Final thoughts
On paper, it could not be going better for the Roosters. They’re top of the table and in red-hot form heading into the finals, having just got one over their biggest rivals in this year’s title race. Factor in the loss of Waerea-Hargreaves and Pearce, however, and it suddenly doesn’t seem so rosy. If confirmed, it’s a huge blow. The phrase Pyrrhic victory springs to mind.
By contrast, Corey Parker just shrugged off the Broncos’ loss in his post-match interview, saying they wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. Why would he? It’s not like they’re going to miss out on the finals, and one of their biggest challengers just lost two key men. That said, the Roosters still played superbly without those players, and should have won by more. Can they continue their form without that pair? We’ll find out over the next few weeks. Thanks for joining me, I’ll catch you next time.
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Full-time: Sydney Roosters 12-10 Brisbane Broncos
There we go, it’s all over. I think I just held my breath for two minutes without realising it. Big win for the Roosters, but has it come with a couple of big losses too?
79 mins: The Broncos knock it into touch and that’s all she wrote. Well not quite but it will be within seconds...
78 mins: We’re into the last chance saloon for the Broncos. Hunt with a great kick and Tupou has to kick it dead. This is tense stuff. Tick tock tick tock.
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77 mins: Just seen Napa smash into Thaiday on slow motion. How are they both still conscious let alone running at full pelt? The Broncos clinging on. Somehow
75 mins: Hunt knocks on in his own half and he’s disgusted with himself. More pressure brewing from the Roosters. The Broncos will have to defend valiantly once again and time is running out.
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73 mins: Kahu takes it on the full after a high kick into the corner. Great catch. How are the Broncos just two points away? Their defence has been almost flawless. Almost. It’s had to be that good to stay in the game.
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70 mins: A perfect kick from Maloney forces a goal-line dropout. Then Ferguson almost drags himself over the line but is held up by some desperate defence and eventually throws away the ball. Everyone is stepping up out there.
67 mins: It’s a fierce contest out there, a whiff of Origin about it. The intensity is that high. Huuuuuge collision as Evans hits Hodges and comes out of it second best. He looks rattled by that one as he walks off the field. Someone should check the latest shots of Pluto because I think that’s where Evans’ mind is right now.
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65 mins: You can’t take your eyes off this one, but there’s a bit of respite as play is stopped while Boyd gets some treatment. It turns into a penalty for a shoulder. We’re straight back into the action though, some big hits going in.
TRY! Sydney Roosters 12-10 Brisbane Broncos
61 mins: Oates! He’s got the Broncos right back in it, diving over the line after some sharp passing, especially from Hunt. It goes to the TMO but there’s no doubt about it and that big green word of approval is splayed over the screen. Parker misses the conversion though. That could be crucial.
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60 mins: A kick from the Roosters into the corner but it’s juuuuust too high for Tupou in and although he catches it, he’s already out of play when he comes back down to earth. Somehow the Broncos are still in this.
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58 mins: Now it’s the Roosters back on the offensive. That penalty has shifted the momentum right back their way. I can almost hear the steam escaping from Wayne Bennett’s ears. Either that or my kettle has just boiled.
56 mins: .... and the Roosters survive. Oates runs it on the last play and the Roosters get the ball back. The pressure is still on the Roosters - until they win a penalty. The relief around Allianz is palpable.
55 mins: The Broncos finally starting to put some pressure on the Roosters’ defence. They get a fresh set from about 10m and barrel their way towards the line. Big chance, they need to take it.
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52 mins: Reports filtering in that it’s not good news for Waerea-Hargreaves on his leg injury. In fact the phrase “season-ending” is being thrown about... admittedly that would be a worse thing to say if we were in May but it’s still a huge blow. If confirmed. The news on Pearce doesn’t seem much better either.
TRY! Sydney Roosters 12-6 Brisbane Broncos
49 mins: Dear oh dear. Kahu turns hero to villain in an instant, fluffing a simple grounding from a straightforward grubber and Cordner sweeps in behind him to score. Maloney misses the conversion by inches and there’s six points in it.
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TRY! Sydney Roosters 8-6 Brisbane Broncos
45 mins: They’re back in it! Kahu crosses the line, the Broncos capitalising on a wayward pass from Tupou earlier on. He makes the conversion too and suddenly the Roosters’ lead is down to two points despite all their first-half dominance.
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44 mins: It’s my experience that when a side manages to stay in the game despite a first-half battering, they always improve after the break. I’d be surprised if we didn’t see a reaction from the Broncos this half. Still, it’s the Roosters asking the early questions. They’re desperate to keep their foot on the throat.
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Second half: Sydney Rooster 8-0 Brisbane Broncos
41 mins: Welcome back, if you’re a Roosters fan who’s just tuned in, don’t smile just yet. That eight-point lead has come at a big price, with both Pearce and Waerea-Hargreaves out of the game. Indeed JWH has apparently gone straight for scans. Still, it’s not like they’ve missed them so far this game. It might be a different matter come the finals though.
Half-time: Sydney Roosters 8-0 Brisbane Broncos
Friend with a final ball just as the Roosters look like they’re in for a second try - but it’s forward and that’s it for the half. Broncos fans can breathe again. Somehow they’re still in touching distance with 40 minutes still to come. Catch you after the break.
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39 mins: The Broncos will be glad to hear the siren. More pressure from the Roosters on the line. One last set.
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36 mins: Oooo! Ferguson just inches away from grounding the ball but Oates gets a hand in and nudges it to safety just as they dive over the line together. Broncos hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Thrilling finish to the half. The Broncos defence has kept them in it, Oates in particular has stepped up in the last 10 minutes.
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33 mins: The Roosters are really turning the screw as we get closer to the end of the half. The Broncos have their backs against the wall, but they defend well. It’s been a good game but those early injuries have a little bit of a sour taste for the Roosters.
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TRY! Sydney Roosters 8-0 Brisbane Broncos
30 mins: Elliott in again and there’s no doubt about it this time. Good play from the Roosters, they deserve this lead. Maloney with the kick from away to the right... and it’s straight through the posts.
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29 mins: Cordner leading the charge for the Roosters this time and the Broncos are pegged back near their own line. News coming in that JWH’s blow might be serious.
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28 mins: Tupou seems unflappable under the high ball. I’m not even sure he was looking at it that time, it just seemed to land right under his arm as he was running.
NO TRY! Sydney Roosters 2-0 Brisbane Broncos
27 mins: Ferguson with a touch in the corner! It goes up to the video ref to see if there was a knock-on from Elliot. From the initial angle, it doesn’t look like it, but one last look and it seems like Elliot’s fingers bent back from a flick on a high ball. No try. I was convinced it was OK right up until that last angle.
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25 mins: Now Boyd is struggling. He was quick to smother a deflected grubber and copped a knee in the back from Maloney for his trouble. Nothing malicious but Boyd looks in pain. He stays on the pitch though.
23 mins: If there’s a silver lining for the Roosters after losing two key players to (potential) injuries, it’s that they’ve still been the better team without them. Against a side like the Broncos, it shows how strong the Roosters’ unit is.
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21 mins: Another penalty for the Roosters, this time they go for the tap. Hastings falls inches short of the line, Ferguson does the same, then Friend loses it and the Broncos can breathe.
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19 mins: Pearce is off down the tunnel. When they said this game could have an influence on the later stages of the finals I don’t think this is what they meant. Fingers crossed this is just a precaution for the Roosters.
17 mins: Well the Roosters have gotten on top in the last 10 minutes but it’s come at a potentially high cost with JWH and Pearce off the field. It doesn’t seem to have stopped their momentum though, pushing into Broncos’ territory. Pearce still walking around the stadium.
15 mins: Oooo! Pearce just inches from grabbing a hopeful pass from Friend. He would have been clean through from five metres out, instead he hits the turf and grabs his calf. Another one hobbles off for the Roosters. This isn’t good just before the finals...
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12 mins: This doesn’t look good. JWH twists as he’s tackled and looks in serious trouble. Off he hobbles after some treatment, hopefully it’s nothing serious but the Roosters aren’t taking any chances. In the grand scheme of things, they’ll need him much more in a couple of weeks.
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Sydney Roosters 2-0 Brisbane Broncos
11 mins: Over it goes! First blood to the Roosters.
9 mins: Most of the play taking place in the Roosters’ half so far, they’re struggling to make inroads... but get a chance when Hodges is penalised for being late in the tackle. They should get two points from here. Maloney lines it up right in front from 20m.
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7 mins: It’s still as you were, both sides showing why their defence is so feared this season. No chinks in the armour so far, although not too many questions have been asked yet of either side. Tupou putting in a sterling defensive effort so far, smothering another one just as danger was a-brewing.
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5 mins: Hunt with the high punt but Tupou is under it with a safe pair of hands. Nicely done, although it’s still the Broncos shading the early exchanges.
4 mins: Broncos with some early pressure. A kick hits the upright but the Roosters react fastest and manage to snuff out the danger. That could have gone anywhere. Broncos have started better than the Roosters, who’ve already given up a couple of sloppy kicks.
