Wayne Bennett fumes at critics as Broncos edge Cowboys in thrilling local derby

BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has launched a stinging attack on the club’s critics, saying the Broncos will never be broken after pulling off a stunning derby defeat of the Cowboys.

Anthony Milford starred in Brisbane’s thrilling win over the Cowboys

BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett launched a stinging attack on the club’s critics on Friday night, saying the Broncos will never be broken after pulling off a stunning derby defeat of the Cowboys.

Brisbane buried one of the most turbulent weeks in their history, overcoming searing criticism and Jordan Kahu’s sickening broken jaw to stun North Queensland 24-20 at Suncorp Stadium.

In another derby thriller before 46,080 fans, the besieged Broncos proved there is no prouder club, hitting back from last week’s Dragons debacle to rock premiership favourites the Cowboys.

“There’s no other club in any sport in this country who could have pulled together the way we did with the adversity we’ve been through,” Bennett fired.

“You can’t divide us guys.

“Stay at it ... but our strength is the club and our people.”

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Anthony Milford starred in Brisbane’s thrilling win over the Cowboys

The Broncos are back in business.

Brisbane were pilloried following their 34-12 rout at Kogarah. Their forwards were panned. Their halves were slammed. Even Bennett delivered some choice words at training in a bid to spark his troops.

Last night, with their reputation and soul on the line, Brisbane muscled up.

In keeping with the Broncos-Cowboys narrative that began with their 2015 grand-final epic, it was agonising, willing and pulsating to the final seconds.

Brisbane looked home when Kodi Nikorima crashed over for a 24-14 lead in the 68th minute but when Jake Granville sliced through three minutes later, the Cowboys had hope at 24-20.

Then came the ultimate moment of madness.

With Brisbane under siege, Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston went to the line and found a flying Scott Bolton with an inside ball 90 seconds from time. The prop looked certain to crash over before Brisbane’s 18th man - the goalpost padding - incredibly halted his progress.

James Roberts broke the game open in the final stages

Bolton bounced off the post and fell to the ground a metre short. Thurston screamed in agony. The football gods had smiled on the Broncos.

Unbelievable.

It was a deserved win for the Broncos, whose pack, led by Tevita Pangai Jnr, were superb, laying the foundations for Anthony Milford and Nikorima to work their magic in the halves.

With Milford returning to his best, the Broncos led 18-8 at half-time and withstood a fierce Cowboys fightback to get their 2018 campaign rolling.

Johnathan Thurston was sensational for the Cowboys

The only downside for the Broncos was the loss of Kahu, who departed in the 18th minute with blood streaming from his mouth and faces 6-8 weeks on the sidelines.

“It’s a shame for Jordan but it’s only a six-week injury, he will be back,” Bennett said.

Of the win, he said: “We needed some luck, but we bombed three tries ourselves ... we were the best team out there.

Jordan Kahu has suffered a suspected broken jaw.

“It’s just a performance we are pleased with. It’s nice to show the fans that the Broncos turned up for them.”

Milford had promised to play more direct and he delivered. His feet were fast and formidable. And Bennett’s elevation of Pangai Jnr into the starting side was a masterstroke.

If the Cowboys are the team to beat this year ... well, Brisbane have made a pretty fair statement.

FULLTIME: BRISBANE 24 (A Glenn K Nikorima T Opacic T Pangai Junior tries J Isaako 4 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 20 (G Cooper J Granville J McLean tries J Thurston 4 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Chris Sutton. Crowd: 46,080.