Broncos do it tough but get the win, make finals

It was sloppy but they won, Brisbane will now play finals football. Peter Wallace inspired his side to a 19 points to 12 win over Penrith in front of 35,187 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane knew the equation that stood before them going into tonight, win and they will play finals football, lose and they were relying on results. It was a cautious start from both sides, looking to work into the groove of the match.

All the attack went to the Broncos early with several raids on the Panthers line but none producing results due to poor options on last tackle. Brisbane looking a tad nervous in attack.

Those nerves wouldn't have been helped when Brad Tighe split them open and fund strike centre Michael Jennings. He took it to the line, dribbling one out the back for Josh Mansour to cross. Luke Walsh converted from the sideline and Penrith took a shock 6-0 lead into halftime.

Both teams needed to come out, much more disciplined but Griffen would of been slamming the desk after Josh McGuire knocked on from the restart. Penrith weren't able to capitalise with Brisbane defending well.

They finally got on the board though when Justin Hodges who was a handful for defenders all night, burst onto a pass slicing the Panthers defense open and sending halfback Peter Wallace stumbling over. Corey Norman stepped up for the conversion and it was 6 all.

Looking much brighter, Brisbane settled into their structures and started getting on top on field but needed to convert that to the scoreboard. Ben Te'o exploded onto a pass, showing a nice step back inside to give Brisbane the lead after 53 minutes.

Penrith weren't going to go quietly into the night despite having nothing to play for. Luke Walsh hooked a kick across the face of the goalmouth for Lachlan Coote to leap above the pack and slam it down, leveling the score once again.

Brisbane though, weren't going to be denied. They came back at the Panthers with Corey Norman who had an unhappy night throwing a nice flat pass onto a rampaging Alex Glenn to put the Broncos into the lead and possibly the finals.

Peter Wallace would confirm the Broncos place after a knock on from Penrith in retrieving the short restart. He coolly slotted it from 30 metres out and gave Brisbane the win and a spot in the finals.

Match Details
Brisbane Broncos 19 defeated Penrith Panthers 12
National Rugby League - Round 26 - Friday August 31, 2012 7:45pm
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Adam Gee
Crowd: 35,187
Halftime: Brisbane Broncos 0 Penrith Panthers 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Peter Wallace (1 Try, 2 Conversions, 1 Field Goal)
2 Points - Justin Hodges
1 Point - Lachlan Coote (1 Try)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (19)
Tries: Peter Wallace, Alex Glenn, Ben Te'o
Field Goals: Peter Wallace (1/1)
Conversions: Peter Wallace (2/2), Corey Norman (1/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (12)
Tries: Lachlan Coote, Josh Mansour
Conversions: Luke Walsh (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to Suncorp Stadium for the final team in 2012. Brisbane will be farewelling Petero Civoniceva while Penrith will be looking to play spoiler.

If Brisbane can win tonight, they will confirm their place in the top eight but a loss will put them on the precipice of missing the top eight. Penrith have successfully navigated themselves away from the spoon but look for a positive end to an indifferent 2012 season.
TEAM CHANGES:

BRI - No change. They will be 1-17.

PEN - No change. They will be 1-17.
Brisbane have held on in an entertaining Toyota Cup contest withstanding a late surge from the Panthers to win 36 points to 34.
Both sides have hit the field here.. Penrith head to the Southern end, ready to receive the kick-off. Wallace kick-offs and here we go!
3 min: Solid opening from both sides.. with Petero getting a big cheer on each carry.
4 min: Brad Tighe defuses a bomb and goes on a run, Jack Reed shows him the sideline and tosses him over.
7 min: First error from the Panthers, Mansour getting in the way of a Thaiday offload, knocking it down.
12 min: Quick hands found an opening for the Panthers but Michael Jennings throws it to the touch judge.. Broncos scrum.
13 min: Corey Norman tries to chime in, for a backline movement but he spills it.
17 min: Knock on by Penrith.. Game is going through the motions currently.
18 min: Wallace puts it high on last.. Reed outjumps Gordon and tries to offload but he's lost it. Penrith pounce and work it out.
19 min: He was looking for distance but kicked out on the full by Lachlan Coote. Full set coming for Brisbane.
20 min: Nicely weighted kick from Wallace forced Simmons to attack it but he knocks it on. Another set coming for the Broncos to try and break the deadlock.
22 min: Good defense from the Panthers. They have repelled the Broncos.
22 min: Michael Gordon is through but it's knocked down by Hodges.. SIX MORE!
23 min: Panthers try to force one pass too many, knocked on.
32 min: TRY
A long range effort from Penrith. A nice interchange of passes opened up the Broncos and Jennings almost finished it himself but offloaded to Mansour to score! Walsh converts.
Penrith Panthers 6-0
34 min: Penalty to Brisbane.. offside.
35 min: Broncos seem to have lost their way.. Hodges swatting players off like flies. He got lucky with Michael Gordon touching his errant offload, so six more for the home side.
39 min: Another set here for Penrith. Can they extend the lead?
VIDEO REFEREE: Possible try to Penrith.
40 min: NO TRY! Held up.
40 min: Wallace defuses a bomb and it's HALFTIME.
Back for the second half and Josh Mansour, due to a head clash will be in jersey #22.
Luke Walsh kick-offs and we're back underway!
41 min: OH NO! Josh McGuire knocked it on from the kick-off!
47 min: TRY
Flat pass to Hodges and he slices through.. gets to Gordon and sends Wallace in for the TRY! Wallace took a knock as he scored, so Corey Norman will be taking the conversion.. splits the uprights.
6 all
51 min: Penalty to the Broncos.. offside. Brisbane with all the running currently.
53 min: TRY
Wow.. some hot stepping there from Ben Te'o. He took it at pace, saw that there was a gap inside, stepped and soon was at the tryline. Wallace from besides the posts, slots it.
Brisbane Broncos 12-6
54 min: Oh dear, it's unraveling for the Panthers.. knocked on trying to take the ball.
56 min: Penrith get a fortunate penalty, strip.
62 min: Brisbane's defense has been good tonight but Coote nails a 40/20 and Penrith come on the attack again.
63 min: Penalty to Penrith, Wallace offside.
64 min: Brisbane defuse the attacking opportunity and turn it into attack.. getting a PENALTY!
66 min: Civoniceva and Thaiday go close on charges but last, Norman goes himself and taken easily. Changeover.
67 min: Late tackle penalty to Penrith.. Corey Norman the culprit.
67 min: Strong run by Tim Grant but he tries to throw an offload, gathered up by Wallace.
68 min: Oh dear.. Broncos knock it, guess who Corey Norman.
68 min: Followed by a penalty, here comes the Panthers.
VIDEO REFEREE: Penrith might have locked things up.. checking the onside.
70 min: TRY
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Lachlan Coote leaps high from a Walsh bended kick to touch down.. no chasers were offside. Walsh converts from in front.
12 all
73 min: Ben Te'o causing problems here, he was through and offloads to Beale who throws it forward. Let off for Penrith.
75 min: Good kick from Norman, forcing Gordon to take in the field of play and driven back. Dropout.
77 min: TRY
Brisbane setting up for the field goal? No they attack, short ball to Glenn and here he goes, explodes into the hole and scores. Wallace converts.
Brisbane Broncos 18-12
78 min: Short kick-off from Penrith. it cames off and it's knocked on from Achurch.
79 min: FIELD GOAL
Broncos march downfield and Wallace coolly slots the field goal, to send Brisbane into finals football.
Brisbane Broncos 19-12
80 min: FULLTIME! Brisbane win to send Petero Civoniceva out a winner.