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2 mins: Maloney has a kick charged down but the Roosters get away with it and Jennings boots it to safety. Calm stuff from Jennings when the pressure was on. Good work son. Not so good was the high shot on Boyd a few seconds later. Euch.
Kick-off
1 min: Peeeeep! And we’re off. Big cheers as Tupou picks up the initial kick and it’s game on. The battle for top spot begins.
The Broncos are on the pitch, the Roosters not far behind them. The flags are out in force. Not long now.
Just looking at some footage from the change rooms. Ferguson with a huge nose-blow on an unsuspecting hand towel. I hope someone moves that before the end of the game or they’ll be a horrible surprise for someone getting out of the shower.
The NRL’s baffling imbalance between its TV audience and fans in the stadium continues it seems. Should be a great game, and it’s been unseasonably warm today too - thought that might have tempted in a few more fans. Still, it’s a pretty good turnout nonetheless.
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So a bit of team news for the Broncos with Maranta out and Oates in. Arguably more of a tactical switch. Copley comes in for Reed too. It’s as you were for the Roosters.
Just going off topic for a second, that’s a hell of a comeback from the Cowboys in Auckland. Pretty sure they were 16-0 down at one stage, now it’s 48-16 with a last-minute conversion to come. Does that mean that, technically, the Broncos-Roosters game is no longer a top-two clash?
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That said, this was pretty special from Damien Cook last night. Take a bow son.
Talking of more of the same. Thaiday versus Waerea-Hargreaves anyone?
Silky footwork and flick passes are all well and good , but you can’t beat the sight of two hulking, passionate front-rowers having at it with everything they’ve got.
Talking of the last game between these two, let’s have a look at it again. This highlights reel from the Broncos’ golden-point win is 13 minutes long but it’s worth every second. I think most fans would settle for more of the same... unless you’re wearing the tricolours of course.
Evening everyone, anyone else rubbing their hands together over this one? Is it a minor premiership decider? Is it a potential grand final preview? Is it a battle of wits between the old master and the young pretender? Or is it a man failing to think of an original angle for a game that shouldn’t really need any pre-match gloss? Obviously, that’s a trick question as it’s all of the above - we’ve got a genuine clash of the titans tonight* and there’s a slight sense of tension in the air that those of you with Ashley Maddison accounts will already be familiar with.
The ladder suggests the Broncos have the edge, the form book says the Roosters have it - and with home advantage too, Trent Robinson’s men are slight favourites going into the game. But with the minor premiership up for grabs and wily old Wayne Bennett at the helm, it’s a brave man who bets big against the Broncos. It’s remarkable how quickly renaissance man Bennett has turned the Broncos (and himself for that matter) into a force again. At the Dragons he was the old master, at the Knights he was the too old master, and now he’s back where he belongs, he’s just the master again. But he’ll need all of his experience to get a result against a rampant Roosters side who are looking to hit double digits in terms of straight wins tonight. If it’s anything like the round six clash at Suncorp, it should be a cracker.
*(disclaimer: Titans not involved).
Tonight’s NRL battle of the top two will have a huge say in the race for the minor premiership and we’ll be bringing you all the action from Allianz Stadium. Richard will be here shortly but, until then, check out what Paul Connolly makes of the crunch clash.
Ten matches ago the Sydney Roosters were beaten 10-4 by Cronulla and they looked about as convincing as a set from a 1970s Dr Who episode. Witnessing those Roosters, we rubbed our chins and sagely noted their lack of cohesion and the Sonny Bill Williams-sized hole in their ambition. Now? The Roosters – with Michael Jennings, Daniel Tupou and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on song, Dylan Napa and Sio Siua Taukeiaho putting on the hurt, and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves trampling opposition like begonias – are on a nine-game winning streak and on Saturday night they face the Brisbane Broncos at the SFS knowing a win will propel them past the Broncos and to the top of the ladder (on for and against).
The Broncos, having last week arrested a two-match slump with a big win over a generous Dragons outfit (so generous they played a lock in the halves while a half warmed the pine), are still the benchmark, but over the next two months their aspirations and self-belief will be tested in ways they haven’t been to date this season. This match against the Roosters will get that ball rolling. On recent form the Roosters appear to have the edge, but in their past three wins, playing teams with nothing like the attacking credentials of the Broncos, they’ve conceded 18, 22 and 28 points. They’ll surely need to tighten their belts if they want to defeat Brisbane and jump into poll position.
Read Paul’s full preview of round 24 here.
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