#BroncosLIVE: Follow the Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys live Round 3
THE Broncos got their season back on track in style with a 44-22 win over the Cowboys, and fans on social media were pretty happy with what they saw. #BroncosLIVE
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FINAL SCORE: 44-22, CROWD: 40,047
FT at Suncorp @brisbanebroncos thrash @nthqldcowboys 44-22 http://t.co/X5ZCWQTLuD #BroncosLIVE #NRLBroncosCowboys pic.twitter.com/TShazaTGXw
— Courier Mail Sport (@cmail_sport) March 20, 2015MATCH REPORT: Broncos buck woeful Cowboys in Qld rodeo
9.45PM: Well, they missed the 50-point mark but it was a convincing win for the Broncos over the Cowboys nonetheless.
The record score of 58-4 from 1998 remains intact, so at least the Cowboys have a small consolation if they’re looking for positives.
Another positive for all concerned was the number of tries scored in the Suncorp Stadium heat: eight for the Broncos and four for the Cowboys.
9.30PM: Here’s one way to be sure you pick a winner tonight. Good on ya Murielle! Unless you’re feeling the Cowboys’ pain more than the Broncos’ pleasure. Rugby league was also a winner tonight.
#BroncosLIVE I'm torn as I love both of these teams #Cowboys #NRLBroncosCowboys #queenslander
— Murielle Cera (@MurielleCera) March 20, 20159.25PM: WILL THE BRONCOS MAKE IT TO 50 POINTS?
The Cowboys are doing their best to keep the scoreline respectful but with just under 10 minutes left to go the big question is can the Broncos make it a half-century?
They’re only one converted try away and the way they’ve been scoring tonight you wouldn’t want to bet against them.
Where was this @brisbanebroncos team from the last two rounds? Can't believe how much they've changed #BroncosLIVE
— Chris Honnery (@CJHonnery) March 20, 20159.15PM: The Cowboys may have answered quickly after the start of the second half, but the onslaught continues as the Broncos rack up the points in front of the 40,047 crowd.
9.15PM: A quick nod to the Courier-Mail’s Chris Garry who tweeted earlier that he thought the crowd was about 40,000. The figures have been calculated and the grand total has been announced as 40,047. Not a bad guess Chris. Now, what’s the final score going to be?
Great crowd here for Cowboys vs Broncos. Around 40,000. #BroncosLIVE pic.twitter.com/PKpgAErGPq
— Chris Garry (@Tiger_CMail) March 20, 2015
8.50PM: CLEARLY the heat isn’t causing either side too much trouble in attack, and the halftime break has done the world of good for the Cowboys as they’re back on the scoreboard within the first three minutes of the second half.
"@balym_CMail: When was the last time the Broncos scored 5 tries in a half of football! #BroncosLIVE"The last time Cows sucked this much
— The guy with the bun (@niles1991) March 20, 2015We still have a game on our hands, but can the Broncos find the momentum they had in the first half?
8.40PM: In response to our earlier poll perhaps?
"Oh yay. Ray Hadley is commentating the second Friday Night Football Game. How wonderful"...said no one EVER #BroncosLIVE #NRLBroncosCowboys
— Daniel Watson Hayes™ (@dwatsonhayes) March 20, 2015HALFTIME: 32-6
Phew! Time to take a breather and take stock of what’s just happened.
The Broncos went in 0-2 down at halftime last week against the Sharks, but what a difference a week has made. An avalanche of tries has left the score at 32-6 at the break.
After two losses at home to start the 2015 season, the Cowboys were desperate to beat the Broncos but it became a nightmare on Castlemaine Street in the first 40 minutes.
Brisbane ran in six tries to one and despite having prop Josh McGuire sidelined for the rest of the match with concussion they were having a ball.
Cowboys coach Paul Green faced an insurmountable task to lift his team at the break
8.20PM: SWASHBUCKLING FIRST 30 MINUTES
THE Cowboys got off to a roaring start and had a great chance to score after Broncos winger Corey Oates dropped a towering bomb but a “try” to Jason Taumalolo was disallowed because Broncos halfback Ben Hunt was impeded in the defence line.
There was no mistake from Hunt at the other end just two minutes later when he showed great strength to shrug off two would-be tackles to open the scoring.
Six minutes later Brisbane prop Josh McGuire scored an easy try through terrible Cowboys defence and the Corey Parker conversion gave the home side a 12-0 advantage.
In the 16th minute the Cowboys backline combined superbly for five-eighth Michael Morgan to stroll over and the Jason Thurston goal made in 12-6.
Lachlan Maranta crossed over shortly after to make it 16-6.
8PM UPDATE: THE Broncos have the early lead through a Ben Hunt try, but the real winner in these early minutes are those snazzy collars.
Perhaps they’re designed to offer the players a little extra breeze as they try to keep cool on this hot and sticky night?
Meanwhile, it’s a pretty good crowd tonight, with about 40,000 coming through the turnstiles to soak up the atmosphere.
Got something to say on tonight’s Queensland derby? Post a comment below or use the #BroncosLIVE hashtag on Twitter.
7.40PM: BENNETT AIMING TO PLAY FAIR
WAYNE Bennett is reasonably happy with the progress of the Broncos in his second stint at the helm.
“I’m just trying to get them back on track,” Bennett said on Channel Nine.
“We’re looking for consistency. They were pretty good for a while against Souths (in Round 1) but then lost their way.”
Bennett also repeated his opinion that it was up to the referees to stop any illegal play or targeting of playmakers.
“I just hope they get it right,” he said. “We just want it within the rules.”
As for the rivals being desperate after two losses to start the season, Bennett said: “There’s a good feel about the match. It’s a big match and (the Cowboys) have had two losses so they’ll be keen.”
