Lachy MacCorquodale reviews the Sunday afternoon clash between the Broncos and the Tigers. Here’s how the game went.
SCOREBOARD
Broncos 24
Tries: Corey Oates (5), Jordan Riki (17), Thomas Flegler (38), Kotoni Staggs (50).
Goals: Jamayne Isaako (6, 11 – pen, 40, 51).
Tigers 42
Tries: Luciano Leilua (15), David Nofoaluma (30, 68), Daine Laurie (44), Tommy Talau (47, 61), Junior Pauga (70), Stefano Utoikamanu (73).
Goals: Adam Doueihi (16, 48, 62, 71, 74).
Player of the Year Points
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
2 pts – Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers)
1 pt – Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty Images1st Half
The Broncos started this clash in great fashion with Corey Oates scoring in the fifth minute of the match. The Tigers only took 10 minutes to respond and it was none other than Luciano Leilua, who burst through a hole after some solid ball playing from Adam Doueihi as the Tigers trailed by two points. The Broncos took all of two minutes to extend their lead back to six points as Jordan Riki scored thanks to a great grubber kick from Tyson Gamble, which rolled into the in-goal with ease as Riki took the lead back to six points. Both sides started to settle into the game and it was the Tigers who struck next.
This time the Tigers shifted the ball right and Doueihi found David Nofoaluma on the wing with a great cut-out ball as Nofoaluma proceeded to beat Oates to score in the corner, bringing the Tigers back to within two points of the Broncos and also in the process becoming the club’s top tryscorer. Just as the game was set to be 12-10 at half-time, the Broncos struck late in the first term. They managed to get the ball deep in the Tigers’ half and a brilliant run and offload from Payne Haas – in which he attracted two defenders – allowed Thomas Flegler to score under the posts, giving his side an eight-point lead heading into the break.
HALF-TIME: Brisbane Broncos 18 Wests Tigers 10
Embed from Getty Images2nd Half
The start of the second half was exhilarating with three tries in the opening 10 minutes. The Tigers came out of the blocks in emphatic fashion as Daine Laurie and Tommy Talau found the chalk in the first seven minutes of the the half as the Tigers quickly took the lead. The lead was quickly taken back by the Broncos as Kotoni Staggs scored in the 50th minute after he received an offload from Jordan Riki as he occupied Laurie. The game could’ve gone either way at this stage of the match with both sides failing to capitalise on any momentum whatsoever.
However, the Tigers had a second wind up their sleeve and it started with Talau, scoring his second try of the afternoon as he was assisted by Doueihi on the right edge. Only a few minutes later, Nofoaluma scored his second try of the afternoon as the Broncos failed to clear the ball out from their in goal as he took his career tally to 86 tries. The Tigers weren’t going to give the Broncos a glimmer of hope as they continued to put their foot on the Broncos’ throats and debutant Junior Pauga managed to score in his debut match; his try took the lead out of reach of the Broncos.
Wests weren’t done there, as Stefano Utoikamanu joined in on the action as he barged his way over in the 73rd minute to take the Tigers’ total to 40 points as they secured a much-needed two points to move to 12th on the ladder.
FULL-TIME: Brisbane Broncos 24 Wests Tigers 42
Injuries
to be advised
Match Review Committee
to be advised
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