Final thoughts
Can we have finals games at Suncorp every week? What a corker. Just when it looked like the Cowboys had finally cracked, back they came to set up a nail-biting finale. The Broncos’ victory was built on their defence, and after the pounding it withstood tonight you wouldn’t bet against it taking Wayne Bennett’s team all the way to grand final glory. The Cowboys might still have a say in that yet though. But for an errant pass here or there, the result could have been very different, and they will feel more than confident of holding their own against whoever they face in the knockout semi-final. Right, I’m off to go catch my breath before I start speaking like Darren Lockyer. Catch you next time.
Full-time: Brisbane Broncos 16-12 North Queensland Cowboys
80 mins: That’s it! JT collapses to the turf, as do several of his teammates. The Broncos pat each other on the back but they don’t celebrate as energetically as you might expect - which is almost certainly because they’re exhausted. Well done Brisbane, a cracking game of finals footy.
79 mins: Last chance for the Cowboys? The Broncos eating up time but there’s just enough left for the visitors to launch one more raid...
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78 mins: Time is ticking away. The Cowboys keep pounding at the Broncos’ line but the defence stands firm, as it has done all game.
76 mins: The noise inside Suncorp has risen several decibels as the clock ticks down. Great, dangerous torpedo kick from JT but the Broncos defend well - again. Both sides leaving everything out there.
74 mins: The Broncos still relying on that brilliant defence, Oates the man who stands up this time, buying his side some valuable time and metres through sheer strength.
73 mins: Now it’s the Cowboys who’ve been given a new lease of life. The Broncos are scrambling back to defend their line but they’re under pressure. Seven minutes to go. This is great stuff. Someone get me some popcorn.
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TRY! Brisbane Broncos 16-12 North Queensland Cowboys
70 mins: Never write off the Cowboys! Thurston somehow outpaces the Broncos defence to a simple kick into the in-goal and smothers the ball for a try. Replays confirm he was onside and there’s a huge cheer from the travelling fans. Parker converts, game on.
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67 mins: That could be the killer blow. The Broncos look reinvigorated despite defending for so long during this game. The Cowboys need to score soonish or this will quickly become a comeback too far for Paul Green’s men.
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TRY! Brisbane Broncos 16-6 North Queensland Cowboys
64 mins: Milford! An example of those tired legs I was just speaking about, a wayward tackle in the middle of the park fails to bring down Nikorima. He releases Milford and the rest writes itself. No problems for Parker in front of the posts.
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63 mins: Somewhat inevitably, it looks like there are a few tired legs out there. That’s what you get for being stuck in fifth gear for an hour. A great tackle from Reed denies the Cowboys what looked like a clear chance. His teammates swamp him afterwards.
Brisbane Broncos 10-6 North Queensland Cowboys
59 mins: A penalty to the Broncos. Parker lines it up and..... just makes it, clipping the inside of the post as it sails between the sticks.
56 mins: The Broncos battle their way out of their own half and Oates almost (almost!) kicks the ball all the way for a try - but a desperate diving claw knocks it out and the Cowboys escape. Suddenly the momentum is with the hosts for the first time this half.
53 mins: The Cowboys get a penalty but opt to push for a try as they turn the screw. Cooper gets within inches of the line but more desperate, scrambling defence from the Broncos and the pressure is relieved.
51 mins: Well it looks like we’re in for another grandstand finish. The Broncos lead but there’s nothing in this, in fact the Cowboys have arguably shaded it. Thurston trying to find a way through again, he boots it into the in-goal but Kahu handles it exceptionally well and gets the Broncos to safety when the pressure was on.
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TRY! Brisbane Broncos 8-6 North Queensland Cowboys
47 mins: Finally, the Cowboys have broken through! Winterstein crawls to the line after being tackled, slamming the ball down triumphantly. Good work from JT to set up the move - but he can’t convert, shaving the wrong side of the post just as it looks like it’s curling in.
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46 mins: Feldt with a great take under pressure. He saw it late but held on well. Both sides have defended exceptionally so far, the question is who will crack next?
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44 mins: Winterstein penalised for trying to pass from the floor after being tackled and the Broncos get a chance to hit on the counter. They’ve barely had the ball in the Cowboys’ half so far but this is a chance for them to add to their lead.
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Second-half: Brisbane Broncos 8-2 North Queensland Cowboys
40 mins: Peeeeeeep! Ready for another 40 minutes of that? Not sure my fingers can handle it. Off we go anyway, the Cowboys pick up where they left off... probing away at a seemingly impenetrable Broncos defence.
