Broncos book Grand Final berth, oust minor premiers

The Brisbane Broncos have become the first NRL side into the 2015 Grand Final after a convincing 31-12 win over the Sydney Roosters tonight at Suncorp Stadium in front of a ground record 51,826 fans.

Tonight's penultimate match of the season started in the most bizarre of ways, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall taking possession of the Brisbane kick off the boot of Ben Hunt. SKD's brain-snap of a choice was to spiral a long pass in-field for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck... but Darius Boyd had led the chase and managed to pluck that pass out of the air and just over 60 seconds into the contest, the home side was on the board.

The Roosters subsquently tried to strong-arm their way back into the contest but the Broncos were at it again after 11 minutes, Hunt's pinpoint boot amongst it again with a perfectly placed kick which was batted back in-field by Jordan Kahu. Hodges was behind him and tapped it back on again to a waiting Hunt who scored the home side's second four-pointer.

Closing in on the twenty minute mark, the Roosters started to find some space in between some tiring early Broncos forwards, but a Maloney-Pearce pass found it's way to ground and the Broncos were able to again reverse their fortunes, this time with a perfect inside-outside play by the halves, finishing with a try to hooker Andrew McCullough.

For the next ten minutes the momentum of the contest swung dramatically, with the minor premiers scraping back into the contest with two right-side tries to Blake Ferguson. The other key moment for the Broncos was seeing captain Justin Hodges leave the field injured, apparently clutching his hip. But the worst for him would be to come.

Brisbane added a Corey Oates try just before the halftime siren sounded, extending their precarious four-point lead to eight points, a more comfortable halftime buffer. The Roosters shot out of the blocks in the second half and had claimed an SKD try just a minute in, but it was disallowed due to a Tuivasa-Sheck knock on in the lead-up. Further woes for the visitors? Mitchell Pearce never returned from the sheds at halftime after aggrevating the leg injury that's kept him out of the last month of football.

From there Brisbane didn't look troubled as they stomped their way to the club's seventh Grand Final appearance. Anthony Milford and Jack Reed both provided the insurance for the home team, iced by a Ben Hunt field goal eighteen minutes before the final siren.

The scorers weren't troubled but there was plenty playing on the minds of Broncos fans despite the lead - their courageous captain in Hodges had returned to the field for the second half and picked up a report from the officials after turning Aidan Guerra on his head in the 58th minute. He'll face a nervous wait as the Match Review panel convene to rule on his tackle, and then whether a charge will rule him out of next Sunday's decider at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Undefeated in six grand finals since their inception in 1988, the Broncos will know their opponents at around 9:30pm tomorrow night when the Storm and Cowboys end their AAMI Park preliminary final.

Match Details

Brisbane Broncos 31 Sydney Roosters 12
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 51826
Halftime Score: Brisbane Broncos 20 Sydney Roosters 12

BRISBANE BRONCOS (31)
Tries: Darius Boyd, Ben Hunt, Andrew McCullough, Corey Oates, Anthony Milford, Jack Reed
Field Goals: Ben Hunt (1/1)
Conversions: Corey Parker (2/4), Jordan Kahu (1/2)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (12)
Tries: Blake Ferguson (2)
Conversions: James Maloney (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Ben Hunt
2 points - Adam Blair
1 point - Anthony Milford

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Suncorp Stadium for the penultimate weekend of the 2015 NRL Season! It's the first preliminary final and both the Broncos and Roosters are just 80 minutes away from a berth in next Sunday's decider.

No changes to either lineup for this one. Both sides are as named, 1-17 from Tuesday evening. Mitchell Pearce is BACK for his first game in over a month in the Roosters' number seven - but if he falters, Jackson Hastings is waiting faithfully in the wings. Brisbane have no such worries, a healthy squad has them primed for action. Kickoff is 7:55pm.

Earlier this evening the first combatant of the 2015 NRL Grand Final Day was confirmed with the Penrith Panthers downing the Warriors 50-16 in the Under 20's Holden Cup Preliminary Final. They will play the winner of tomorrow evening's match between Manly and the Cowboys. For more, see our Finals Guide.

The Roosters and Broncos are out on Suncorp Stadium. Huge roar for the home side who wear their gold heritage strip tonight. Roosters in white. Ready for action.

A moments silence now for Mike Gibson, who passed away earlier this week. RIP Gibbo.

