FT: Brisbane 34 d Sharks 28
Offload out the back and Cronulla have lost it.
Oh no... Reynolds has lost the ball...
Nicho loses the ball...
Great take by Mulitalo!
Too long that kick - Staggs takes it and they are off and running again here the Broncos.
Walsh yeets this one.
Nice play from the last tackle - Katoa puts boot to ball - but Karapani has to play at this one.
It doesn't matter - Brisbane have coughed it up!
Horrible call from the referee - came off the boot of a Bronco and it's picked up in an offside position.
No goal
They are running RIOT!!! Walsh splits the defence, comes to the fullback and links up with Shibasaki for his second! This is RIDICULOUS!
Cronulla need to find another gear here.
BRISBANE IN FRONT!
Back to back penalties conceded by the Sharks gave Brisbane field position. It was then the magic of Reynolds, beating several defenders before launching the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch to Karapani for a second.
PENALTY BRONCOS: Offside
PENALTY BRISBANE: Marker not square
Good take from Walsh - Staggs is having a great one tonight!
Knock on - NO TRY!
Kennedy goes for the leap! Looks like he knocked on but Trindall claims a grounding here.
Successful
Cronulla were imploding and the Broncos were finding their mojo. Following Trindall's kick out on the full, the Broncos attacked to the left edge and while Hynes was playing for obstruction, the Broncos kept playing football, Mam went through the gap and Josiah Karapani goes over for the Broncos.
Trindall kicks it out on the full.
Conversion successful
Brisbane capitalised on a Ronaldo Mulitalo error to get back into the contest. A bullet pass from Reece Walsh found Gehamat Shibasaki on the chest who juggled it to slam it down for the home side to keep in touch.
PENALTY BRONCOS: Shot clock violation
Oh no... Ronaldo Mulitalo...
Hynes x Nikora - straight through but had no support... On the next play Ramien is held up a couple away from the line
HIA for Brendan Piakura and he is coming from the field.
Converts.
It was a frantic start to the second half for both sides with end-to-end footy the order of the day. But, the tide broke and it was the Sharks capitalised despite being a man down. Blayke Brailey was in great form this season and continued that in this one by scoring the first try of the second half, and his first in 28 games.
Ramien through the gap! But there's a high shot on him by I think Payne Haas.
Arthars takes the mark!
Reynolds' short kicking game has gone to new lows - Puru picks it up and goes.
Great pass from Walsh to Karapani to find some space
95 metre set start!
Staggs is carving up on this right edge.
Teig Wilton passed his HIA but is off to hospital after a graphic eye poke.
HT: Sharks lead 22-12
CHALLENGE UNSUCCESSFUL!
Brisbane are challenging the ruling of ball goes into touch...
Katoa goes to the bin! He trips over Ezra Mam... 'that is a dumb play" - Cooper Cronk sums it up best.
Hynes' chip is defused by Josiah Karapani.
Reynolds converts.
Brisbane got a much needed try prior to the break after their much maligned forward Kobe Hethrington after an inside ball from Adam Reynolds delivered a great pass to Xavier Willison to go into space. The Cook Island international found Mam to score in the shadows of half-time.
VIDEO REF: Raymond has NO TRY! Has Sione Katoa done enough!!
SIX MORE BRISBANE: Ruck infringement
Staggs makes a nice run from dummy half but has been picked up and DUMPED! Walsh might have a small case to answer for that raised knee...
Hohepa Puru is on Sharks debut!
Good short Xavier Willison on Trindall
Horrible from Ezra Mam - the short kicking game from Brisbane has been so bad!
SIX AGAIN BRISBANE: Inside 10m
Reynolds kicks early - Arthars was chasing hard but the bounce didn't suit - touch judge Wise calls a knock on from Mulitalo.
Brisbane recover a poor Hynes grubber and Jack Gosiewski gets to it.
Trindall's kick is charged down and we have six more tackles - Mam copped a knock to the side of the face.
Successful
Off the back of a cheap penalty coming out of their own end, the Sharks worked play out to their left hand side of the field and it was Trindall putting a great pass to Hynes to stroll over next to the posts.
PENALTY SHARKS: High tackle - 3-3 penalties at the moment. That's a soft one but Kieran Irons called that one very clearly!
Cronulla just seem to have frustrated the Broncos in this first half.
Payne Haas (quad strain) is on the bike and they are expecting him to return.
Hynes converts under the posts.
