Roosters pull off miracle victory

The Sydney Roosters have taken advantage of the new stoppage rule inside the final five minutes to salvage a 30-26 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

On a night where the Broncos were honouring injured retiree Jharal Yow Yeh, the contest see-sawed between the hosts and visiting reigning premiers for much of the first half, with the scores locked at 12-all at the break. Brisbane dominated large parts of the first half and it was only the defence of the Roosters which kept the home side at bay for so long. Brisbane had opened proceedings inside the first six minutes before the Roosters struck back with two quick tries to lead 12-6. An uncharacteristic spill of a grubber by Minichiello gifted Sam Thaiday a try which saw the Broncos level scores before going on to hold a period of sustained dominance til halftime.

The hosts then opened the scoring in the second half through a penalty goal, Corey Parker adding two points after the 52nd minute from right in front. Minutes later they extended the lead with Lachlan Maranta scoring in the corner. Parker's failure to convert that try meant the Roosters were within a converted try, a margin they would soon close with a Shaun Kenny-Dowall try and James Maloney conversion.

At 18-all, Brisbane then lifted a gear to gain the ascendency. Back to back tries in the 69th and 74th minutes (both unconverted) put them eight points clear and seemingly had the game won for the maroon-and-gold's... but then the new final five minute stoppage rule kicked in. The Roosters managed to beat a tiring Brisbane defence through Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the first instance to close the margin, which reduced to two following Maloney's conversion.

The rule continued to work in the Roosters favour, giving them plenty of time to get up into the Broncos half (aided by a Maranta knock-down). A perfect ball to Boyd Cordner saw the big #11 cross for the visitors and deliver them an improbable victory late on. Brisbane successfully retrieved the short kickoff to make for an exciting finish but it came to nothing with an error late on.

For now, the win lifts the Roosters into second place behind the Dragons, and ends the Broncos' winning start to the season. The result is important for the tricolours who head home to host the Grand Final Re-Match against Manly next Friday night. The Broncos meanwhile travel to Wollongong next Friday to play current ladder-leaders St. George Illawarra.

3 points - Ben Hunt

2 points - Boyd Cordner

1 point - Martin Kennedy

BRISBANE BRONCOS (26)
Tries: Ben Hunt (2), Sam Thaiday, Lachlan Maranta, Jack Reed
Field Goals:
Conversions: Corey Parker (2/5)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (30)
Tries: Michael Jennings, Sam Moa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Boyd Cordner
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (5/5)
Penalty Goals:

The undefeated Broncos face the reigning premiers who bounced back to form emphatically last week. Kickoff is 7:40pm QLD time, that's 8:40pm for those of you in the southern states.
TEAM CHANGES see the Broncos lose Ben Hannant after a training injury, with Martin Kennedy starting in the forwards for him. Corey Oates fills the gap on the bench. Meanwhile, the Roosters are 1-17, which means Sio Siua Taukeiaho drops off a five-man bench.

Not far away from a start at Suncorp, the teams will be on the park shortly. It would be remiss of us not to mention the fantastic career of young Jharal Yow Yeh, which was sadly cut short this week when he was forced to retire. The Broncos have done an amazing job of honouring the young bloke here tonight, with him completing a lap of honour.

1: We are UNDERWAY! Roosters with the ball first up.

3: Uneventful first few sets, both sides getting to their kicks and putting them deep.

5: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Frank Paul Nuuausala makes an unforced error.
First oopsie of the night comes from the hands of big FPN. Broncos scrum 30m out from the Roosters line.

6: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
The Broncos stuffed the play up there... Gillett went the wrong way, switches to the short side and Ben Hunt finds the gap and scores!

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Parker from near the sideline does it almost perfectly. Great conversion.

9: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
HIT BACK! Martin Kennedy loses it first hit-up off the kickoff... then a few tackles later Jennings steps inside Copley out wide to score for the premiers.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Just like that, scores are level! Maloney converts with a wonderful strike from out wide.

13: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Boyd Cordner makes an unforced error.
The Broncos put the kickoff dead, giving the Roosters a penalty on halfway. They go on the attack but some solid defence sees Cordner spill it 10m from Brisbane's line. The Broncos will have a scrum.

15: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Sam Moa. Kick to come.
Outstanding! Sam Moa forces his way across the tryline with three defenders attached, then wriggles the ball down to the grass. Powerful stuff!

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Jimmy makes no mistake from in front. Roosters now lead by six.

19: Broncos finally stem the Roosters momentum and have the ball in opposition territory. Exciting attack from Norman and Barba this set!

19: Great finish to the set forces Minichiello to take it dead. Line dropout Roosters.

