NRL Round 2 2022: Broncos player ratings against Bulldogs
Adam Reynolds led the Broncos to victory in his first game for the club, but he wasn’t the only performer by a long shot. HOW THEY RATED
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In the most keenly anticipated unveiling involving a Reynolds since the premiere of Smokey and the Bandit, the Broncos started the “Adam Reynolds Era” with the gutsiest of gutsy wins over Canterbury in Sydney last night.
The Bulldogs threw everything – including the kitchen sink – at the Broncos with barber shop opening enthusiast/brainsnap merchant Tevita Pangai Jr leading the charge for Canterbury against his old club.
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But Brisbane’s defence magnificently held firm – if you got a dollar for every time you said that over the past two years you could almost afford a Paddle Pop – with Reynolds heavily involved in the victory that takes Brisbane to 2-0 (Manly and Souths are both 0-2, think about that).
The Broncos had heroes everywhere, here’s how they rated.
1. Tesi Niu – 5
Will have nightmares about Matt Burton’s towering bombs that most mere mortals could not catch with a fishing net with one fumble from a Burton rainmaker leading to a Bulldogs try. He just stopped trying to catch them after a while… “Yours, Selwyn!” Not a great sign for a fullback.
2. Corey Oates – 7.5
Was on the end of Albert Kelly’s brilliant chip to claim his 100th NRL try – the same number of four-pointers as a bloke called Alf. Much like the 2015 Grand Final, came off his wing and had no defensive impact when the Dogs scored their first try. But ran for over 200 metres with some hard carries out of Brisbane’s territory.
3. Kotoni Staggs – 7
Just catch it and fall over, bro. Butchered a try when he dropped the ball over the line after Reynolds’ tunnel ball pass that kids will be attempting on playgrounds all over Brisbane this week. Starved of attacking chances outside that. Did a David Copperfield by appearing out of nowhere to deny Burton a try in the first half (Copperfield’s greatest trick remains being Claudie Schiffer’s boyfriend for a period of time). Gave away a penalty for taking out Josh Addo-Carr (can’t blame him for that, he asks for it). Heavily involved in defence with 21 tackles to go with five runs.
4. Herbie Farnworth – 8.5
Herbie went bananas with two tries in the second half and more than 250 running metres. A clever strip led to his first four-pointer, and he showed blinding pace to get around the Canterbury defence from a scrum set move for his second. Old blokes – some of whom may also be called Herbert – love set pieces from scrums. Arguably his best game in a Broncos jumper. Dangerous with every touch. Solid in defence.
5. Selwyn Cobbo – 5.5
The next coming of Dally Messenger got smashed in his first hit-up and knocked on a kick in a less spectacular effort than last week’s. Quiet day all round for the young fella with just 42 running metres. Should be made fullback. He would have had a crack at those bombs.
6. Albert Kelly – 8
Showed the deft touch of Cam Smith (the Maroons-loving golfer with the mullet, not the footballer) with a pinpoint accurate chip that went over the heads of two Doggies defenders and landed right in the hands of Oates. Had a significant hand in Farnworth’s second try when he took on the defensive line at pace from a scrum. Displayed the catching skills of a Test slips fielder when he plucked the ball out of thin air in the dying seconds from an Addo-Carr kick. Another top-notch effort after his man-of-the-match outing in Round 1.
7. Adam Reynolds – 8
Apparently, it was his first game for Brisbane after switching from the Bunnies in the off season, Funny that, nobody has mentioned it. But seriously, how good was the tunnel ball pass in the second half for what should have been a try to Staggs. He can’t throw them and catch them as well. Copped more traffic than the Story Bridge during the Ekka on Brisbane’s defensive right edge. Got hit after every kick – except his conversion attempts. Brisbane’s poise and patience throughout came down to his to his presence. Produced a captain’s tackle on Brent Naden late when he could barely stand up.
8. Keenan Palasia – 6.5
Nice tackle on Matt Dufty to snuff out a dangerous Canterbury attacking wave. Thought he was Arthur Beetson with an attempted off-load in good attacking territory but the pass was more like something from Uncle Arthur. Almost 80 running metres and 25 tackles in another workhorse display.
9. Jake Turpin – 6.5
Had 30 tackles by halftime and 37 to his name when he was replaced in the second half. No runs out of dummy-half in the first half and just the one after halftime. He’s a tackling machine but is also capable of being a spark in attack. Needs to find that balance.
10. Payne Haas – 7.5
It shows how great the big unit is when 149 running metres and 33 tackles feels a tiny-ish bit on the quiet side. He has set exceptionally high standards as the best prop in the game. The Doggies really muscled up and focused on Haas who had 43 running metres from five hit-ups and 15 tackles in his first stint. Got better the longer the game went and was enormous for Brisbane in the second half (he’s actually enormous all the time).
11. Kurt Capewell – 6.5
His field goal streak sadly came to an end. Churned through 39 tackles and was not a major factor in attack. Can’t put a number on his experience in tight games though. Always seemed there or thereabouts when the going got tough.
12. Jordan Riki – 6.5
Had a verbal altercation with Pangai Jr (not hard to do). Some sloppy marker defence led to a try to Canterbury’s Jeremy Marshall-King but he finished with 50 tackles on the day. Had delusions of grandeur when he tried to beat Addo-Carr on the outside and was forced into touch late. It was Addo-Carr, mate. He’s faster than everyone.
13. Patrick Carrigan – 7
Another very solid day for the bloke with the barista man-bun, with 122 running metres and 30-odd tackles. Very unlucky to be penalised for a late tackle on Bulldogs halfback Josh Averillo in the closing minutes. If that was a penalty, Brisbane should have got 12 for the times Reynolds was smashed after he kicked the Steeden.
14. Ryan James – 5.5
Not a big stint for the big fella with 32 running metres and 19 tackles in 28 minutes. Got split open above the eye after a head clash that had blood pouring out of his large melon. Male modelling jobs may have to be bypassed this week.
15. Kobe Hetherington – 6
The most used player off the bench with 35 minutes, 72 running metres and 30 tackles in his return to first grade. One handling error in an otherwise handy shift.
16. T.C. Robati – 5
Saw no action in the first half. Thrown in late and had the one run and nine tackles in the dying minutes when the Dogs were pressing hard. Part of the big defensive stand.
17. Billy Walters – 6
Finally thrown into the game with 25 minutes to go after threatening to boycott Father’s Day BBQ plans later this year. Made an impact with his running game out of dummy-half with 47 metres from four darts after replacing Jake Turpin. Shapes as the long-term “No.14” which is what the cool kids say when they mean interchange utility. And besides, he was wearing No.17.
Originally published as NRL Round 2 2022: Broncos player ratings against Bulldogs
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