Roosters goalkicker Adam Keighran has kicked a controversial penalty goal with a minute remaining to give the Roosters a 21-20 victory over a spoiling Broncos side at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
In a bizarre finish, Brisbane looked to have caused a massive upset when Roosters backrower Victor Radley was penalised in front of the posts only moments earlier for a dangerous charge down effort on an Albert Kelly field goal attempt. Broncos kicker Selwyn Cobbo then looked to have won the game when he kicked the simple penalty goal but it wasn't to be for Kevin Walters' men.
While it was a controversial loss for Brisbane, Roosters skipper James Tedesco left his Captain's Challenge late, with replays showing that Broncos prop has Tom Flegler collected Sitili Tupouniua high with a glancing blow and the decision from the Bunker proved pivotal.
Tedesco was again superb for the Roosters with the skipper putting the team on his back, scoring a try and having a hand in another running for over 250m in man of the match effort from the NSW and Australian fullback.
The Broncos came into the match having already been a thorn in the Roosters side this season with a win in this corresponding fixture in Round 11. Brisbane continued this form when they successfully got the jump on the favourites early when Payne Haas charged through the middle and was brought down just short by some desperate Roosters defence. Brisbane were then awarded a penalty in front of the sticks.
Showing some confidence, the Broncos took the tap close to the line, which saw Haas then barrel his way over for the first try of the night following another strong run to give his side an early 6-0 lead.
The Roosters then hit back with a front rower of their own in Isaac Liu, who crashed over off a near identical play close to the line to level the scores at 6 all.
Brisbane then regained the lead, when winger Xavier Coates leapt high for the ball on the last and batted the ball back into the arms of Jordan Riki who dived over in the corner to score. Tyson Gamble then converted from the sideline to give his side a 12-6 lead.
Tedesco then began to cause some trouble for the Broncos with a bust up the middle, where he was brought down metres short in a terrific tackle from Haas. The Blues skipper then showed great vision on the next set to put in a deft grubber for his winger Dale Copley who scored in the corner. Keighran converted from the touchline to leave the scores level heading into halftime.
The Roosters continued to threatened the line but Brisbane continued to hold on. The Broncos then found an unlikely hero, when prop Thomas Flegler ended up with the ball off a bat back off a kick. The front rower then shocked the Roosters defence, when he put on some footwork and took off managing to find a flying Albert Kelly in support who scored under the posts.
Again the front rowers continued to respond, when Siosiua Taukeiaho broke the line to find his skipper Tedesco in support for him to score under the posts and level the scores at 18 all with less than 20 minutes remaining.
The game continued back and forth and it was Roosters halfback Sam Walker who broke the deadlock with a calmly taken field goal to put his side in front 19-18 with just seven minutes on the clock.
Brisbane weren't licked however, and Albert Kelly then had an attempt which drifted wide. However controversy ensued, when Roosters backrower Victor Radley was penalised for attacking the legs of Kelly in attempting the charge down. Broncos centre Selwyn Cobbo then nudged the attempt to give Brisbane a shock 19-18 lead with four minutes to go.
The drama continued late, when Tedesco pulled off a last-ditch captain's challenge which went the Roosters way, with Flegler penalised and the controversial call decided the contest and enough to get the Roosters the win, when Keighran calmly pocketed the penalty goal to get his side out of jail in the final minute of the game.
The Roosters now face the Dragons next Sunday to continue their charge towards the Top 4, while Brisbane will host the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium on the same day.