Broncos clinical over Raiders

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Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders

Brisbane put on a clinical first half display to set up cruisy victory over the Raiders in the rain.

The Broncos got on the board first when Reece Walsh received a lovely ball out the back, 40 metres from the Raiders line, stepped Matthew Timoko and then raced away to score a brilliant solo try. He then converted his own try.

In the 17th minute, Brisbane crossed for the second try when Ezra Mam put in a shallow cross-field kick which Fletcher Baker caught and then offloaded to a storming Jordan Riki and the big man barged over for a try. Walsh converted.

Brisbane scored again from the very next set. Jock Madden with a great kick resulted in Chevy Stewart dropping the ball cold and Mam gently toed it forward and then planted the rolling ball for a try. Walsh converted from in front.

In the 27th minute on the last tackle, Billy Walters at dummy half, grubbered for himself, regathered and scored a brilliant solo try under the posts. Walsh converts from in front.

In the 31st minute, Brisbane crossed again when Walsh, out wide on the right side, chimed into the backline movement, held a pass up and then a hole opened up in front of him and Walsh strolled in to score. He then failed to convert from out wide.

Brisbane looked like they scored first after the break when a lovely cut-out pass put Kotoni Staggs into space. He grubbered ahead for himself and Jesse Arthars reached out to score but the ball was grounded by his elbow. The bunker ruled a knock-on.

The next set saw Canberra finally get on the board. Simi Sasagi ran onto a pass from Josh Papali'i and a gap opened up in front of him and the back rower scored. Chevy Stewart converted.

Mam holds up a lovely ball for Cobbo, who runs an angled line back infield and he scores. Walsh converted. 

Canberra scored again in the 67th minute when Xavier Savage shrugged off a tackle and dived over to score. Stewart failed to convert.

Neither side could trouble the scoreboard in the final 13 minutes as the rain and weariness took over.