20: Brisbane with an inside the 10m penalty. Tap and go...

23: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Sam Thaiday. Kick to come.
BOOM! The Broncos score after a Hunt grubber forces a Minichiello error. Thaiday picks up the scraps under the sticks!

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
We're level again at Suncorp after Parker converts.

27: Matt Gillett with a charge down! Broncos attack again inside the Roosters half! So many momentum swings in this clash...

28: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Anthony Minichiello makes an unforced error.
Minichiello tosses it forward to Maloney from dummy half. Schoolboy error inside their own half. Broncos scrum 40m out.

30: Kane Evans is ON REPORT for a swinging arm to the head of Matt Gillett. Looks a likely suspension for him when the MRC meets on Monday.

31: Penalty now to Brisbane for laying around in the ruck by the Roosters. It's outside 10m from the Roosters' line so McCullough taps and goes!

33: An accidental offside here, Barba's grubbered ahead and it's ricocheted off some Roosters legs... but crucially also Matt Gillett's and he was in front of Barba when it was kicked. Roosters ball.

37: Roosters with a relieving penalty after absorbing plenty in defence. Just three to HT and they'll want to score.

38: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes an unforced error.
Fantastic sliding defence from Brisbane and big SKD can't hold on to it. Brisbane scrum on their own 10m.

40: Drop-a-thon here at Suncorp before halftime, first Brisbane, then a play later through Jennings for the Roosters.

40: That will send us to HALFTIME at Suncorp. Scores are level 12-all!

41: Back underway at Suncorp with both sides making a good fist of their first sets. The Roosters make it to the Broncos 20m on the last before Maloney loses it.

43: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Anthony Minichiello makes an unforced error.
Mini spills it backwards taking a bomb... he has to go back and cover it in-goal which makes it a line drop-out as the Brisbane chasers converge.

50: Roosters with a break down the sideline through Jennings, now it's the last, but they've put it high and it's gone out on the full. Broncos ball 30m out.

52: Brisbane have a penalty right in front of the sticks, 10m out. No brainer here...

52: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL BRISBANE BRONCOS
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
The home side takes a two point lead with Parker converting the penalty attempt.

55: Broncos receiving plenty of penalties - the count is 8-3 to Brisbane so far. They start this set 25m from the Roosters line...

56: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
Great cutout pass finds the #18 in the corner! Maranta SCORES!

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker's sideline attempt misses, and with it the Broncos' chances to go eight clear. Six remains the margin after the Maranta try.

60: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Corey Parker makes an unforced error.
Parker compounds his missed goalkick with a dummy half fumble. Roosters scrum just short of the Broncos' 30m line.

61: VIDEO REFEREE possible Roosters try... checking obstruction.

61: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
It's looked at but the players involved don't affect the play... Shaun Kenny-Dowall slams it down on the chalk. Kick to come, two the difference.

61: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
From out wide, Maloney moves in... strikes it, and nails it! Scores back level!

63: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Matt Gillett makes an unforced error.
Gillett spills it inside Roosters territory. The premiers will pack the scrum 10m short of halfway.

66: Quick hands out wide for the Roosters... Minichiello has to stretch to stop it going out.... BARBA GETS IT! Turns it inside for Vidot! Broncos away upfield! Now a penalty! Ohhh it's all happening here! Brisbane attack now.

66: Ben Hunt goes for the line himself on the last! He's.... short! Handover Roosters!

69: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jack Reed. Kick to come.
Running on the last works a treat this time... Jack Reed SCORES!

71: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker misses again! Margin stays at four.

73: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
A short side run and a TRY for Ben Hunt! Brisbane will take the bikkies tonight, class effort from the Brisbane half.

74: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker not having the best night with the boot. Roosters a chance still?

76: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Kick to come.
FIGHTBACK! Tuivasa-Sheck has scored out wide with numbers through the hands working perfectly!

76: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Margin back to two! Perfect conversion from Maloney. We're inside the final five now... time off between scoring plays!

76: Time off here, Thaiday has gone in a bit too low in a tackle and he's jarred his head. He's up now though.

77: Maranta knocks it down... Roosters retrieve it - it's six again! Set starts on halfway!

78: Mortimer grubbers... Norman trapped in-goal. Line drop-out!

79: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Boyd Cordner. Kick to come.
WHAT AN AMAZING FINISH! Boyd Cordner hits the hole perfectly! Kick to come here but it looks like the Roosters have secured victory!!

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney makes it four the margin with second remaining.

FULLTIME! The Broncos try a last-gasp short kickoff but eventually lose it. Roosters pull a victory from the jaws of defeat!