Half-time
40 mins: Hunt tries for a drop goal just to add a bit of extra gloss to the half-time score but he skews it wide and that’s it. The Broncos lead but there’s nothing in this. Catch you after the break.
39 mins: Reed with a great diving tackle to force Feldt into the cornerpost just as he’s trying to ground it. There was a forward pass in the build-up anyway. The Cowboys are getting frustrated, the Broncos will be straining their ears to hear the siren.
38 mins: JT pulling the strings as the Cowboys finish the half strongly. The Cowboys get a repeat set but time is running out if they want to level things up before the break. Great defending from the Broncos.
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37 mins: Milford with a definite try-saving block, just when the Cowboys had the extra man on the flank. The Broncos holding on by the skin of their teeth with the siren approaching.
Brisbane Broncos 8-2 North Queensland Cowboys
34 mins: Ooooo! The Cowboys are almost in but fall just short as a last-ditch tackle on Taumalolo knocks the ball from his grasp on the line. They’ll get something though - penalty for not retreating. JT boots it over and there’s six points in it.
30 mins: Now, how will the Cowboys respond? There’s been nothing in it so far but they’re eight points behind in a game being played at breakneck pace. Do they have another gear in them? Or can they maintain this one and hope the Broncos blink first?
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TRY! Brisbane Broncos 8-0 North Queensland Cowboys
28 mins: Hunt! A couple of dodges, weaves and dummies and the diminutive halfback scores the game’s first try. Great bit of footwork to break through the defence and again to finish it off. Parker with the conversion from in front.
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26 mins: Great defence from the Broncos after another JT-inspired attack from the Cowboys. There’s still almost an hour to go but you can feel the nerves building.
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23 mins: Cowboys turning the screw slightly, yet they still haven’t found a way through. Still a soccer score. Somehow. Something’s gotta give soon. Surely.
21 mins: The pace has gone up a notch in the last five minutes, yet somehow they’re battling each other to a stalemate. Nothing between them. It’s like fighting a mirror.
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19 mins: Hodges fluffs the final quick pass just when it looked like the Broncos had space in the corner. Sigh of relief for the Cowboys. Still only two points on the board. Can’t see that lasting long.
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18 mins: Ooooo! O’Neill is held up over the line just when it looked like the Cowboys had got the first try. Great, if desperate, defending.
17 mins: Cowboys pile on the pressure but the Broncos are equal to it. A JT kick hits the post and bounces back into play. Did he mean that? Probably. It could have gone anywhere but luckily for the Broncos it bounces to safety.
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14 mins: Every yard has been battled and scrapped for so far, no one wants to make a mistake and there’s a whiff of tension in the air. The Cowboys slowly getting back into it - not surprising considering their knack for comebacks this year. Two points down must feel like a lead to them at this stage.
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11 mins: Thaiday does his best bulldozer impression to gain yards on the halfway mark for the Broncos. The resulting kick leaves the Cowboys struggling to make up territory, but a good kick from JT in response has the Broncos scrambling and suddenly it’s the hosts under pressure. No margin for error.
Brisbane Broncos 2-0 North Queensland Cowboys
9 mins: Broncos shading possession slightly but there’s very little in it. The Cowboys defending well but they give away a penalty and the hosts opt for the points. Parker with the kick, first blood to the Broncos.
5 mins: Linnett with a cheeky nudge on Kahu as he chases a deep one. The Brisbane crowd aren’t happy but there wasn’t much in it and the ref let’s it go. Still all square but plenty of intent in some meaty tackles.
3 mins: Flying take from Winterstein to relieve some early pressure for the Cowboys. Both sides probing away. Winterstein almost breaks through on the left flank but can’t quite juggle the final pass. Promising start.
Kick-off
1mins: Peeeeeep! And we’re off in a smoke-filled Suncorp. Pesky fireworks. An early flip-tackle and the Broncos give away a penalty deep in Cowboys territory. This could get tasty.
Phew. I thought that Dragons game would never end. Bulldogs through after a drop kick in golden point if you’re interested. Great stuff. Now, let’s switch states. Nine have done an impeccable job of holding up proceedings, although the 52,000-plus fans in Suncorp may disagree.
Just to confirm, yes, I am still distracted by the Dogs-Dragons game - just when it looked like the Dogs had sealed it with a last-gasp try, the Dragons get a chance to level things up. This is what finals footy is all about. And hopefully a little taster of things to come at Suncorp. Not long now.
Just to confirm tonight’s line-ups. No great surprises...
Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd; 2. Corey Oates; 3. Jack Reed; 4. Justin Hodges; 5. Jordan Kahu; 6. Anthony Milford; 7. Ben Hunt; 8. Sam Thaiday; 9. Andrew McCullough; 10. Adam Blair; 11. Alex Glenn; 12. Matt Gillett; 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace; 15. Mitchell Dodds; 16. Jo Ofahengaue; 17. Kodi Nikorima
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Lachlan Coote; 2. Kyle Feldt; 3. Justin O’Neill; 4. Kane Linnett; 5. Antonio Winterstein; 6. Michael Morgan; 7. Johnathan Thurston (c); 8. Matt Scott (c); 9. Jake Granville; 10. James Tamou; 11. Gavin Cooper; 12. Ethan Lowe; 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 15. John Asiata; 16. Scott Bolton; 17. Ben Hannant. 18. Ray Thompson
Talking of other games, anyone watch the Roosters-Storm clash last night? Was Trent Robinson right to question the refereeing (or lack of) on wrestling, or did it whiff of sour grapes? Whatever your thoughts, I think he makes a decent point about the “hands off” approach to refereeing when it comes to finals football. Take a look at this clip of Sio Siua Taukeiaho trying to pick himself up after a Storm tackle and judge the wrestling tactics for yourself.
I’ll be honest, I’m watching the end of the Bulldogs-Dragons game so apologies if I appear distracted... especially after seeing the way Benji Marshall’s leg bent after that second-half tackle. Euch. Yet he still insisted on trying to run it off. Fair play. Looks like the Dragons are back in it too - 6-6 with 10 minutes to go.
Preamble
Evening everyone, and welcome to the biggest clash in Queensland since Johnny Depp’s dogs left a present on the front lawn of Barnaby Joyce’s old house. It should be a cracker too. The winner gets the equivalent of an “Advance To Go” card on the finals flowchart, while the loser is handed a plastic bag marked “semi-final with Sharks/Bunnies” and left to scoop up Depp’s doggy indiscretions. In other words – it’s business time in Brisbane, and in Jemaine Clement’s world, we’re down to just our socks.
Admittedly neither side has been in red-hot form heading into the game (two wins and two defeats in the last four fixtures for both teams), but the fact it’s finals time and state bragging rights are up for grabs should ensure plenty of passion over the next two hours or so. Brisbane are favourites, and rightly so - if only for the fact they have home advantage. There’s more to it than that though. While the Cowboys have stumbled their way to the finish line, the Broncos’ defeats have come against fellow finals big hitters the Storm and the Roosters. And with wily old master Wayne Bennett at the wheel, you can bet he’s got his side primed for the do-or-die clashes to come. Still, it’s a brave man who writes off a Cowboys side hailed as the kings of the comeback this season.
It’s two down (almost) with two to go in the NRL’s opening finals weekend. Richard Gadsby will be here shortly to take you through the action from tonight’s all-Queensland clash between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys. Until then, take a look at what Paul Connolly had to say about the game. Read his full weekend preview here.
For most of the season Brisbane and North Queensland were the standout teams and we wondered months ago whether they might end up playing each other in the first ever all-Queensland grand final. The Roosters came home strongly to bypass both teams but Wayne Bennett’s Broncos and Paul Green’s Cowboys have nevertheless shown admirable consistency all season, even considering the Cowboys’ late season wobble (not helped by the loss of Michael Morgan – who, in a big boost for his team, is back for this one) that saw them lose three games in a four-match spread before righting themselves by thumping the Titans last week.
That wobble was a worry, however, as have been their catalogue of slow starts this season, with the Cowboys conceding the first try in 15 of their 24 games (and trailing at half-time in 10 of them). That they’ve won 10 of those 15 demonstrates their ability, and the coolness under pressure of Johnathan Thurston, the game’s best player, but in finals football deficits could prove harder to reel in. So they’ll need to re-set their internal alarms, and from there Thurston, Morgan, Jake Granville, Jason Taumalolo and Matt Scott can give Bennett something to worry about.
The Broncos, by contrast, have been the surprise packet of the season. Nothing should surprise when it comes to a Wayne Bennett team but it’s remarkable how quickly he’s fashioned his squad of what looked like top-six possibilities into a premiership threat. On his return to Red Hill Bennett’s managed to wring more out of stalwarts like Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges and Corey Parker, while overseeing a successful positional change for Anthony Milford, the continued rise of Ben Hunt, and the resurrection of Adam Blair who, at the Tigers, stumbled and then fell face forward into a pile of cream pies under the weight of his big money transfer from the Storm.
Team two versus team three, southern Queensland versus northern Queensland, Milford and Hunt versus Morgan and Thurston, the prize of a preliminary final on offer; this should be compelling.
