Player ratings: Not much to dislike from any of the Brisbane Broncos
The Baby Broncos cooked the Chooks with a complete 17-man effort that was full of energy, enthusiasm, intensity, desperation and good old fashioned ticker. See the ratings here.
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WOW. Where’s that been hiding all season?
Brisbane produced – by far and away – their best performance under new coach Anthony Seibold in the high-octane, high-pressure, high-standard, high-stakes 15-10 victory over the high-flying Roosters.
The Baby Broncos cooked the Chooks with a complete 17-man effort that was full of energy, enthusiasm, intensity, desperation and good old fashioned ticker.
There wasn’t a bad player in maroon-and-gold as the Suncorp Stadium faithful lifted too and deserve a score out of 10.
1. DARIUS BOYD - 7
Those trademark cut-out passes to Oates didn’t quite hit their mark and he should never attempt a field goal again. But his leadership, communication and body language was super. Touched the ball the equal second-most times for Brisbane (22).
2. COREY OATES - 7
Named his daughter after a biscuit and had to survive on crumbs for most of the night. Showed great hustle in defence and went looking for work off his wing. A rare outing at the old Lang Park without a meat pie (he scored 14 tries in his previous 10 games) but ran for 97 metres.
3. KOTONI STAGGS – 7.5
Bounced back after getting isolated in defence for the Roosters’ first try. Ran for 124 metres and looked dangerous with every touch.
4. GEHAMAT SHIBASAKI - 7
Not overawed by his match-up with Latrell Mitchell. Jimmy the Jet will need to introduce himself to the Wynnum-Manly coach next week. Some strong efforts and good decisions in defence and did not shirk the tough carries.
5. JAMAYNE ISAAKO – 6.5
Got welcomed back from one week in the Intrust Super Cup by getting smashed into new week after a couple of kick returns. Did well to still be upright and kick three goals from three attempts.
6. ANTHONY MILFORD - 8
The Milf touched the footy 48 times and had the Roosters defence on high alert every time. Kicking game was spot on again with his field goal with 15 minutes to go proving to be a masterstroke.
7. TOM DEARDEN – 7.5
Lovely angled run and pass that should have led to a Matt Gillett try. Defended well, didn’t overdo things in attack, two nice kicks. Is up to this level. Had his school mates from Palm Beach-Currumbin in the crowd who were odds-on to be asked for ID at the Caxton Hotel post-match.
8. MATT LODGE - 8
Was very strong in the early going with 96 running metres (30 post-contact) and 10 tackles before taking a well-earned breather. Finished with 201 running metres and 23 tackles in a mighty effort in the engine room.
9. JAKE TURPIN – 7
Another lively effort with 31 tackles and clever work out of dummy-half with two kicks to boot. Earned some high praise from Fox League commentator and one-time no.9 extraordinaire Danny Buderus.
10. PAYNE HAAS - 9
Is set to be a giant Payne in the Haas for the Maroons this year after another barnstormer. Had 111 running metres (38 post-contact), three tackle breaks, one line break, one offload, 15 tackles and one try – AT HALFTIME. His first-ever four-pointer in the NRL had a special combination of power, pace and athleticism. He’s scary big and scary good while also being scary young. By fulltime his stats were just scary – 206 running metres (66 post-contact), 25 tackles, two offloads and six tackle breaks.
11. ALEX GLENN – 7.5
Did a fair impersonation of a brick wall when he stopped Angus Crichton with a bone-rattling tackle that would put the average person in hospital for a week. He’s such a nice bloke, Alex would come visit you in hospital too. Ran some nice lines on the left edge on the way to 140 running metres to go with 22 tackles.
12. MATT GILLETT - 8
Set the defensive tone for Brisbane by putting his body on the line with 30 tackles. Was bloodied and battered but pain is temporary and glory is forever. Should have topped off the effort with a try but grassed a beautiful pass from Dearden. He was tired. We’ll forgive him.
16. TEVITA PANGAI JNR - 8
Justified being elevated back into the starting side with his best performance since the one-man demolition of the Cowboys way back in Round 2. Had the energy of a bloke who had downed one too many cans of Red Bull and maintained the high standard with every shift on field. One of his seven offloads led to the Haas try. Had 141 running metres and three tackle breaks.
13. TOM FLEGLER – 6.5
Sent back to the bench and copped a whack to the mouth not long after he was injected into the game. Did his job by keeping the intensity levels up. Sixty metres from six hit-ups and 15 tackles.
15. DAVID FIFITA -6.5
Only got thrown into the fray with 20 metres remaining but made his presence felt. Absorbed a massive Mitchell shot but brushed it off and ran for 30-odd of his 93 total metres from nine carries.
17. JOE OFAHENGAUE – 7.5
Made his usual impact as the first forward off the bench. Left a dent in Cooper Cronk too after hitting him late after a kick. 113 metres and 20 tackles.
18. JAMES SEGEYARO - 7
You only get one shot at making a good first impression and the livewire hooker made the most of his Broncos debut. Has been at Red Hill for five minutes buy slotted in effortlessly like you’d expect from a 141-game NRL veteran. Scored the match-winner with a short-range dummy-half dart for his first try since Round 1, 2018. What a time to break the drought.
SUNCORP STADIUM CROWD – 9
The late, great Jack Gibson once said that the Lang Park crowd would boo Santa Claus. On Friday night, they booed Maroons legend and Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk when he got sin-binned. They roared when Brisbane produced its best defensive set in a long time in the first half. The Cauldron was rocking old-school style and gave their side a lift.
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