Brisbane had several chances to tie the game up, but their short kicking game continued to leave a lot to be desired. Off their first chance in decent field position, the visitors punished the Broncos. A brilliant short ball from Nicho Hynes sent Nikora away who found Kennedy for his second try.
Haas went straight up the tunnel
Brisbane's kicking game is absolutely putrid at the moment.
Walsh was crunched by Ronaldo Mulitalo - the winger was already committed to the contact.
Reynolds goes into the line and the pass has been knocked down by Siosifa Talakai.
Jesse Colquhoun and Xavier Willison are on for their respective sides.
CHALLENGE UNSUCCESSFUL - that is a dogs breakfast
Staggs' hard work was just accounted for nothing after a HORRIBLE kick from Walsh - but Kennedy may have knocked on here.
Here goes Kotoni Staggs ! Big 35 metre run
Successful conversion.
However, the Sharks conceded a plethora of six-agains and penalties and put themselves on the back-foot. On the goal-line, Cory Paix atoned for a poor start to the game by throwing a dummy and fooling the Sharks defence for the much needed try for the hosts.
PENALTY BRISBANE: Inside 10m.
PENALTY BRISBANE: Early tackle - Jesse Ramien pinned there
SIX MORE BRISBANE: Ruck infringement.
PENALTY BRISBANE: Hand on the ball - Walsh takes a quick tap and goes.
NO TRY! Mulitalo bounces it.
Now AFB goes through, he finds Hynes but he wanted to go back to AFB but he ran ahead of him. The Sharks were on a roll - great grubber from the five eighth and Mulitalo had bounced the ball.
Goal
Brisbane were poorly disciplined but hanging in there as Cronulla looked to score off most plays. But, following a break from Jesse Ramien, the Sharks hit their stride. A brilliant short ball from Trindall put Teig Wilton into space, the back-rower put a lethal step on Walsh before linking up with Kennedy who put it down under the posts.
Ramien through a half gap - had support from Nikora but he just didn't see him.
Brisbane attacking the kick there and it's ruled to be a knock on against the Broncos - Cronulla recover it.
Nikora was picked up and dumped by Ezra Mam of all people... massive shot there on the NZ international.
SIX MORE SHARKS: Ruck infringement.
PENALTY SHARKS: Slow peel by Cory Paix - that is two penalties he has conceded now.
Chip from Walsh is way too long and it is a seven tackle set.
Oh AFB puts it down... Cronulla try and go for the big play on play one - good bit of contact from Brendan Piakura to force the turnover.
PENALTY SHARKS: Inside 10m (Cory Paix)
Good set from the Sharks post points.
No goal
Brisbane were made to pay for their early jitters after Jesse Arthars spilled a regulation bomb. From the ensuing play, the Sharks went down the short side down the left edge and it was Siosifa Talakai who crossed in the unaccustomed position of left centre for the opening try.
Arthars never looked comfortable under the high ball and spills it.
Good running from dummy half from Blayke Brailey - picking up from where he left off against the Dragons.
Reece Walsh needing extra strapping today according to sideline reporter Eloise Sohier. Reportedly looking uncomfortable in the warmup.
CHALLENGE SUCCESSFUL: Big gamble early for the Sharks and they get it right 2 and a half minutes in.
CHALLENGE SHARKS: Penalty Strip
PENALTY BRONCOS: Hand on the ball.
Brisbane looking for first points...
McInnes puts it down on the first set of the game... disaster for the Sharks there.
UNDERWAY! Suncorp Stadium looks a treat for this one.
Wyatt Raymond in charge for his 24th NRL match. Touch judges are Michael Wise and Kieran Irons. Bunker official tonight is Adam Gee.
NRL Sunday kicks off from Brisbane with a triple header today - the first match sees the renewed Brisbane Broncos take on the Cronulla Sharks. Both sides need to find some consistency heading into the home stretch of the season! Onto the team news, Brisbane are 1-17 - Tyson Smoothy is 18th man. For the Sharks, Braden Hamlin-Uele is starting with the injury to Oregon Kaufusi. Hohepa Puru makes his Sharks debut off the bench.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Kieren Irons
Video Referee: Adam Gee
BRISBANE BRONCOS (34)
Tries: Cory Paix, Ezra Mam, Gehamat Shibasaki (2), Josiah Karapani (2)
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/6)
Penalty Goals:
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (28)
Tries: Siosifa Talakai, Nicho Hynes, William Kennedy (2), Blayke Brailey
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (4/5)
Penalty Goals: