NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos win 20-12 over Cronulla Sharks, Ezra Mam scores try of the year contender

The Broncos proved they are bona fide premiership contenders and Ezra Mam started and finished one of the best tries this season as Brisbane downed Cronulla.

Broncos star Ezra Mam scored one of the tries of the season, putting Corey Oates into space before finishing the try off himself. Picture: Getty Images.

Brisbane have silenced the doubters. Yes, they are the real deal.

The Broncos have emerged as bona fide premiership contenders after producing one of the finest defensive performances in their history to crunch Cronulla into submission with a 20-12 triumph at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday night.

The Sharks had enough chances to win by 20 but the Broncos defended like demons, repelling wave after wave of attack to provisionally claim top spot with their 10th win of the season.

Brisbane’s star quartet of Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Tom Flegler and Reece Walsh all backed up from Origin I, while Kotoni Staggs (212 metres) was superb in a slugfest as the Broncos submitted an emphatic title statement.

The Broncos (10-4) led 14-6 at half-time and when Maroons debutant Walsh released a flying Herbie Farnworth 12 minutes from time, the Sharks (7-5) were toast.

Broncos stars Reece Walsh and Jesse Arthars produced an incredible try saving tackle to staop stop Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. Picture: NRL Photos.

BRICK WALL BRONCOS

Can the Broncos win this year’s premiership? You bet they can.

Brisbane’s energetic, relentless containment of Cronulla was proof their past three months was no fluke.

If defence wins premierships, the Broncos are genuine contenders this season. No team scrambles like them. The Sharks had enough ball to score six tries - they had 45 tackles in the red zone - but they could only manage two as Brisbane’s hunger shut them down.

Reece Walsh is EVERYWHERE.

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“I’m extremely proud,” Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds said.

“We were a bit sloppy in the second half, but our defence was the difference, we turned them away a number of times.”

Broncos star Ezra Mam scored one of the tries of the season, putting Corey Oates into space before finishing the try off himself. Picture: Getty Images.

MAM OH MAN

Boom Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam engineered one of the tries of the season _ a 95-metre spectacular ripped straight out of the Broncos’ premiership playbook of the 1990s.

With Brisbane trailing 6-4 five minutes before half-time, Mam rolled the dice on his tryline. He ignited a left-edge shift with a long ball that briefly hit the turf and bounced into the arms of unmarked winger Corey Oates, who streaked upfield.

Oates then kicked ahead and Mam swooped to hit the jackpot on his tryline gamble.

It was a daring play that evoked images of Broncos legend Steve Renouf streaking away with his 90-metre try to win the 1992 grand final.

Bronco’s Origin stars were impressive after backing up from Game I. Picture: NRL Imagery.

SUPER STAGGS

Staggs and Jordan Riki have been the unsung heroes on Brisbane’s right edge this season. This time, they deserved a slice of the limelight.

Riki’s early 80-metre bust led to Staggs’ bargeover try and it was the centre’s clever 39th-minute chip kick that saw Jesse Arthars touch down to give Brisbane a 14-6 half-time lead.

Staggs simply carved up Cronulla and he was ably supported by Oates, who amassed 225 metres, eight tackle busts and four line breaks in a stunning return from injury.

“Kotoni was outstanding,” Reynolds said. “We spoke to Kotoni and Herbie during the week, we wanted to fight fire with fire and get them some early ball.

“’Oatesy’ has been our best player in the games he played this year. It was good to see the big fella back.”

Sharks star Nicho Hynes tried his best to get Cronulla’s attack flowing, but ill-discipline cost them dearly. Picture: Getty Images.

HEROIC HYNES

The Hynes-Reynolds scrumbase showdown was gripping. Hynes scored a points decision, the newly-minted NSW Origin player tormenting Brisbane with the silky ball playing that put Siosifa Talakai away for Cronulla’s opening try in the 22nd minute.

But Hynes’ class was marred by Cronulla ill-discipline that saw three Sharks - Ronaldo Mulitalo (18th), Blayke Brailey (39th) and Moylan (42nd) - placed on report.

Cronulla had enough ball to bury the Broncos but the Sharks were suffocated by a Brisbane side that scrapped and scrambled to victory.