We have kickoff! Roosters put boot to ball with the hosts Brisbane to take the first hit-up.

2: VIDEO REFEREE | Ben Hunt puts in an awkward kick which Shaun Kenny-Dowall fields inside the touchline... then spirals it inside to Darius Boyd! Intercept 30m out... untouched... this will be a try! Boyd is onside!

2: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Darius Boyd. Kick to come.
THAT JUST HAPPENED! Ben Hunt puts an awkward kick to the Kenny-Dowall wing, who twirls a long pass inside... and it goes straight to an intercepting Darius Boyd who takes the ball untouched and scores!

2: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
No problems for Parker from right in front. What a start for Brisbane.

4: Brisbane go most of the park on their return set. Bruising defence from the Queensland side too as the Roosters try to escape their own end.

5: BOOM. Adam Blair absolutely SMASHES Shaun Kenny-Dowall. What a tackle!

7: Just slowing things down after a frenetic opening few minutes, Hunt dribbles the ball into touch. Roosters scrum on their own 10m.

8: PENALTY. Roosters pick up the first whistle blown in anger of the night. Broncos guilty of a strip. Visitors will attack the Brisbane line.

10: Now the Broncos pick up a penalty and are straight back in the Roosters' danger zone!

12: VIDEO REFEREE | We're going upstairs for one of these amazing bat-back tries. Hunt grubbers into the corner, Kahu taps it back in and it looks like Justin Hodges taps it back more, then HUNT! Gathers & grounds it!

12: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
It's GREEN LIGHTS! What an amazing try! Kahu, skills, Hunt, the kick and then the awareness. All Broncos after just 12 minutes!

12: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker misses the sideline conversion.

16: Geez, the Roosters aren't giving up but how good has this start been from the Broncos? Visitors currently attacking the Broncos inside their 30m zone, but they eventually force Tupou near touch and he throws it inside to a waiting Bronco. Everything's turning to gold for the home side.

18: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mitchell Pearce makes an unforced error.
Junior Jr can't hold a pass from his halves partner Maloney, it's a Brisbane scrum just short of their own 40m.

19: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Andrew McCullough. Kick to come.
SUBLIME RUGBY LEAGUE! Hunt finds Milford with a flat ball at the line, he then wraps through to get the offload back, before opening up the backfield and turning it back inside for McCullough. What a remarkable piece of play!

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Well then. Parker converts and suddenly the 2013 Premiers are behind by sixteen.

22: HODGES DOWN. Justin Hodges steps off his left and is collared by Dylan Napa. His leg appears to crumble under the tackle but ultimately he's back on his feet. He's hobbling and now it's looking like a dodgy hip possibly.

23: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
Through the right channel the Roosters hit back! Ferguson beats Jack Reed and Corey Oates to put it down out wide.

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Perfect technique. Maloney adds the extras to reduce the margin to ten.

26: Hodges is now off. Alex Glenn has shifted to the backline in his place.

27: PENALTY Roosters and suddenly Suncorp's a bit quieter and the momentum seems to be with the away side. Roosters now attack inside Brisbane's 30m.

28: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
BOOM! Same move, same player, same result! Ferguson grabs his second of the night and the complexion of this game has changed immensely in just five short minutes.

29: INJURY: Dylan Napa is off with a lump. He heads straight up the tunnel.

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Well then. Jimmy is definitely not barbequeing alone... he converts and his side the Roosters are now only four points behind!

31: Hodges is on the sideline, obviously has had some sort of pain relief or spray and will rejoin the action shortly.

34: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Siosiua Taukeiaho makes an unforced error.
Brisbane back troubling the Roosters, big SST can't take that pass and the Broncos have a scrum 40m out.

36: Brisbane's attack comes apart after Kahu fields it short of the line and tries to offload. Roosters handover on their own 10m.

37: Another foray into the Roosters half exposing a soft middle of the field for Brisbane, but Hunt's last tackle kick doesn't quite cut it, Jennings has it now.

38: Jake Friend tries a sneaky dummy half kick inside his own 40m... but it doesn't reach the destination needed. It dribbles out around 25m from the Broncos line. They'll pack and feed the scrum.

38: PENALTY. Brisbane now with another chance inside the final three minutes of the first half.

39: With 90 seconds on the clock Mitchell Pearce bats a Hunt grubber dead on the last. Roosters forced to drop-out inside the final minute.

