Broncos beat Eels 18-10 at Suncorp Stadium but James Roberts faces Origin heartbreak

WAYNE Bennett capped off a tumultuous week with victory in his 800th game, but James Roberts’ Origin dream could be in tatters after the Broncos centre limped off in Brisbane’s 18-10 win against Parramatta.

The Broncos won but it came at a price. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

WAYNE Bennett capped off a tumultuous week with victory in his 800th game, but James Roberts’ Origin dream could be in tatters after the Broncos centre limped off Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane’s 18-10 win against Parramatta.

The Broncos moved back into the NRL top eight for the first time in six weeks but it was far from a polished performance from Brisbane against the last-placed Eels.

In front of a subdued school night crowd of 21,555, the injury ravaged Broncos did enough to notch their fourth win in five weeks ahead of a crucial bye before Origin I.

Joe Ofahengaue gets caught up in Eels. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The sloppy contest will not feature in Bennett’s list of most memorable games, but the fact it came less than 48 hours after his future was thrust into the spotlight would have made the victory more satisfying than most.

Brisbane’s clandestine approach to Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy was exposed on Tuesday night, pushing Bennett’s future at Red Hill into the spotlight.

The 68-year-old Bennett, a seven-time premiership-winner, was defiant in declaring he would see out his deal until the end of 2019 and whether impending speculation affects Brisbane’s title tilt remains to be seen.

Jaydn Su'a played a crucial role in taking the lead. (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“The players don’t even know what’s going on,” Bennett said.

“They don’t care. We’ve had no bad behaviour, they’re not issues that are affecting these guys.

“It was a hard game, it was tough. A lot of the young guys were fighting battles in their minds about how they were going to play.

“It was probably the best we defended. That’s a team that’s wanting to win.

“We’re well amongst the top teams now.”

While Bennett was celebrating his 496th win in the top grade, Roberts sat on the sidelines for the final 20 minutes with a suspected Achilles injury.

Dubbed “The Jet”, the electrifying Roberts was in the mix for a NSW Origin debut at the MCG on June 6 following a sizzling start to the season.

But the ice on his Achilles and his slow limp around the sidelines of Suncorp Stadium suggested he is a longshot of being available for Origin I.

Jamayne Isaako coninuted his red-hot scoring run. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

“He has been struggling with an achilles since the start of the pre-season,” Bennett said.

“It flares up every day. I’m sure whatever pain he’s got will go away very quickly (if he is picked for NSW).”

Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako continued his sensational form with his seventh try of the season before Corey Oates capitalised when Eels centre Michael Jennings was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Parramatta’s only points in the first half came through a penalty goal after the siren to make it 12-2 at the break and the Broncos extended their lead to 16-2 when boom backrower Jaydn Su’A burst through to put NSW Origin contender James Roberts over four minutes into the second half.

Brisbane looked in cruise control until a floating pass from $1 million five-eighth Anthony Milford was intercepted by Eels centre George Jennings who raced 90m to get Parramatta into the contest at 16-8.

Isaako edged the Broncos ahead at 18-10 and any hope of late Parramatta comeback was snuffed out when Bevan French was denied a try following a forward pass in the 75th minute.

Full-time BRISBANE 18 (J Isaako C Oates J Roberts tries J Isaako 3 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 10 (G Jennings try M Moses 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd: 21,555.

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