Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders player ratings: who starred and who flopped?
The Raiders executed the perfect ambush in the nation’s capital, with their band of underdogs blowing Brisbane’s big-name stars away. We rate every player from canberra’s shock win over Brisbane.
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The Raiders executed the perfect ambush in the nation’s capital, blowing the Broncos away from the opening whistle.
In front of the biggest opening home crowd in 26 years, the underdog Raiders produced heroes across the park, while Brisbane’s big-name stars failed to fire a shot in the 32-22 upset.
Canberra duo Corey Horsburgh and Josh Papalii out-gunned Brisbane props Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan which ultimately led to the stirring victory.
See how we rated every player.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
1 REECE WALSH
Went missing in action as the Green Machine swarmed the superstar fullback. Just five runs for 51 metres and two knock-ons in the second half summed up his horror night. RATING: 3
2 SELWYN COBBO
One of Brisbane’s better players on a tough night. Tried to lift Brisbane with some brave carries out of his own end and a superb catch to score from an Adam Reynolds cross kick. RATING: 7
3 DEINE MARINER
Made two promising charges in the second half and almost had a try, but rarely saw clean ball on a night where he was outpointed by rival Sebastian Kris. RATING: 5.5
4 GEHAMAT SHIBASAKI
If Mariner was outplayed on Brisbane’s right, Shibasaki lost his centre battle on the left to rampaging Matt Timoko. Four tackle busts but never really threatened. RATING: 5
5 JESSE ARTHARS
Brisbane’s unsung hero backed up his fine game last week with another good effort. Two-try haul in the first half and claimed a well-deserved hat-trick minutes from full-time. RATING: 7
6 BEN HUNT
A mixed night. Tried to ignite Brisbane’s fightback with two superb cut-out balls for Arthars’ double but missed a crucial tackle for Matty Nicholson’s second try. RATING: 5.5
7 ADAM REYNOLDS
Not a single run in the first half and struggled to get into the contest as the Raiders consistently bashed the Broncos in midfield. Rarely attacked in good-ball positions. His 64th-minute 40-20 was too little, too late. RATING: 4.5
8 PAT CARRIGAN
Brisbane’s most productive forward with 124 metres and 24 tackles but it was his crucial 52nd-minute turnover that led to a Raiders try. RATING: 6
9 CORY PAIX
Superb against the Roosters but couldn’t get into the game early as the Raiders won the ruck. Just one run and was put on report in the second half for a dangerous tackle. RATING: 4
10 PAYNE HAAS
Came crashing back to earth from his Roosters romp. Lifted in the second half to finish with 149 metres and seven offloads, but in the fiery opening exchanges, he was well beaten by Canberra’s big boppers. RATING: 6.5
11 JACK GOSIEWSKI
Bad miss early for Canberra’s opening try and it didn’t get much better for the maligned back-rower, who managed just 28 metres and 12 tackles. RATING: 4.5
12 JORDAN RIKI
Almost scored early with a rampaging charge but struggled to match the fire of Canberra back-row rivals Zac Hosking and Hudson Young. Worked hard in defence with 36 tackles. RATING: 6
13 KOBE HETHERINGTON
Was smashed by Corey Horsburgh early and never produced his trademark hard-hitting defence. Struggled to impose himself in attack. RATING: 5
14 BILLY WALTERS
A late inclusion off the bench and by the time he came on, the damage was done. RATING: 3
15 COREY JENSEN
Just seven hit-ups in attack but tried his heart out in defence with 33 tackles and just one miss in a spirited interchange effort. RATING: 6
16 XAVIER WILLISON
Made some bruising runs against the Roosters but was well contained by the Raiders who hustled the young gun into two errors. RATING: 5
17 BRENDAN PIAKURA
Tried to lift the Broncos early in the second with a stinging front-on shot but most of his minutes came with Brisbane on the back foot. RATING: 4
CANBERRA RAIDERS
1 KAEO WEEKES
Was safe at the back but didn’t have a great deal of defensive work to do given the Broncos barely had any field position. RATING: 5
2 SAVELIO TAMALE
Looked a little shaky at times but was busy with 12 carries and rebounded to score his first NRL try. RATING: 7
3 MATTHEW TIMOKO
Underrated centre. Incredibly hard to handle with 15 carries and scored a try. RATING: 7.5
4 SEBASTIAN KRIS
Clever bat-back for Papalii to score and troubled Deine Mariner all night, racking up 10 tackle busts to go with 120m in a super performance. RATING: 8
5 ALBERT HOPOATE
Replaced the suspended Xavier Savage and was sharp with 115m. RATING: 6.5
6 ETHAN STRANGE
Made the most runs (seven) of any playmaker on the field. RATING: 6.5
7 JAMAL FOGARTY
Controlled the show and produced a nice kick for Nicholson’s second. His goalkicking was off but it didn’t matter. RATING: 7
8 JOSH PAPALII
Huge first stint with nine runs for 67m against Brisbane’s all-star props set the tone for Canberra and his try capped a great performance from the 307-game warhorse. RATING: 8
9 TOM STARLING
Relished playing on the back of a rolling pack. Carved up Brisbane in the middle with five runs for 58m from dummy-half and scored a well-deserved try. RATING: 8
10 COREY HORSBURGH
Played like the Broncos stole his lunch and got the better of Haas and Carrigan, finishing with 16 runs for 118m and 23 crunching tackles. Perhaps the best player on the field. RATING: 9
11 HUDSON YOUNG
Copped a nasty elbow to the throat from Riki but fought back and was menacing all night with the ball. Made a few errors but is a class act. RATING: 8
12 ZAC HOSKING
Great game against his former club. Was destructive with the ball, charging 17 times for 130m and solid defence with 33 tackles, the most of any Raider. Up there with Horsburgh. RATING: 9
16 MATTY NICHOLSON
What an NRL debut for what feels like Canberra’s 999th English import. Scored the first try and had a double before half-time as he tormented Jack Gosiewski. RATING: 8
13 MORGAN SMITHIES
Currently playing an important role off the bench. Made eight runs for 66m and 19 tackles without missing one. RATING: 6
14 OWEN PATTIE
Came on at dummy-half with 15 minutes to go and did what he had to, including a nice kick. RATING: 5
15 SIMI SASAGI
Short stint off the bench. RATING: 4
17 ATA MARIOTA
Got cut in half by Piakura but bounced back to make seven runs. RATING: 5
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