NRL 2021: Sydney Roosters defeat Brisbane Broncos 21-20 in thriller at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Broncos’ halves have been a full-on problem for Kevin Walters all season and that trend will continue into the final rounds of 2021.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Broncos are facing a scrumbase crisis with five-eighth Tyson Gamble risking suspension and injured halfback Albert Kelly racing the clock for next week’s clash against the Warriors.
While Gamble has been cleared of a fractured hand, the Broncos pivot is set to be rubbed out for two matches for a crusher tackle on Nat Butcher in Brisbane’s gutsy 20-21 loss to the Roosters on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Gamble’s halves partner Kelly suffered a knee injury after being hit late by Victor Radley attempting a field goal and is in doubt for Sunday week’s showdown with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
The nail-biting one-point defeat provided a drama-charged postscript for the Broncos, with rookie prop Xavier Willison also injuring his knee, while David Mead has escaped suspension, fined $1350 for a high tackle on Dale Copley.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Gamble’s impending scratching has opened the door for Souths-bound Anthony Milford to finish his Broncos career on a high, while Salford recruit Brodie Croft could answer an SOS at halfback if Kelly is ruled out.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters feared Gamble had broken his hand after coming off in the 57th minute, but scans have given the playmaker hope of a return for Brisbane’s final game of the season against Newcastle on September 4.
“Tyson picked up a hand injury but an X-ray has cleared him of a fracture,” Broncos performance chief Dave Ballard said.
“His hand is swollen so we will see how it settles down before deciding how we move into next week’s preparation for the Warriors game.”
Of Kelly and Willison’s injuries, Ballard said: “Alby played out the game but we’ll wait and see what the scan results show and how the guys pull up over the coming days.”
Milford chalked up his 148th game for the Broncos when he came off the bench against the Roosters and he can celebrate the 150-match milestone filling in for Gamble against the Warriors and Sharks.
The Broncos remain hopeful Kelly will face the Warriors. It is understood it was only hyper-flexibility in his legs that saved him from major damage to his ligaments after a flying Radley attempted to charge-down the halfback’s late field-goal attempt.
KEVVIE’S BRAVE BRONCOS START TO SHOW GREEN SHOOTS
It shaped as Brisbane’s finest win of the season.
It finished in sheer heartbreak as the NRL bunker again came under fire for potentially robbing the Broncos of a famous triumph. Seventy-nine minutes of outstanding toil ... gone in 57 seconds.
Brave Brisbane suffered their most heartbreaking defeat of the season after the Roosters produced a dramatic come-from-behind 21-20 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
In ultimate heartstopper at Suncorp, the lead changed hands three times in seven frenzied final minutes, with Roosters halfback whizkid Sam Walker snapping a field goal to give his side a 19-18 lead in the 73rd minute.
Refusing to be beaten, the Broncos looked to have conjured a great escape when teenage centre Selwyn Cobbo landed a 77th-minute penalty goal for a 20-19 lead after Albert Kelly was taken out by Victor Radley.
But the Broncos were left shattered when the Roosters called a captain’s challenge for a Tom Flegler tackle on Sitili Tupouniua in the final minute.
The Roosters won the challenge, a penalty was given, and sharpshooter Adam Keighran duly stepped up to land a nerveless penalty goal with 57 seconds left to leave the Broncos battered and broken-hearted.
Brisbane were arguably the better team, scoring first, leading for 73 minutes and playing with more energy, but when it mattered most, the Roosters refused to die as James Tedesco and former Bronco Walker landed a one-two punch.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters was stunned by the Bunker call, but refused to blame the match officials for the Roosters’ Houdini act.
“If that decides the grand final...” Walters mused of the last-minute penalty.
“I don’t know if I really have a grievance, but footy can be cruel at times.
“I don’t think we were dudded, the referees are there to adjudicate and they did that.
“It was pretty tough for the guys, I thought we had our chances to win the game.”
LIONHEART HAAS
Broncos sensation Payne Haas is the best prop in the game. He is worth every cent of the proposed $1 million-a-season, 10-year deal his management is seeking from the Broncos.
Haas is a genetic freak. No man standing 194cm and weighing 118kg should have the aerobic engine and mobility of Haas, who terrorised the Roosters with 110 metres, opening the scoring with a solo try from close range in the ninth minute.
His 50-metre chase to stop a flying Tedesco scoring before half-time was remarkable. Haas has the hunger and follow-me attitude of a future Broncos captain.
SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT
The Broncos are miles away from winning a premiership but Brisbane’s collective tempo as a team has improved out of sight.
The dispirited wooden spoon rabble under former coach Anthony Seibold last season is slowly being chiselled away by his successor Kevin Walters, who pledged to bring unity to Red Hill.
Broncos players are finally singing from the same hymn sheet. They are running harder. Tackling harder. Their line-speed is sharper in defence and there is more certainty and shape in attack.
The Broncos had the Roosters rattled as they went to half-time locked at 12-all. Spirits have lifted. “I am really proud of the march forward the club is taking,” Walters said. “They had six or seven internationals but I’m really pleased with our commitment.”
THE ODD COUPLE
Broncos halfback Albert Kelly and prop Tom Flegler are polar opposites in playing style but they combined for one of the tries of the season.
With scores locked 12-all and 18 minutes left, Flegler took the ball 25 metres out on the last tackle, stepped his way through, chugged upfield and threw a sublime ball for a flying Kelly to touch down for an 18-12 lead.
