The Brisbane Broncos have bounced back from a disappointing defeat last week to again raise their premiership credentials after running out 54-0 winners over a very poor Gold Coast Titans team at Cbus Super Stadium.
Despite an even opening 20 minutes the Broncos came out of the opening 40 minutes dominating the scoreboard with a 16-0 lead heading into the sheds at the break.
The opening points came after 24 minutes when Kodi Nikorima caught the Titans defence out sliding sideways after throwing a dummy and darting through the line to score under the posts. Just minutes later the Broncos then looked like they were about to cross again however it was called back by the officials with the final pass from Tautau Moga to Corey Oates correctly called forward by the officials.
A fortunate or unfortunate piece of play (depending on your jersey colour) from Jarryd Hayne saw the Titans fullback kick the ball dead on the zero tackle after the Titans were given six again following a Corey Oates error. The Broncos took advantage of the 20m restart and downfield in the ensuing set Tautau Moga got on the outside of his defender and found Corey Oates who scored untouched out wide.
Ben Hunt finished the Broncos scoring in the final minutes when he went quickly from dummy half to score the Broncos third of the half and with the conversion from Jordan Kahu took the Broncos to a 16-0 half time lead. Things could've been very different though for the home side with three efforts to score denied by the officials with the ball just not quite being able to find the turf.
The second half was a Broncos onslaught with the visitors running in 38 unaswered points throughout the second 40 minutes and it opened with the man who closed the first half in Ben Hunt opening the scoring in lucky circumstances when he was on the spot to clean up his own ricocheted kick from dummy half in the ingoal to score the opening points of the second half.
The points were rolling for the Broncos and despite an effort from Tautau Moga being disallowed by the bunker it was one-way traffic with a magnificent effort from Tevita Pangai to throw an amazing no look flick pass to James Roberts who got through and crossed untouched under the sticks.
The Broncos then put another three tries on all within 7 minutes of each other, the first was set up by Ben Hunt when he put a grubber in behind the Titans defensive line which Anthony Milford read it brilliant to chase through and score. Ben Hunt then got his third when Kodi Nikorima burst through from a scrum on their own 10m and Hunt sealed his hattrick. Nikorima then set up Corey Oates for his second off another long range burst.
The long range efforts continued for the Broncos after Dale Copley tried to create something for the Titans but only found Kodi Nikorima who ran 100m to score a run away try to take it to 48-0 after James Roberts missed the conversion from wide out.
The Broncos got to raise the bat in the final minute when yet again the Titans soft middle defence was cut through by Josh McGuire and after the goal it was a 54-0 win for the Broncos over their QLD rivals.
Next week the Broncos have an important clash against the defending premiers the Cronulla Sharks meanwhile the Titans take on the Dragons at UOW Jubilee Oval