right hand side of the field.

39: Two minutes left in the half, and Matt Gillett makes a break, before offloading back in field. McCullough looks certain to score, but somehow Jarrod Croker stops him only 1 metre from the line. Great defence, and I have no idea how he did it...

39: Canberra will get the last real opportunity of the half, on attack in the Broncos 10m zone.

39: On the fourth the ball goes to ground, but the Broncos are ruled to have knocked it on. The Raiders rush to pack the scrum, and will have 11 seconds.

39: The Raiders set six men on the right hand side of the field, and then go the blind side with the halfback and the lock.

40: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
Wow! Edrick Lee attempts an offload, but the Broncos take it and sprint down field, after the siren. Ben Hunt looks to be trapped, but he kicks back in field, and the Broncos spread the ball left, to score in the corner. The ball must have touched about 9 sets of hands in that play, and they've traveled 100 metres forward and 60 metres across to score the try!

40: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Jordan Kahu unsuccessful.
Kahu misses the conversion, but the Broncos will go to the break leading by four points, despite some horrible ball control in the first half.

40: Back underway in the second half.

44: End to end stuff at the moment - strong defence, and long kicks at the end of the set.

47: Sam Williams attempts some footwork, but Adam Blair eats him alive.

52: Some nice hands and positioning from Jack Wighton, before the Raiders spread the ball left across their own goal mouth. The ball wides up with Edrick Lee, who bursts down the left side of the field, sprinting away from the defence.

53: On the next play, the Raiders move the ball right, and look to have scored, but are ruled to have knocked the ball on just before the line.

54: And now it's the Broncos time for a break down the left edge, this time from Lachlan Maranta. David Shillington threw out an arm, and just collected Maranta's ankle on the way through.

54: And now another error from the Broncos, as they lose the ball in a heavy tackle from Edrick Lee and Jarrod Croker.

55: The Broncos get trapped in their own in goal area now, and are forced into a line dropout.

56: Lachlan Maranta is leaving the field with an injury - we'll keep you updated.

57: Some dancing feet from Milford now, stepping and jinking past 4 defenders, before offloading to Josh McGuire.

57: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Oates. Kick to come.
On the last, the Broncos decide to run the ball, and Jack Reed puts Corey Oates into a gap down the left to score with his first touch of the ball.

57: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker sets the conversion from 1 metre in from the left sideline, but he pushes it just left of the posts.

60: Last tackle, hunt kicks to Waqa, who's driven back a couple of metres in the tackle.

62: Milford breaks another couple of tackles with that run, and on the next play the Raiders are penalised for a strip on Josh McGuire.

63: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
The Broncos opt for the penalty goal, and Corey Parker extends his team's lead to 10.

64: From the restart, the Broncos have knocked the ball on, and then been penalised for a head-high tackle on Blake Austin. Brilliant way to back up after a scoring play.

67: Josh Papalii has just smashed Josh McGuire in a massive tackle that rocked the Broncos prop.

68: The Raiders ten out from the Broncos line, looking to get themselves back in this game.

69: Wighton almost got to the line himself, but passed back on his inside for what looked like a try. The referee didn't agree though, and pulled the play up for a forward pass.

70: On the last for Brisbane, Milford kicks over the sideline to slow the play down.

73: And now the Broncos get a penalty again, 20 metres out and straight in front of the posts. Have a guess what they'll do - try or penalty goal?

74: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Yep - you guessed it. The Broncos opt for the penalty goal, and Corey Parker has no trouble with the kick.

75: On the last, the Broncos yet again roll the ball into touch. The Raiders are out on their feet - not even able to rush to pack that scrum.

76: Noone told Josh Hodgson he was supposed to be tired, as he makes a break downfield after darting from dummy half.

78: The Broncos are just looking to run down the clock now - slow hitups, kicking for touch, and slowly packing scrums. The Raiders don't look too much more interested in speeding things up though, to be honest.

78: Austin tries his hand at a chip over the top on the last, but Boyd's positioning was great, and he took the ball easily.

79: Under a minute left now, both teams just poking along to the final whistle now.

80: And that's the game. The Broncos have kept the Raiders scoreless in the second half, and take the win 24-12.