40: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Oates. Kick to come.
WIDE BALL! TRY TIME! The Broncos are in, a great wide ball cuts out several attackers from Hunt and Oates goes over in the corner untouched.

40: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Jordan Kahu unsuccessful.
Kahu steps up to take the kicking duties from the far touchline... and he *just* misses.

40: That's HALFTIME and an incredible 32 points to start us off. Brisbane hold an eight point advantage, scoring four tries to two in one of the most entertaining and frenetic opening halves of the season. All to do for the Roosters if they want to head to their third grand final in six seasons!

40: GAME CHANGER: Mitchell Pearce is OFF, that leg is giving him more trouble. Hastings will play half and will need a blinder to get the Roosters into the decider.

40: FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Brisbane are undefeated in SIX Grand Finals since 1992 - if they win tonight... well...

42: VIDEO REFEREE | Reverse of the first half! Broncos have failed to defuse the Roosters last tackle kick, it goes to RTS who may have lost it coming to the ground, then SKD picks it up and plants it. It's gone up as a TRY. Decision pending...

42: We've reviewed this 100 times. Can they overrulle it?

YES. It's NO TRY. Knock on by Tuivasa-Sheck. Broncos scrum.

45: Anthony Milford powers over the line on the last tackle but he's held up. Roosters 10m handover.

46: Brisbane trap the Roosters so deep that Hastings has to kick on tackle four inside his own 30m. Broncos now working it up to halfway.

48: VIDEO REFEREE | Looking at a potential TRY to Anthony Milford. We're checking grounding as well as a potential player being taken out in backplay.

48: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Anthony Milford. Kick to come.
It's all green lights, Milford has scored near the posts and I don't like to go off early but Brisbane look grand final bound!

48: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Jordan Kahu successful.
Kahu adds the extras, 14 points is the lead with 32 minutes to go.

51: Massive crowd confirmed here at Suncorp. 51,826 - a ground record for the NRL (that is, excluding Origin). The previous record was the 50,829 who watched Lockyer's final home and away game in early September 2011.

51: Brisbane grab another penalty and march up the park, and are inside the Roosters 40m after three tackles.

52: VIDEO REFEREE | Corey Oates is in AGAIN! We're just checking the touchline.

52: NO TRY. Oates' foot is out. Superb pass by Hunt in the lead-up but great last ditch defence from Ferguson to nudge his feet just onto the chalk. Roosters handover.

53: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Corey Oates makes an unforced error.
Oates spills the Roosters' kick and it's another set for the visitors! Can they muscle their way back into it? Plenty of time left...

55: VIDEO REFEREE | We're upstairs for one of the more obvious no tries in history. 400 replays later that tell no different of a story, Aiden Guerra has knocked it on before the line, and we have NO TRY. Brisbane get the feed on their own 10m.

58: ON REPORT | Justin Hodges has been pinged for a pretty ordinary dangerous tackle on Aidan Guerra. Dumb. If Brisbane progress, it's hard to see the Brisbane captain featuring in the decider.

58: Brisbane now hot on the attack... a try here seals a Grand Final berth surely...

58: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jack Reed. Kick to come.
REED SCORES! THE BRONCOS ARE INTO THE 2015 DECIDER! That will do it! With twenty to go it will take more than a miracle to revive the Roosters' season.

60: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker's back to take the duties... but it bounces straight into the post and back to where Parker took the kick. Three converted tries the lead inside the last quarter of time now.

62: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Field goal attempt by Ben Hunt successful.
BEN HUNT! That's a 19-point lead and if there was any doubt in the mind, it's gone now.

65: Roosters... it's just not your night.

69: Brisbane forced into a line drop-out. All too little too late for the Tricolours though.

73: Roosters pushing up the park but ultimately they can't do anything with it. Brisbane working it off their line.

77: Plenty of noise around Suncorp for the Broncos. They're off to their seventh decider since 1998. Not a bad strike rate either. The Roosters have produced 12 errors tonight, one of their most uncharacteristic showings this season.

78: Brisbane with another chance to extend their victory margin here, attacking inside the Roosters' 30m.

79: One minute left at Suncorp. The entire stadium is on it's feet. Hugs on the sideline. Roosters legs heavy.

80: That's it. Milford puts it into touch. There's a few afters before the final siren but that will do us. BRISBANE are 2015 GRAND FINALISTS!