NRL 2020: Brisbane Broncos 26 Cronulla Sharks 36 | Match Report

The Broncos played some of their best footy of the year with Darius Boyd at fullback but it still wasn’t enough to win, with their defence and finals hopes disappearing in the final minutes after conceding three late tries.

The Broncos’ finals hopes are in tatters — and so is coach Anthony Seibold’s future — after the Sharks conjured a footballing miracle to break Brisbane’s hearts in a 36-26 thriller at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane looked to have earned a thoroughly-deserved victory when maligned veteran Darius Boyd produced one of the finest performances of his career, setting up four tries to propel the Broncos to a 26-18 lead.

But with Brisbane humming with 10 minutes remaining, they sensationally imploded as the injury-ravaged Sharks scored three tries in eight minutes to consign the shattered Broncos to their ninth loss in their last 10 weeks.

If the Bulldogs produce a boilover against Parramatta on Sunday, the Broncos will officially be last on percentages.

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The Broncos conceded three late tries to surrender the game to Cronulla. Picture: Getty Images.

How the Broncos blew this game is beyond belief — and sums up their horror campaign.

With Boyd in sizzling form in his return to fullback, the Broncos were the better side for most of the night and appeared comfortable when he put Kotoni Staggs over for his second try in the 57th minute for an eight-point break.

But with victory in sight, the Broncos choked. Cronulla duo Sione Katoa (70th) and Connor Treacy (75th) crossed to give the Sharks the lead and when Braden Hamlin-Uele crashed over two minutes from time, Cronulla savoured a famous triumph.

The Broncos have now won three of 12 games and appear to be no hope of making the playoffs. If that is the case, there is surely no way Seibold can survive an end-of-season performance review.

DARIUS THE DESTROYER

Boyd didn’t deserve to be a loser on Friday night.

Playing his first game at fullback in 390 days, Boyd was Darius the Destroyer, having a hand in four of Brisbane’s five tries as he and two-try strike weapon Staggs terrorised the Sharks.

Boyd was axed as captain and fullback in pre-season by Seibold and he has been so ineffective at left centre NRL Immortal Andrew Johns recently called for him to be dropped.

But the 33-year-old was outstanding before 7390 fans, delivering a display that evoked images of his tenure as Queensland and Australia’s pre-eminent fullback ahead of Billy Slater in 2016.

Darius Boys was a standout for Brisbane, ending the game with four try assists. Picture: Getty Images.

CENTRE STAGE

Staggs and Herbie Farnworth have the makings of a fine centre combination. Staggs’ energy brings a dynamic edge to Brisbane and his hunger in both attack and defence makes the Broncos a better team.

If it wasn’t his piercing, straight-line burst for Brisbane’s 18th-minute try, it was his desperate trysaver to deny Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo just after halftime. The NSW Origin hopeful was ably supported by Farnworth, who ran strongly all night.

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If Boyd was Brisbane’s best, Kotoni Staggs was a close second, bringing some much needed energy to his side. Picture: Getty Images.

BRITTLE BRONCOS

Brisbane kept the Sharks in the contest with some terrible defensive reads in their red zone.

By rights, the Broncos should have led at halftime. They completed better, made more line breaks and run metres and missed fewer tackles, but Brisbane’s fragility in defence triggered an 18-14 halftime deficit. The Sharks had just six tackles in the opposition 20-metre area in the first half yet somehow managed three tries, chiefly because of the Broncos’ inability to number-up and tendency to panic on their tryline.

HOOKING GOOD

Jake Turpin made a difference to Brisbane’s spine. Returning from a fractured leg, Turpin sets the cultural standard for the Broncos with his workrate and toughness. His dummy-half snipe and pass for Rhys Kennedy’s 33rd-minute try was a clever play.

BRONCOS 26 (Tries: Staggs 2, Kennedy, Kennar 2 & Goals: Staggs 3/5) Cronulla Sharks 36 (Tries: Mulitalo, Talakai, Ferris, Katoa, Tracey, Hamlin-Uele & Goals: Johnson 6/6) at Suncorp Stadium.

Originally published as NRL 2020: Brisbane Broncos 26 Cronulla Sharks 36 | Match Report