The Eels guts out a win at
Suncorp

The Eels have managed to gather their first 2 points in the NRL competition, with a gutsy effort in front of a very vocal Suncorp Stadium crowd, downing the Broncos by 26-18.

With a very handy lead of 20-6 at the break, it looked to all and sundry that the Eels would go on to post a handy score against a somewhat complacent Broncos unit. Whatever was said at the break by Broncos coach, Wayne Bennett, certainly had the desired effect as the Broncos came out firing, with the score at one stage with only 2 points separating them.

Ill discipline by the Parramatta cause, and with the final penalty count of 16-7 against them, the Eels will certainly have something to look at during the coming week.

A very hard, fast game of league in the heat of Brisbane, with the ball at many times during the match, going from try line to try line. The Eels celebrating Coach Brian Smith's 400th game with a victory.

Suncorp Stadium Referee: Paul Simpkins Video Referee: Stephen Clark Touch Judges: Jeff Younis, Steve Nash

Scorers: BRONCOS 18 Tries: B Berrigan, Tony 2 Goals: De Vere 3/4 defeated by EELS 26 Tries: Grothe, Burt, Dykes, Hindmarsh Goals: Burt 5/6

By the clock: 0 min: Kickoff! Gorden Tallis leads the Broncos on the field, playing his 150th game for Brisbane.

5 min: NO TRY - Eels denied after Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels) intercepts a poor pass from Shane Webcke (Broncos). Knock-on found during the exchange.

10 min: TRY - Eels. Fullback Luke Burt scores and converts. Eels 6-0

14 min: PENALTY GOAL - Eels. Burt puts the visitors further ahead. Eels 8-0

23 min: TRY - Broncos. Hooker Barry Berrigan scores a soft try. Conversion successful. Eels 8-6

27th min: NEWS - Hopkins (Eels) off with an injury to his right eye

30th min: TRY - Eels. Burt from his own goal line breaks away 20 metres, the ball is out wide quickly to Grothe who is unstoppable at pace, and scores. Burt kicks the conversion. Eels 14-6

33rd min: NO TRY - Eels. Dykes puts a high kick up but Eels players ruled offside by the video ref. Score remains 14-6

36th min: NEWS - The Broncos hot on attack in this action packed first half, however Tony loses the ball forward right on the try line. Still the lead to the Eels, 14-8

38th min: TRY - Eels. Once again the Eels bust away from the Broncos line and end up at the other end of the field. Dykes looking lost, throws the ball to himself, beats the Broncos defence, and scores under the post. Burt adds the extra 2 points. Eels 20-6.

HALF TIME: The Broncos maybe a little guilty of complacency. The Eels on the other hand, are fired up and at Brisbane to play. They lead 20-6

Half time stats: Broncos 18/25 completed sets, Eels 13/21. Penalties awarded 9-4 to the Broncos. Errors Broncos 7 - Eels 8. Time in possession split down the middle, 50% each. Tackles made 133 - Broncos, 122 Eels. A very even contest.

SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY..

43rd min: NEWS - Back to back penalties allow the Broncos way up the field, close to their line. A wayward pass out to the winger spins in front of him, and the play breaks down

44th min: TRY - Broncos. Tony scores his first try in a Broncos colours. The defence over reading the play, allows Tony a soft try. De Vere gets the conversion. Eels 20-12

47th min: NEWS - De Vere (Broncos) missing a penalty goal, after the Eels penalised for a wrong play of the ball. Eels 20-12

51st min: NEWS - Barry Berrigan (Broncos) unlikely to return to the match with a neck injury. The Eels giving away a lot of penalties early in the second half, and nearly paying for it with Tallis over the line but the Eels penalised by the video ref for stripping the ball.

54th min: TRY - Broncos. Motu Tony scores his 2nd try following the penalty against the Eels. A great run and spin from dummy half and Tony is over. De Vere adds the extra points. Eels hang in there, 20-18

60th min: TRY - Eels. A mistake by the Broncos returning a line drop out, hands a scrum to the Eels. Great general play by the Eels with a high kick played by the Eels perfectly, ending with Hindmarsh running through the soft defence to score. Burt, from the sideline, misses the conversion. Eels 24-18

64th min: NEWS - Tony (Broncos) off the field with knee ligament damage and will not return, meaning the Broncos are down to a 2 man bench

66th min: ON REPORT - Grothe (Eels) on report for a high shot on De Vere who is okay and is back on his feet, another penalty to the Broncos, now 14-6 in favour to the Broncos. Eels still hang on to the lead, 24-18

73rd min: NEWS - End to end stuff, with both teams so close to scoring but unable to finish it off. The penalty count is not helping the Eels at all although they hold onto the lead by 24-18

75th min: PENALTY GOAL - Eels. The match clincher after the Broncos were penalised for defending the line but offside. Burt has no trouble from out in front

FULL TIME: A second half in which the Eels almost handed the game to the Broncos with their lack of discipline, the penalty count against them very high. A nice result for coach Brian Smith's 400th match. The Eels win 26-18

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - A Dykes (Eels) 2 - L Burt ( Eels) 1 - M Tony (Broncos) -----------------------------------------