Roosters survive Broncos comeback to win at Suncorp

The Roosters have claimed a 34-30 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in a pulsating Monday Night Football game in front of a crowd of nearly 26,500 fans at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Broncos opened the scoring in the third minute with McCullough dummying over from dummy half.

To tie the game up at 6-all, Todd Carney scored a good individual try in the 15th minute.

The Roosters took the lead five minutes later after they spread the ball wide to Shaun Kenny-Dowall who scored.

Kenny-Dowall claimed his second just a few minutes later after Frank-Paul Nuuausala made a big break up the middle before eventually Kenny-Dowall dotted down to give the Roosters a 16-6 half time lead.

After half time, the Roosters extended their lead to 22-6 after they exploited an overlap to see Leilua score.

Their lead was extended to a seemingly insurmountable 22 points after Shaun Kenny-Dowall claimed his hat trick after forcing a Matt Gillett error.

The Broncos started their fightback with Gillett atoning for his mistake by scoring.

The Roosters lead was reduced to just 10 points when Israel Folau drifted through the defence from close range to score.

All of a sudden the Broncos made it 28-24, they spread the ball wide to Winterstein who stepped back inside and beat several defenders to score.

It seemed inevitable that the Broncos would take the lead, and they did so in the 70th minute in controversial circumstances. Folau made a barging run at the line and seemed to lose the ball over the line, but the video referee saw otherwise and awarded a try to Nick Kenny who touched the ball down to claim a try.

Despite conceding 24 straight points, the Roosters weren't done. After going incredibly close to scoring almost immediately after the Broncos try, the next set Kane Linnett made a break and after being tackled on the last, the Roosters kept moving the ball to the right to Kenny-Dowall, who claimed his fourth try of the night to give the Roosters a 34-30 lead.

The Roosters managed to hold on for the final few minutes to claim a victory that will surely highlight them as definite premiership contenders.

Match Details
Brisbane Broncos 30 were defeated by Sydney Roosters 34
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 20 - Monday July 26, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy and Gavin Morris
Crowd: 26,486
Halftime: Brisbane Broncos 6 Sydney Roosters 16

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Todd Carney (1 Try, 5 Conversions)
2 Points - Shaun Kenny-Dowall (4 Tries)
1 Point - Braith Anasta

Brisbane Broncos (30)
Tries: Matt Gillett, Nick Kenny, Andrew McCullough, Antonio Winterstein, Israel Folau
Conversions: Corey Parker (5/5)

Sydney Roosters (34)
Tries: Todd Carney, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (4), Joseph Leilua
Conversions: Todd Carney (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Todd Carney (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary 3 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
McCullough dummies his way over from close range. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 6-0
15 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Todd Carney scores a powerful individual try. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
6 all
20 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Roosters spread the ball wide to Kenny-Dowall who scores. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney unsuccessful.
Sydney Roosters 10-6
25 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Frank-Paul Nuuausala makes a huge break up the middle, the Roosters keep it alive to Kenny-Dowall who claims a double. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sydney Roosters 16-6
25 min: Ben Teo with an ankle injury.
37 min: Roosters doing well to hold the Broncos out.
38 min: Broncos knock on early in the count hot on attack.
39 min: Roosters won the Toyota Cup 36-22.
40 min: PENALTY GOAL ATTEMPT
PENALTY GOAL Sydney Roosters
Another one of those soft penalties for a late shot on a kicker. Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney unsuccessful.
Sydney Roosters 16-6
40 min: The Roosters take an impressive lead into halftime against Brisbane despite missing Pearce and Myles.
40 min: Back underway in Brisbane!
42 min: Winterstein knocks on fielding a bomb and the Roosters will go on attack.
44 min: VIDEO REFEREE - For a Roosters try...
44 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
The Roosters spread the ball left to a huge overlap, and Minichello turns in back inside for Leilua to score. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sydney Roosters 22-6
44 min: CROWD - 26,486
46 min: The Broncos are called back for a phantom forward pass.
48 min: The Roosters retain possession off a bomb, but Kouparitsas knocks on.
49 min: Broncos on attack off a penalty.
50 min: VIDEO REFEREE - For a Roosters try...
50 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Kenny-Dowall forces an error with the Broncos on attack, he picks up the ball and runs 85 metres to score. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sydney Roosters 28-6
52 min: The Roosters look adventurous, but pass the ball over the sideline. Broncos are in a world of trouble and are looking down the barrel of a hiding.
54 min: Roosters penalised for a high tackle on Thaiday and the Broncos go right on attack.
54 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos move the ball to Gillett who bumps off several tackles to score. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Sydney Roosters 28-12
57 min: Broncos will get great field position after a good defensive set.
58 min: Broncos bomb for Folau who knocks on.
60 min: Carney chips over the top for himself, but the Broncos hold on.
60 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos get a roll on and put Folau into a half gap to score. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Sydney Roosters 28-18
62 min: Anasta kicks off out on the full, penalty Broncos on half way.
63 min: Linnett makes a great play, Lockyer fumbles the ball on the last and Linnett toes it ahead and beats a number of Broncos players to it.
65 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Fantastic try! The Broncos keep the ball alive on the left, Hoffman gets the ball to Winterstein who runs back infield and beats half of the Roosters team to score. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Sydney Roosters 28-24
67 min: Earlier the Broncos were staring down the barrel of a hiding, the Roosters will do well to hold on now.
68 min: Roosters failing to wrap up the ball, which is killing them. Broncos get a line drop out.
70 min: VIDEO REF - For a Broncos try...
70 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Controversial call. Folau makes a bustling run at the line and clearly loses the ball in the in goal and Nick Kenny dives on it to score. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 30-28
74 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
The Roosters keep the ball alive on the last and it gets to Kenny-Dowall to claim his FOURTH to put the Roosters back in the lead. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sydney Roosters 34-30
77 min: Roosters hold onto the short kickoff.
77 min: Anasta finds touch a foot out from the Broncos line.
78 min: Ryles penalised for interfering in the play the ball. Possibly a tough call, Broncos on attack.
78 min: Folau goes close, offloads to Lockyer who bats the ball back on the ground and Anasta beats everyone to the ball.
79 min: Broncos need to go length of the field to score.
80 min: The Broncos spread the ball wide and Alex Glenn knocks on.
80 min: Full time, and the Roosters have claimed a fantastic 34-30 victory over Brisbane at Suncorp.