NRL 2021: Broncos beat Sharks 26-18 at Suncorp Stadium

The Broncos rebounded from a tough week off the field to snap a four-match slide and climb off the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters defiantly declared the club had hit the reset button this week and their entertaining 26-18 victory over the Sharks may have been a testament to just that.

In a rare Sunday afternoon game at Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos looked an entirely different team to break a four-game losing streak in front of 13,840 fans in their best performance of the year.

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The Broncos managed to bounce back from their 46-nil thrashing to South Sydney last round to put in a spirited effort against the eighth-placed Sharks.

Walters was impressed with his side’s performance on Sunday afternoon but admitted there was still plenty of work to be done for the club to return to a premiership force.

“I’m just really happy for these guys, who have been under a lot of pressure for most of the year,” Walters said.

“We had a great preparation coming back and we’ve reset.

Over 13,000 fans enjoyed a rare Sunday afternoon game at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“I thought every bit of our game today improved, but are we where we need to be? No, but certainly some really big improvements across all levels of our game.

“Today was a big game for our club moving forward.”

Led by the club’s next generation of stars including Tesi Niu, Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas, the Broncos gave their long-suffering fans a glimpse into their future potential.

Walters labelled Niu’s two-try performance as the best he’s seen of the 19-year-old in Brisbane colours.

“He’s one of those guys who has the ability to do what he does on the field,” he said.

“Today, he really did show what sort of player he is and it’s up to Tesi to continually back that up.

“It’s tough in the NRL but today I thought he had his best performance that we’ve seen from him.”

It looked like a completely different Brisbane side from days gone by when it was the final 20 minutes which really let them down.

STAGGS RETURN

Welcome back to the NRL Kotoni.

Staggs looked like he hadn’t missed a beat in his first rugby league game in 283 days, playing 58 minutes at right centre for the Broncos.

Kotoni Staggs hit the ground running in his return. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

A knee injury and an NRL-enforced suspension has kept him out of the game all year but he looked as dangerous as he did last year when he terrorised the Cronulla defence.

The 22-year-old almost had a try with his first touch of the ball and finished the match with 103 running metres, six tackle breaks and a try assist.

CLEAN SLATE

Walters declared at the start of the week that the Broncos had hit the reset button leading into Sunday’s match in what was a week of upheaval at Red Hill.

Ben Ikin started in his new role as the new football manager, front rower Matt Lodge was shown the door and Anthony Milford was told he had no future at the club.

Ben Ikin joined the Broncos last week. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty

But the turbulent week has somehow kicked the Broncos back into gear with an eight point win over Cronulla.

KNOCK ON OR FORWARD PASS

Many fans were left scratching their head over Cronulla’s no-try decision in the 10th minute when the Bunker ruled Sharks centre Sione Katoa had knocked the ball on in an effort to pass it.

After years of the video referee claiming they were unable to rule on a forward pass, they managed to find a way to overrule a try after a blatant forward pass from Katoa.

The refereeing came under scrutiny just minutes earlier when Staggs appealed for a penalty when he was taken out of play without the ball but went unnoticed by the match officials.

Hannay: ‘we will get around Ronny’

- Joel Gould with Newswire

Sharks coach Josh Hannay and his players will be giving extra support to Ronaldo Mulitalo in the coming days after the brave winger was distraught after his side’s 26-18 loss to the Broncos.

Mulitalo was in an emotional state while talking, from the playing field, to members of his family in the Suncorp Stadium crowd after a cruel eight days that started with his Maroons dream being shattered by bureaucratic incompetence.

On the eve of Game Two of the State of Origin series Mulitalo was preparing to realise a goal that he’d had since attending Ipswich State High School as a 13-year-old. He was subsequently ruled out, despite representing Queensland in under 18s and 20s, due to eligibility rules.

After the NRL confirmed he would never be eligible for the Maroons, Mulitalo returned to Suncorp Stadium for the Sharks where he had watched his Maroons teammates get beaten 26-nil just one week earlier.

Ronaldo Mulitalo’s Origin application was denied. Picture: NRL Photos

Muitalo was outstanding for the Sharks in setting up a try with a brilliant pass and in saving one with his pace and alertness to snaffle a kick in-goal before reaching the field of play. His 13 runs for 102m and seven tackle breaks were all energy and heart, but it was his broken heart that Hannay was most concerned about after the loss.

“Credit to Ronny. I can’t tell you how tough and challenging the last fortnight has been for him,” Hannay said.

“To be really honest, he has been let down by the game and the processes and how it has come to this situation, and he has really stood up.

“He is an emotional lad and we are always really worried about that with these young guys, and with their emotions. He went out there today and was really strong for us.

“I think it is going to hit him like a ton of bricks tonight. The decision that has come down, we have lost the game…and to get on the plane now. We have to get around him the next few days.”

Hannay said the 21-year-old was open with his emotions and thoughts, with the Sharks to continue to give him all the help and care he needs.

“The one thing with Ronny, and that’s a good thing, is that he wears his heart on his sleeve,” Hannay said.

“ You know how he is feeling. He will actually tell you. He is not one of those guys who hides it.

“We are always in dialogue with Ronny because there is a lot going on at the moment for a young fella. He is doing one hell of a job and can hold his head high with how he is handling it.”