The Brisbane Broncos have claimed bragging rights in the first Queensland Derby of the season, beating the North Queensland Cowboys 28-16 on a wet Friday night.
Result
Brisbane Broncos 28
Tries: Ezra Mam 39th, 49th; Kurt Capewell 33rd; Kotoni Staggs 44th; Reece Walsh 76th
Goals: Adam Reynolds 34th, 51st, 69th, 77th
North Queensland Cowboys 16
Tries: Jeremiah Nanai 3rd, 72nd
Goals: Valentine Holmes 5th, 18th, 37th, 73rd
Report
Reece Walsh has marked his Brisbane Broncos debut with a superb performance, guiding them to their second consecutive win 28-16 over the North Queensland Cowboys in front of 43,162 spectators at Suncorp Stadium on a wet Friday night.
It was the Cowboys that got off to the dream start, scoring in the third minute when a Chad Townsend short ball put Jeremiah Nanai in near the posts.
A penalty goal to Valentine Holmes extended the lead to 8-0 in the 19th minute.
A run of possession to the Broncos looked to finally result in a try on the half hour mark, however the Bunker overturned the try due to an obstruction.
It only took four minutes for them to overcome that disappointment, with an Adam Reynolds grubber bouncing perfectly for Kurt Capewell to get the Broncos on the board.
Another Holmes penalty saw the Cowboys extend the margin back to four, before Ezra Mam finished off a spectacular long-range try to bring the scores level at 10-all at half time.
The Bunker once again denied the Broncos a try just three minutes into the second half when Corey Oates was ruled to have failed to ground the ball, however Scott Drinkwater was sin binned for a high shot that forced Oates from the field with a suspected broken jaw.
The Broncos took full advantage of the extra man, scoring two quick tries through Mam and Kotoni Staggs to open a 20-10 lead.
With the rain continuing to fall, the second half developed into a defensive slog. A penalty goal to Reynolds pushed the Broncos out to a two-converted try lead with 10 minutes remaining.
A successful kick from the optional 20m restart after a Reynolds field goal sailed wide gave the Cowboys crucial field position to go on the attack shortly after. A pinpoint grubber from Townsend set Nanai up for his second, bringing the score back to 22-16 with seven minutes to play.
Reece Walsh put the result beyond doubt with three minutes to go, backing up a powerful Herbie Farnworth run to touch down under the posts, taking the score to 28-16.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Reece Walsh (Broncos)
2 – Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)
1 – Ezra Mam (Broncos)
