NRL 2021: Knights star Bradman Best cleared of serious injury, Broncos sink to 32-year low

The Knights feared one of their young stars might be ruled out for the season after being taken to hospital after Newcastle’s win against the Broncos.

The Broncos' slim finals hopes were dashed on Thursday night. Picture: NRL Images

Bradman Best has been cleared of a serious collarbone injury after being taken to hospital following Thursday night’s win against the Broncos.

Newcastle’s star centre was rushed to hospital despite completing the match. They were fears his season may have been over but scans have given the Knights a huge boost as they continue to push for a finals spot.

Best had only recently returned from an ankle injury. He is expected to take his place when Newcastle play Cronulla on Sunday week. The Knights could be at full-strength for the first time this season with Jayden Brailey (concussion) expected to return.

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Meantime, Brisbane will miss back-to-back finals series for the first time in 32 years after Newcastle’s grinding 28-20 victory officially delivered the bullet to the Broncos’ playoffs hopes.

The most damning illustration of Brisbane’s demise as an NRL powerhouse is the stinging reality their finals hopes have been dashed for their second consecutive year as Mitchell Pearce and Tyson Frizell dismantled the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

The Knights put a line through the Broncos’ playoff hopes. Picture: NRL Images

There was a period where the Broncos played finals football 26 times in 28 seasons. The stated objective of the richest club in the NRL is to make the top four, year in, year out.

Kevin Walters was a member of Brisbane’s golden years, but now, in his first year as Broncos coach, the club legend must digest the pain of the ailing glamour outfit suffering back-to-back failed finals campaigns for the first time since 1988-89.

The Broncos were a mathematical hope of sneaking into this year’s finals had they beaten the Knights, but the dream is over as the scheming of wily halfback Pearce kept Newcastle’s playoff hopes alive.

“It’s very disappointing, it’s very uncharacteristic of our club to not play finals,” Walters said.

“We are fighting hard to get back on track. We just have to get the right roster in place to make a charge for the finals next year.”

It was a committed display by the Broncos, who defended superbly in the first half and trailed 12-8 at the break despite a torrent of Newcastle possession.

The Knights threatened to run riot in the second stanza but two tries in the final 15 minutes to Xavier Willison and Herbie Farnworth did justice to the Broncos’ toil.

“This team is still learning,” Walters said. “I was really proud of the effort, we didn’t have the ball for the first nine minutes, but that period of the second half was the killer for us.”

NRL 2021 RD21 Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos – Brodie Croft Picture NRL Images

HALF THE BATTLE

With Broncos halfback Brodie Croft given permission to negotiate with rival clubs, Walters should bite the bullet and hand Albert Kelly the No. 7 jumper for the final month of the premiership.

Croft is at long odds to be at Red Hill next season and he was taken off at the hour mark by Walters. In 60 minutes of action, Croft tried hard defensively, but his attack was non-existent. He made zero runs for zero metres. The Broncos will never play finals football if their halfback doesn’t take on the line.

Kelly was thrust into the fray and in just 20 minutes – a third of Croft’s game time – the former Titans managed four runs, 40 metres, two tackle busts and a try assist.

Kelly is about to ink a new deal with the Broncos, but Walters insists Croft’s early night is not a sign he is moving on from the maligned playmaker.

“I was looking for a bit of spark from Kelly,” he said. “Croft hadn’t done anything wrong ... I want our best side on the field next week.”

Payne Haas is in need of support. Picture: NRL Images

FEELING THE PAYNE

Broncos prop Payne Haas is a magnificent talent but Brisbane desperately need to purchase an experienced big bopper to support him in the front row.

For all their aggressive recruitment over the past three months, the Broncos’ roster is missing one senior prop to ease the strain on Haas, who is resembling a one-man band in Brisbane’s engine room.

While Tom Flegler was out suspended, at 21 he isn’t ready to spearhead Brisbane’s pack with Haas next season. Haas again worked his heart out, amassing 139 metres and making 44 tackles, but the Broncos risk cooking their golden goose if they don’t give him a hard-headed partner-in-crime.

Tesi Niu has a bright future ahead. Picture: NRL Images

BRIGHT NIU ERA

Brisbane’s fullback spot is up for grabs next season. The Broncos could do worse than give Tesi Niu an extended run in the No. 1 jumper.

At 19, Niu is far from the finished article and there are gaps in his game, chiefly in defence, but the nuggety pocket rocket made an emphatic statement at fullback as he troubled the Knights with some fine touches.

He showed good strength to score the opening try of the game in the 13th minute and his sublime 27th-minute long ball for Corey Oates to cross for an 8-6 lead demonstrated Niu’s awareness and ball-playing ability.

Niu remains off-contract. Fast and explosive, he is on the rise. The Broncos must sign the Tongan Test rookie to a new deal immediately.

BRICK WALL BRONCOS

Brisbane’s defence in the first 20 minutes was their best effort in two years.

The Broncos were under siege in the opening minutes as the Knights peppered the Brisbane tryline with seven consecutive sets of six. It seemed only a matter of time before the Broncos cracked. But Kevin Walters’ troops held firm, making a staggering 61 tackles to Newcastle’s one.

Without the ball, the Broncos are not Storm-like just yet. Newcastle halves Clifford (20th minute) and Mitchell Pearce (38th) both sliced through from close range, but Brisbane’s line speed, communication and collective commitment has improved.