While Flegler was reported for a 16th-minute tackle on Radley, he brushed that aside to produce a wholehearted display. He didn’t deserve a tragic ending.
HOT-AND-COLD COATES
At 194cm, Storm-bound Xavier Coates is built to fly high, but his hands keep letting him down jumping for bombs in attack and defence.
Exhibit A came in the 13th minute when the Broncos winger inexplicably dropped a high ball, gifting the Roosters an attacking set which led to Isaac Lui’s try to level scores at 6-all.
But Coates atoned for his sins, jumping high for a bomb and batting it back for Jordan Riki’s 20th-minute try to give Brisbane a 12-6 lead.
BUSTED GAMBLE
Brisbane five-eighth Tyson Gamble’s season could be over after suffering a suspected fractured hand. Gamble appeared to hurt his hand making a tackle on Roosters halfback Sam Walker and he was called to the sidelines in the 57th minute as Anthony Milford, playing his first game in two months, was thrown into the action from the bench.
Gamble will have scans on Saturday but Broncos coach Walters is expecting to be without his services for next week’s clash against the Warriors.
KEIGHRAN STAYS COOL UNDER PRESSURE
— Joel Gould
Roosters goalkicker Adam Keighran became the accidental hero with a stunning penalty goal with 57 seconds remaining to secure a crazy 21-20 victory over the Broncos and take his side into the top four.
In a drama-charged final seven minutes the lead changed three times.
Victor Radley’s woes against the Broncos continued when Selwyn Cobbo landed a 77th minute penalty after the Roosters lock was put on report for attacking the legs of Albert Kelly as he was attempting a field goal.
That was moments after a Sam Walker field goal in the 73rd minute against his old club had lifted the Roosters to a 19-18 lead.
An incredible James Tedesco masterclass proved the difference in a titanic battle.
Tedesco scored a try, set one up and was in everything on his way to running for 222m. It was the Teddy Show.
For one man to be everywhere on the park, and all the time, did not seem possible. Tedesco does the impossible but his best play was a captain’s challenge at the death when Thomas Flegler was ruled to have attacked the head of Sitili Toupounia when he dropped the ball. Keighran did the rest.
Roosters half Sam Walker was well contained in the first half against his old club as Tedesco stepped up to make key plays, including a 31st minute grubber for Dale Copley to score against the team he left just weeks ago to level it up at 12-all at halftime.
The Roosters were dominated in the forwards without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Angus Chrichton as a Payne Haas-inspired Broncos took it to them.
Brisbane took the lead through Albert Kelly in the second half before Tedesco trailed Siosiua Taukeiaho to level it up at 18-all before the crazy final seven minutes unfolded.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said it was a “wild game” but he was just happy ice man Keighran was the man for the big moment.
“They dream of that kickers, that opportunity to get into the position to win a game, and Adam is just getting started,” Robinson said.
“He hasn’t had many of those opportunities at NRL level but he is a beautiful kicker of the ball and absolutely nailed it. It is a real tip of the cap to Adam.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said his side wasn’t robbed by the final call.
“That is the way the game goes. Footy can be cruel, it can also be a great game sometimes,” he said. “I am just really proud of the march forward the club is taking and particularly with the players. I was proud of their effort for 80 minutes.”
TEDDY TERRIFIC
Since the Origin series ended Tedesco has been a tower of power for the Roosters, often willing them to victory with his constant presence around the ball. He plays the game with no thought for self-preservation and continues to drag his team out of the diciest of situations. Against the Broncos he did everything in his considerable power to get them over the line. It was a genius display.
RADLEY REVENGE
Despite being put on report, Radley got his revenge on the Broncos.
Roosters firebrand Radley had a target on his head in his ding-dong round two rumble with Brisbane. There was no Tevita Pangai Junior for him to joust with on this occasion but Broncos banana farmer Tom Flegler stepped in to fill the breach.
Radley was sensationally put on report four times, sin-binned twice and ultimately suspended for five games in the shock 34-16 loss to the Broncos in round 11.
The Roosters lock forward was in the thick of it early for good and bad reasons. He dropped the ball cold in the sixth minute and shortly afterwards was on the end of a bellringer from Flegler who was belatedly placed on report by the bunker for the shot.
Radley then resisted calls to come to the sideline for an HIA and waved the trainer away. He played often as a third half to create as many chances as he could.
Robinson said Radley’s play on Kelly was not one he was too concerned about, while conceding it was a penalty. “Rads was innocent with what he was trying to do and there was no injury to Albert,” he said.
ROOSTERS REVIVAL
Season ending injuries to Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins, combined with the retirements of premiership winning trio Brett Morris, Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend, would have finished off any other side’s finals hopes.
Throw in the other players unavailable for this game and the Tri-Colours have done well just to be in the top four conversation.
The Roosters win has put the heat on the fading Parramatta Eels ahead of their blockbuster clash with old rivals with Manly on Saturday night. Now in the top four for the first time since round eight, the Tri-Colours have given themselves a shot at challenging for the title when a month ago they were four points adrift of the Eels and looking down the barrel of almost certain sudden death finals.
Originally published as NRL 2021: Sydney Roosters defeat Brisbane Broncos 21-20 in thriller at Suncorp Stadium
NRL live: Sharks make late change in must-win clash
The Sharks have received a massive boost for their must-win finals clash against the Cowboys, with an injured star cleared to return. FOLLOW LIVE for the latest news.
Wayne’s shock plan to resurrect star’s career
Out-of-favour South Sydney half Lachlan Ilias is at a crossroads, but Wayne Bennett has unveiled a plan to save his career.