Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys player ratings: Who starred, who flopped
An Adam Reynolds masterclass and powerful Payne Haas performance have led the Broncos to a 10-point win against the Cowboys. Find out who led the way in our player ratings here.
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An Adam Reynolds masterclass and powerful Payne Haas performance have led the Broncos to a 10-point win against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos shot out to a 12-0 lead at halftime only for the visitors to fight back and level the scores with 25 minutes to play.
But the Broncos’ class shone through, icing the result with tries to Jesse Arthars and an incredible effort from Haas.
Cowboys youngster Jaxon Purdue added respectability to the scoreboard but the damage had already been done.
See how we rated every player.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
1 REECE WALSH
Talk about rocks and diamonds. Turned the contest with a booming 40-20 kick early before making five errors. Tried too hard at times, but produced an excellent cut out ball for Jesse Arthars’ try on the hour. RATING: 5
2 SELWYN COBBO
Three missed tackles alone in the first half but made some fearless charges out of his own end when Brisbane were under siege. Finished with 155 metres in a good display. RATING: 7
3 DEINE MARINER
Troubled the Cowboys with his pace with some promising bursts out of his own half, but was largely well contained. RATING: 5
4 GEHAMAT SHIBASAKI
Continued his Broncos renaissance with another superb display, including a superb 34th-minute bust that led to Adam Reynolds’ solo try. 155 metres and seven tackle busts. RATING: 8
5 JESSE ARTHARS
Is there a more reliable winger in the league? One minor slip up in the lead-up to a Cowboys try but atoned with his own four-pointer in a 123-metre effort. RATING: 6.5
6 BEN HUNT
Almost produced a try with a superb kick that took a wicked bounce. Two tackle busts but was overshadowed by his halfback partner. RATING: 6
7 ADAM REYNOLDS
The wily old fox is still the master. Sublime grubber kick for Jack Gosiewski’s opening try before scoring himself with a sensational show-and-go. RATING: 9
8 PAT CARRIGAN
The heartbeat of Brisbane’s pack who made a number of inspirational charges when the Broncos were under the pump in the first half. Ran for 163 metres and 26 tackles with no misses. RATING: 7.5.
9CORY PAIX
Quiet again around the rucks with just one run, but excellent work rate with 21 tackles alone in the first half and 34 overall. Needs to run more. RATING: 6
10 PAYNE HAAS
The best prop in the game. Trademark rampaging performance from Haas who broke the Cowboys with a sensational late solo try. Finished with 198 metres, 22 runs, 10 tackle busts and five offloads in a towering display. RATING: 9.5
11 JACK GOSIEWSKI
Showed good support play to win the race to a Reynolds grubber kick for Brisbane’s opening try. RATING: 5.5
12 JORDAN RIKI
Placed on report in the 58th minute for a high tackle. Not overly busy in attack but was wholehearted in defence with 34 tackles. RATING: 6.
13 KOBE HETHERINGTON
Some impressive scything tackles early but needs to get busier in attack with just nine runs for 67 metres. RATING: 5.5.
14 BILLY WALTERS
Playing a handy super-sub role supporting Cory Paix and almost crashed over from close range in the final quarter. RATING: 5.
15 COREY JENSEN
Settling nicely into a reliable interchange middle forward. Punched out 100 metres and added 16 tackles in a well-rounded effort. RATING: 6.5.
16 XAVIER WILLISON
Some bruising runs in the first half when the Broncos were struggling for field position. Busy in defence with 20 tackles. RATING: 6.
17 BRENDAN PIAKURA
Still finding his mark as an impact player but there’s no doubt he has the hitting power and mobility to be a force off the bench. RATING: 4.5.
COWBOYS
1 SCOTT DRINKWATER
Caught out of position and made some errors which put his team under pressure. His team needs more. RATING: 5
2 ROBERT DERBY
Promising prospect and topped North Queensland’s runs with 17 for 126m to go with 13 tackles. RATING: 6.5
3 JAXON PURDUE
The youngster made a number of big runs early to get the Cowboys rolling and was rewarded with a runaway try late. Incredibly talented and worth persisting with. RATING: 7.5
4 VILIAMI VAILEA
Copped a poke in the eye early, bravely came back on but couldn’t see properly at halftime and didn’t return. RATING: 4
5 MURRAY TAULAGI
Pulled off a couple of bell-ringing hits, including a pearler on Deine Mariner, and scored a try. RATING: 7
6 TOM DEARDEN Failed to capitalise on all the field position the Cowboys had early. They needed more from their chief playmaker. RATING: 5
7 JAKE CLIFFORD
The Cowboys looked a more stable team with him at the helm but struggled to make an impact in Brisbane’s red-zone. RATING: 5
8 JORDAN MCLEAN
Played well alongside Taumalolo in the opening exchanges and finished with 14 runs for 112m but was no match for Haas and Carrigan. RATING: 6
9 REECE ROBSON
Topped the tackle count at halftime with 21 but only made one run from dummy-half. Not enough from the NSW Origin hooker. RATING: 5
10 JASON TAUMALOLO
Huge start in his first stint back from reserve grade got the Cowboys moving forward. Is still a class act but needs help. RATING: 6
11 JOHN BATEMAN
Was busy with 33 tackles but missed a whopping eight, including when Reynolds scored, which cost the Cowboys. RATING: 5
12 KAI O’DONNELL
Made seven runs and 18 tackles in the first half but needs to provide more impact to keep Nanai on the bench. RATING: 5
13 REUBEN COTTER
Typical workhorse performance. Played most of the game but his 87m and 34 tackles was below what the Maroons and Kangaroos forward is capable of and missed Haas late. RATING: 6
14 SAM MCINTYRE
Thrust into the action early at right centre to replace Vailea and struggled defensively. RATING: 4
15 JEREMIAH NANAI
Sat on the bench until the 47th minute and didn’t have much impact. The Cowboys need more from the Origin rep. RATING: 5
16 GRIFFIN NEAME
Made a difference from the bench and was on the spot to score early in the second half before dropping his next touch. Solid effort with 28 tackles. RATING: 7
17 COEN HESS Huge effort from the bench with 10 runs for 102m. Couldn’t do a lot more. RATING: 6
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