Shannon Meyer reviews the local derby win for the Broncos over the Titans
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
Gold Coast Titans 12
Tries: Tanah Boyd (28), Jaimin Jolliffe (43)
Goals: Toby Sexton 2 (29, 45)
Brisbane Broncos 16
Tries: Delouise Hoeter (39), Jordan Pereira (48), Adam Reynolds (54)
Goals: Adam Reynolds 2 (40, 56)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brisbane Broncos got the better of their local rivals in a tight contest on the Gold Coast, eventually winning 16-12 in an exciting finish after a very quiet first half.
There weren’t many chances created at all in the first (almost) 30 minutes of the game. A couple of consecutive forced drop-outs for the Titans around the 20-minute mark was a highlight, and the Broncos’ Ezra Mam nearly picked up the crumbs from a towering Adam Reynolds bomb that was unchallenged a few minutes prior. But it was a low-key start to the match, and neither side was on top.
The first points came in the 28th minute, which was just enough time for the smoke to clear from the kick off’s in-stadium entertainment. It went to the home side when Tanah Boyd chased a Toby Sexton grubber close to the line best of all. The set was started by an AJ Brimson 60-metre break on the first tackle. The conversion gave the Titans an unlikely 6-0 lead with 10 minutes until half-time.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Gold Coast were well on top for the majority of the time after that first try, but a frantic last 40 seconds saw the Broncos attack the Titans’ line and scored with 10 seconds to go when Reynolds threw a magic cut-out pass to Delouise Hoeter waiting patiently on the wing. A mini scuffle broke for reasons unknown post-try, and Reynolds punished the home side with a sideline conversion to wash away the Titans’ advantage: 6-6 the halftime score.
The Titans started the second half off brightly, earning a repeat set from the first set of the match, and subsequent penalties gifted them ball and territory. They took advantage eventually as Jaimin Jolliffe got the ball on the 10 metre line, jinked right, and simply powered through some Broncos’ defence and reached out just enough to get enough white paint to open the second half scoring in the 45th minute. An easy conversion saw the score extend to 12-6.
Embed from Getty ImagesA failed short drop-out exposed the Titans and the Broncos duly scored the next set through Jordan Pereira in the 50th minute, the winger doing well to pick up a pass along the ground and he jinked infield and bounced his way over the line after some desperate but ineffective Titans defence. Reynolds missed the conversion and the score was 12-10.
A few minutes later the Broncos punished another Titans mistake in their own half with another try. Tyson Gamble did most of the hard work with a strong run, and found Reynolds on the inside a metre from the line as he was being swung in a tackle. The try was Reynolds’ 2,000th NRL point and his next two points gave the Broncos the lead for the first time of the match (16-12).
The teams traded disallowed tries courtesy of the NRL’s ultimate killjoy The Bunker. Both decisions were technically correct to deny Zac Hosking and Phillip Sami, but neither would have been argued without a video ref on offer.
The final minutes of the game were as thrilling as the first 30 minutes were not, as the teams went end-to-end, the Gold Coast looking the most likely to score.
Brisbane got away with this one, with their nearest neighbours giving them a great contest, but unlike previous season they stood tall and look the goods to make the top eight and be a dark horse (pardon the pun) for September glory, a far cry from their easybeats status of the last two seasons. Jordan Riki was mighty for the Broncos, and Mam continues to be a livewire threat.
The Gold Coast will be disappointed not to get the win; the effort was there, and it should relieve the pressure on Justin Holbrook for now. Debutant Sosefo Fifita had an excellent game and is certainly worth giving a chance to; Toby Sexton, Erin Clark, and Moeaki Fotuaika were also great.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Zac Hosking (Broncos), 2 pts – AJ Brimson (Titans), 1 pt – Adam Reynolds (Broncos)
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