Brave Broncos hold off wasteful Raiders

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Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders

The Brisbane Broncos have put up one of their most brave performances of the club's history as they held on for a 24-18 victory over the Canberra Raiders despite losing three key players to serious injury.

In one of the most entertaining halves of Rugby League this season, both sides went tit-for-tat with each other in attack with both sides having successful sustained periods of attacking football.

The home-side started the strongest with the majority of possession inside the opening ten minutes and it was Ezra Mam who was able to score for the Broncos after the Raiders defence couldn't hold on.

Canberra's first few attacking sets on the Brisbane line were pretty ordinary but their open try was anything but ordinary. Jamal Fogarty put in a pinpoint kick that saw Nick Cotric outjump the Broncos and get the ball down. Fogarty levelled the scores from close range.

The Broncos then hit back soon after when the new kids combined with Brenko Lee creating space on the outside after Brisbane elected to go down the short side and Lee found Jordan Pereira who scored out wide. Adam Reynolds converted to push the lead back to a converted try.

Despite the home side looking as if they were going to score next, the Raiders hit back through Corey Horsburgh who ran hard at the line off a Zac Woolford short ball and the big red-head slammed the ball next to the posts.

Both sides were going try-for-try in the first half and Herbie Farnworth had the first of his double when the Broncos sliced through the Raiders defence which again was caught short down their right side. Although there was cover defence for the Raiders, Farnworth was able to get over and despite the conversion hitting the upright the Broncos still lead by 4.

The Green Machine took the lead close to half-time when the ball was kept alive with countless offloads and eventually it ended up with Adam Elliott who scored next to the posts. Jamal Fogarty converted to give the Raiders an 18-16 lead at the break.

Bravery was set to be tested for the Broncos in the second half which started well for them as they scored what was set to be the only try of the second half when the Broncos again dominated the early stages of the half and Herbie Farnworth scored. Adam Reynolds then pushed the lead out to 4 with his conversion.

The Broncos had already lost Payne Haas to a shoulder injury and then Adam Reynolds suffered a rib injury that saw him leave the field in discomfort but not before putting the lead out to 6 with a penalty goal.

Having all the momentum, the Raiders were pushing the Broncos defence which was now without Herbie Farnworth who suffered a bicep injury. Although having all the possession, the Raiders only half chance came when Jack Wighton was held up.

The brave victory for the Broncos gives them their seventh win in a row before they have a tough task heading down to Melbourne next Friday night to take on the Storm. The Raiders will be ruing the missed opportunities as they head back to the nation's capital to take on the Knights on Sunday.