THE TEAMS ARE IN!
7PM: Wayne Bennett and Paul Green have handed in their team sheets and, while the Broncos’ line-up remains the same, the Cowboys have made two late changes.
BRONCOS: 1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Jack reed, 4 Justin Hodges, 5 Lachlan Maranta, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 Josh McGuire, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Jarrod Wallace, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Kodi Nikorima.
.@brisbanebroncos will sport a new/old look tonight against @nthqldcowboys http://t.co/UUSbpU5KcE #BroncosLIVE pic.twitter.com/3NtqcGCvRe
— Barry Dick (@BarringtonD) March 20, 2015Tautau Moga has replaced Matthew Wright in the centres and Test prop James Tamou moves into the starting front row in place of Ben Hannant.
COWBOYS: 1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Justin O’Neill, 20 Tautau Moga, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Kyle Feldt, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Rory Kostjaysen, 17 James Tamou, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 10 Ben Hannant, 14 Jake Granville, 15 Kelepi Tanginoa, 16 Scott Bolton, .
SOUNDS GOOD TO US
6.45PM: IN less than an hour, the Broncos and Cowboys will take to the Suncorp Stadium field and do battle in front of an almost-capacity crowd.
For those not at the game, watching on TV in airconditioned comfort, there’s the added bonus of some insightful commentary to enjoy.
But who calls the game better than anyone else? Take part on our poll
PHEW, WHAT A SCORCHER!
6.15PM: Brisbane has turned on the heat once again for #BroncosLIVE night and, following the sweat fest that was the season opener against the Rabbitohs, it’s going to be another sauna that greets the Broncos and Cowboys in just over an hour.
WARM WELCOME: It’s boiling hot in the Cauldron at Suncorp Stadium
Temperatures on the pitch will be around the 30-degree mark, with humidity set to make it feel a lot hotter.
While it’s going to be tough for the players, it’s not going to be a picnic for the expected 41,000 crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
If you’re going to the game, let us know how you plan to beat the heat using the #BroncosLIVE hashtag on Twitter.
SUPERCOACH LOWDOWN FOR THE QUEENSLAND DERBY
5.30PM: Resident NRL SuperCoach guru Rikki-Lee Arnold gives the late lowdown for tonight’s big clash.
The derby will put the spotlight on two players: Corey Parker and Johnathan Thurston.
Both have failed to live up to their SuperCoach standards in the opening two rounds of the season, providing much frustration among those who play the game.
Ready... Let's GO @brisbanebroncos #BroncosLIVE #NRLBroncosCowboys #Bronxnation pic.twitter.com/w9EpVkk7QQ
— Jay Simpson (@simmo_jay) March 20, 2015
While Parker slightly redeemed himself last week with 71 points, many SuperCoaches are getting rid of “JT”, with the Cowboys halfback cut from 8601 teams.
The player you must have in your SC team from tonight’s game is Ethan Lowe.
Lowe has really made an impact to start the season and will receive a nice rise in his salary as a result.
MANAGE YOUR TEAM: Get everything in order before Round 3 kicks off here
Friday night footy, Broncos v Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium should be 43k plus tonight. Cows playing for their season. #broncosLIVE
— Todd Balym (@balym_CMail) March 20, 2015UPDATE: SURGE OF MONEY FOR THE COWBOYS
PUNTERS have leapt on board the Cowboys for tonight’s Suncorp Stadium clash with the Broncos.
TattsBet spokesman Gerard Daffy said there had been a complete turnaround in betting since the market opened last Monday.
“For the first three or four days it was all Broncos but today it’s been 100 per cent the other way,” he said.
The weight of money for the Cowboys has caused a shift in the market with North Queensland now favourites at $1.87 to the Broncos’ $1.97.
Daffy said the only players being backed for first tryscorer in the match were Cowboys Jason Taumalolo and Johnathan Thurston at juicy odds of $20.
WHY THE BRONCOS MUST STOP JT
THESE are the figures that show why Johnathan Thurston plays with a giant target painted on his chest and why the Broncos will want him on his back at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
Before Thurston joined the Cowboys in 2005, North Queensland had beaten the Broncos once in 17 games, a winning percentage of 5.88.
Since then, the Cowboys have beaten the Broncos nine times in 22 encounters for a 40.9 per cent winning rate.
UPDATE: BLAIR NOT THE ONLY BRONCO STRUGGLING
KIWI Adam Blair was heavily criticised after the Broncos’ win over the Sharks last week but he wasn’t on his own when it came to under-performing in attack.
The statisticians gave Blair just one run in 41 minutes at Remondis Stadium and that’s clearly not good enough but Sam Thaiday made only five in 48 minutes.
Overall, the Broncos starting pack gained a total of 407 metres against the Sharks with only Josh McGuire (107) and Alex Glenn (105) topping the “ton”.
The backs all bettered 100 metres with Jordan Kahu (144) and Justin Hodges (138) leading the way.
There is a vast difference between a forward hit-up and a backline raid, of course, but you would expect more from the forward pack containing five internationals.
One bloke who is struggling in attack is hooker Andrew McCullough who ran only three times in 62 minutes against the Sharks. McCullough was credited with 56 tackles and that’s close to one every minute which equates to two in every set of six that the Sharks had the ball.
@lynny50 Wayne Bennett building up the local Derby by labelling JT a "Drama Queen". You shouldn't poke the bear Wayne! Cows 13+
— Luke Feldman (@Luke_Feldman) March 19, 2015
That’s a dramatic improvement in anyone’s books.
The Cowboys’ overall record against ‘Big Brother’ Brisbane is poor, They have won just 25.6 per cent of the 39 clashes and that’s their lowest return against any other club.
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Originally published as #BroncosLIVE: Follow the Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys live Round 3
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