Broncos defy logic to win

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Wests Tigers v Brisbane Broncos

The injury-battled Brisbane Broncos defied all the match statistics and the loss of key forward Payne Haas to injury early in the game to beat the high-flying Wests Tigers by 1 point in a magnificent contest.

The Broncos came into the match with no hookers available, having to play with experienced halfback Josh Rogers in the 9 jumper. Then lost front rower Haas, while Kotoni Staggs played on with a torn ligament in his foot, which he sustained in the first half and Jesse Arthars, deputising at fullback for the injured Reece Walsh, also succumbed to a calf injury later in the game.

The Tigers threw everything at the Broncos in attack and defence. Brisbane were given few opportunities by the Tigers defence, but they made the most of them when they presented themselves.

Fonua Pole barged over the line after just 4 minutes but was held up. The Tigers scored five minutes later when Adam Doueihi put up a bomb which Samuela Fainu won the contest for, before offloading to Taylan May who ran in to score a good try. Doueihi converted.

The Tigers then had a run of possession and good field position but no matter what they threw at the Broncos, the Brisbane defence was equal to the task. A Broncos frop out that failed to go 10 metres gave the Tigers a penalty and Doueihi kicked a penalty goal.

The Broncos finally got themselves into good field position in the 23rd minute. Xavier Willison took a strong run and got up after a low tackle by Api Koroisau, which he fell off. Willison got back up and continued running, offloaded to Rogers who sent the ball along to Ezra Mam, who threw a lovely ball out to Josiah Karapani who scored in the corner. Adam Reynolds converted from the sideline.

The Tigers extended their lead in the 30th minute when Jahream Bula bounced off a tackle, propped, hit a half-gap, flicked the ball out the back to Doueihi who ran into a gap and then got a good ball back to Bula in support, who ran in to a score a well-deserved try. Doueihi converted.

With just under 4 minutes remaining in the first half, Reynolds spotted the Tigers winger up in the defensive line, chipped out to the right wing to the unmarked Deine Mariner who caught it cleanly and ran 15 metres to score. Reynolds converted from the right sideline.

Then right on halftime, the Broncos took the lead when Reynolds turned a lovely short ball inside to Ben Talty, who barged over between two defenders to score near the posts. Reynolds converted to give the Broncos an 18-14 lead at the break.

The Tigers looked to have scored three minutes into the second half when Bula bamboozled the Broncos right edge defence with his footwork and speed, but the try was denied due to obstruction.

Six minutes later, Terrell May spun out of a tackle and barged over the Broncos line but was held up.

The Tigers finally scored in the 54th minute when Jarome Luai hit Samuela Fainu coming back inside on a good run, then offloaded an amazing ball to Koroisau, who dived over to score. Doueihi converted to give the Tigers the lead by two.

Gehamat Shibasaki looked to have scored in the 57th minute but the pass to him from Mam was ruled forward.

In the 66th minute Adam Reynolds kicked a penalty goal to level the scores and then three minutes later, he calmly potted a field goal from close range and in front of the posts, catching everyone by surprise.

Two minutes later Karapani raced in to score but the pass from Shibasaki was ruled forward. Both sides traded solid defensive sets but neither could crack the other with the Broncos hanging on to record a stoic and well-earnt victory against a very good Wests Tigers performance.