Player ratings: Milf’s night out, Origin certainty, sign him for life
One player looked right at home on the Gold Coast of a Saturday night while another confirmed his Origin future. Here’s who starred and who flopped in Brisbane’s win over the Titans.
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It’s not uncommon for a MILF to have a big Saturday night out on the Gold Coast.
And Brisbane’s very own MILF – Anthony Milford – certainly went on a bender against the Titans at Robina.
He should never see the No.6 jumper again after dominating the derby from fullback in a performance that had it all.
But Milford could not have done what he did without the superb collective effort of the big, bad, bruising, bustling Broncos forward pack.
Brisbane’s big boppers kicked sand in the face of their steamrolled Titans counterparts all night.
Heaven help the NRL when the “Baby Broncos” are all grown up.
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ANTHONY MILFORD – 9
Scored a try with footwork to rival John Travolta in his prime. Threw a lovely long ball for Isaako’s try and generally flourished with the extra freedom that fullback brings. A total of 158 running metres, five tackle breaks, three offloads, one linebreak, one try assist and one line break assist. Did everything but mark the lines pre-game. Just super. Super-duper even.
COREY OATES – 7.5
Scored one try with a 90 metre intercept when he plucked the Steeden out of thin air with his big mitt. Saved another with a second intercept. 216 running metres on the night but a terrible defensive read to come off his wing to allow Anthony Don to score. Reminiscent of the last play in regular time in the 2015 grand final. Too soon?
KOTONI STAGGS - 8
Loves being on the right edge. Loves running over the top of blokes on the right edge too (it’s all in the hips, apparently). Bullocked his way over after a questionable Milford offload and scored again after the Broncos did a bit of Harlem Globetrotter offload work. It’s a matter of when, not if, he plays Origin.
ALEX GLENN – 4
Quiet night for the veteran after being sent out to the centres. Forced from the field early in the second half. All the scoring was on the other side of the field or through the middle. Three runs for 24 metres and seven tackles.
JAMAYNE ISAAKO - 6
Kept Brisbane’s shape nicely by staying wide late in the first half when Milford put the ball on his chest. He was able to find the tryline in the highlight of a solid performance that included 148 running metres and five goals from six attempts.
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DARIUS BOYD – 5.5
Not great, not terrible either though. Sorta, kinda beige-ish effort. Made 19 tackles and missed only two. Not really a factor in attack. Touched the ball 13 times and ran three times for 28 metres. Brisbane will need more from him against tougher opposition.
JAKE TURPIN – 6.5
Kicked well for 382 metres. Just the two runs but steered the Broncos around the park well. His “highlight reel moment” was Titans forward Moeaki Fotuaika sending him flying five metres in the air as he attempted a tackle on the Gold Coast behemoth. As gutsy as they come. A valuable utility player.
MATT LODGE – 8.5
Looked like a lumberjack and got through a mountain of work. Carried three Titans defenders on his back as he crawled over for a try. Ran for 135 metres – with 11 tackle breaks - and made 28 tackles. A man-sized game from a bear-sized man.
ANDREW MCCULLOUGH – 6.5
Got through his usual team-high tackles (38). Could have run and kicked a little more as Brisbane always look better when he has a crack out of dummy-half. His chase on runaway draught horse aka Jarrod Wallace was pure rugby league entertainment. Wallace is probably faster than former Roosters winger Todd Byrne so Macca and Scott Sattler can trade cover defence stories.
PAYNE HAAS – 9
Wants to be a Bronco for life. Hand him a pen now and get him to sign – now. The kid is a freak. So big, so strong and such a good motor. Ate up 217 running metres from 22 hit-ups. Made 78 post-contact metres alone along with 23 tackles. Owned the battle in the middle of the ground. The raised eyebrows around the NRL when the club signed him long-term, so young, have been put back in their place. Super-duper star.
DAVID FIFITA – 8.5
Barnstorming run in the first half led to a try and didn’t stop terrorising the Titans. Along with Haas, he will give opposition forwards nightmares for the next decade-plus. Had 151 running metres (98 post-contact! Wowsers!) along with three tackle breaks, two offloads and two linebreaks. Scary to think he was playing schoolboy footy a couple of years ago. Somebody please think of the children!
TEVITA PANGAI – 4.5
Seemed determined to poleaxe somebody. Got his wish when he put Titans winger Phillip Sami into next week after he fielded a kick. He and his teammates celebrated like it was New Year’s Eve…right up until the point TPJ was placed on report and sent to the sin bin for high contact. Just four hit-ups for 30 metres and 14 tackles. Meh.
JOE OFAHENGAUE – 5.5
Quiet night by Smokin’ Joe’s normally high standards after being elevated into the starting 13 to replace Matt Gillett. Dropped the pill early after being on the end of a hospital pass. Had 11 runs for 75 metres and 22 tackles
JAMES SEGEYARO – 5
Thrown into the fray in the second half when the result was done and dusted. Made five tackles and went for three dummy-half dashes in junk time minutes.
RHYS KENNEDY - 5
Had some nice strong carries early when he was injected into the match and kept Brisbane on a roll. But didn’t get a heap of time on the field and finished with 18 tackles and 50 running metres
PATRICK CARRIGAN – 7.5
The big unit’s best game as a Bronco. Had 31 tackles and made 158 running metres off the bench. Just when the Titans thought they could relax after a Haas, Lodge or Fifita hit-up, he came charging onto the ball. Living up to the big wraps he had as an under 20s star.
KEENAN PALASIA - 4
Didn’t see any action until the second half and only got the chance for a cameo of eight tackles and four runs for 28 metres.
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