NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos win 30-14 over Parramatta Eels
Despite missing inspirational skipper Adam Reynolds and suffering another key injury early on, the Broncos still proved too much for Parramatta, handing the under fire Eels side their third straight loss.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dynamic duo Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo conjured two moments of magic to ensure Brisbane’s juggernaut powered on without Adam Reynolds in a 30-14 defeat of the Eels on Friday night.
Already missing Reynolds (bicep) and Jesse Arthars (broken jaw), the Broncos suffered another injury blow with hooker Billy Walters (wrist) lasting just 12 minutes at a rain-soaked CommBank Stadium.
Walters suffered ligament damage and will be racing the clock for next Friday night’s Magic Round clash against Manly at Suncorp Stadium.
But even without key spine members Reynolds and Walters, the Broncos had too many weapons for the depleted Eels as touches of class from Mam and Cobbo kept Brisbane (6-4) in the top eight.
The Broncos are still searching for their best. But two-try Deine Mariner and thundering Payne Haas summed up the individual brilliance that fired Brisbane to an 18-8 half-time lead before the Broncos finished off an Eels side missing Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson.
“It was good in patches,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “Our tryline attack isn’t that great. I can’t be too critical. Our tryline defence was very good and we are still scoring enough points to win games which is pleasing.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Broncos backline wizards Mam and Cobbo are a joy to watch.
The difference between these two sides was Brisbane’s ability to take their chances against the run of play ... because of freakish talents such as Mam and Cobbo.
Mam produced one of the plays of the season when he chipped ahead in the 52nd minute and won the race to give the Broncos a crucial 24-14 lead in the wet.
Then came the one-two punch via Cobbo, who touched down five minutes later with an aerial leap befitting an Olympic gymnast millimetres inside the dead-ball line.
Game over.
“There’s only half-a-dozen players in the comp who could do that,” Maroons coach Billy Slater said of Cobbo on Channel 9.
DEADLY DEINE
Winger Deine Mariner torched the Eels. He showed beautiful feet in a 45-metre dash to score in the 25th minute, then broke Parramatta’s hearts just 60 seconds before the break when he took a clever flick pass from Jordan Riki and sprinted 75m for an 18-8 half-time lead.
“That was a huge play for us,” Walters said of Mariner’s second try. “I really admire guys with speed and Deine has it.”
Mariner finished with 195 metres and three tackle busts and is staking a claim to play Test football for his native New Zealand.
BUSTLING BRONCOS
Despite having just 28 per cent of territory in the opening half, the Broncos went to the sheds leading 18-8 thanks to a combination of Parramatta’s poor execution and Brisbane’s lethal game breakers.
Brisbane’s kick chase and cover defence is remarkable. The Eels had little trouble reaching the red zone but the Broncos kept repelling the hosts with a defensive desperation few NRL rivals can match.
ROGER THAT
Back-up playmaker Josh Rogers showed nice poise filling the enormous boots of champion halfback Reynolds.
In just his second NRL game, the 27-year-old made 25 tackles, kicked soundly and marshalled Brisbane’s attack well enough for halves partner Mam to run riot.
“Josh was very solid,” Walters said. “He kicked well, he is a very capable player and the type of person who suited those wet conditions.”
Rogers’ composure allowed Brisbane to dominate the midfield with superstar prop Haas returning to his best with 150m and seven tackle busts to bury the Eels.
NO GUTHO, NO WORRIES
With inspirational Eels skipper Clint Gutherson out for up to five weeks Blaize Talagi was handed the number one jersey after making his debut earlier this year at centre, before playing two games at five eighth.
The 19-year-old was in everything in the first half. He completely muffed a Josh Rogers bomb that would have cost his side a try, save for an errant offside Bronco and was later dumped on his head by Kotoni Staggs who was placed on report.
In between Talagi was brilliant. In an eight minute period two thirds of the way through the first stanza he was arguably the most important player on the field. He first foiled a certain try with a tough one on one stop on a runaway Selwyn Cobbo before defusing a tricky bomb and breaking into the open field six minutes later.
Then came a moment Reece Walsh would have been proud of with Talagi beating Ezra Mam all ends up with speed and a swerve for a sizzling try.
Earlier this week Talagi indicated he would test his value on the open market after failing to trigger an option in his contract for 2025. After tonight the interest in the young gun will now doubt have grown.
Eels coach Brad Arthur praised Talagi’s effort on both sides of the ball.
“He done a lot of good things didn’t he? He done a heap of good things and then done a couple of things, you know, he’d probably like his time over again, but the good thing about it is, he won’t die wondering,” Arthur said.
“He showed when he got the ball he’s going to be hard to handle and I thought he was pretty good defensively too. You know, I thought he might struggle a bit on the tryline but he actually got our numbers okay and handled that pretty good and he showed that physically, he’s right in it.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos win 30-14 over Parramatta Eels
‘Bring back Mary’: Panthers reveal Cleary retention plan
Panthers boss Brian Fletcher has signalled the club’s intention to re-sign Nathan and Ivan Cleary beyond 2027 - while possibly luring Mary Fowler back to Australia as well.
V’landys’ Bears promise amid WA’s NRL expansion collapse
ARLC boss Peter V’landys has delivered a message of hope to long-suffering North Sydney supporters following the dramatic collapse of the Western Bears’ NRL expansion bid.