Brisbane get their top four campaign back on track with 50-18 belting of Penrith
A BLISTERING opening quarter has delivered Brisbane a 50-18 win over Penrith to get their top four campaign well and truly back on track
Broncos
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THE Broncos’ hopes of a top four finish are alive and well after a stunning first half performance ignited by Tevita Pangai Jr saw them run away with a 50-18 victory over the Panthers.
Just five days after they were embarrassed 26-6 by the Warriors on their own home turf, Brisbane responded in fine style against a fellow top eight team to show why they should not be ruled out of the premiership race just yet.
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While they still have to show more week-to-week consistency to be considered a major threat, their flair in the opening 40 minutes was impressive enough to hand them the massive 32 point victory.
Their win was sealed through Kodi Nikorima, who managed to pull off two intercept tries in the final 20 minutes in his best game of the season.
But the real hero appeared to be forward Pangai Jr, who only notched up 31 minutes in his return from a hamstring strain.
Brisbane desperately missed him against the Warriors last week and his impact was immediately noticeable.
He opened the scoring for Brisbane in the 4th minute, barging towards the line off a Sam Thaiday offload, and then nabbed another four-pointer just eight minutes later by showing incredible strength to beat five defenders to score.
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His absence in the second stanza was obvious, but it was clear coach Wayne Bennett did not want to risk further injury given the Broncos had already secured the win.
It was a wise move from Bennett, but if anything it showed just how much the Broncos need Pangai Jr if they are to push for the top four.
Broncos great Darren Lockyer last week labelled the off-contract star as the “key” to Brisbane’s premiership hopes and they will need him fit for the race to September.
It was a particularly thrilling start for Brisbane, who managed an incredible 95 per cent completion rate in the opening 40 minutes.
But what they need to show now is consistency on a weekly basis.
Coach Wayne Bennett did not want to talk up Brisbane’s performance or their finals chances last night.
But he said the most important thing was for the team to avoid any hype that would come their way.
“It was pretty obvious we were good,” he said.
“We can’t afford to get around and tell ourselves we were sensational.
“It’s everything for us right now. We were poor last week. We need to nail the games we should be nailing. That’s in front of us now.”
Just two weeks ago the Broncos were celebrated for a strong 34-0 win against the Titans — their biggest win of the season so far.
It appeared that they had secured their top eight spot only to be dealt a massive reality check last week in their loss to the Warriors.
In the space of five days, they have turned it around again but they need to show far more consistency.
They have six rounds to build into the finals and Thursday’s clash with Cronulla will be the massive test that they need.
In a massive blow however, Bennett conceded he does not know whether star forward Matt Gillett will be back this season.
The Australian backrower’s absence has been obvious this year as he has battled a fractured neck and a calf tear.
While Bennett said he could be back in two weeks after he has another scan on his neck, he was not sure whether he would be worth the risk.
“He’s at least two weeks, maybe three,” Bennett said.
“I probably feel he may not play this year. It’s two weeks before he gets another scan so that’s four weeks to go in the season virtually.”
BRISBANE 50 (K Nikorima 2 T Pangai Junior 2 D Boyd M Lodge C Oates J Roberts tries J Isaako 6 J Kahu 3 goals) bt PENRITH 18 (W Blake J Mansour T Peachey tries N Cleary 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 26,357
Originally published as Brisbane get their top four campaign back on track with 50-18 belting of Penrith