NRL 2022 round 12: Brisbane Broncos defeat Gold Coast Titans, short kick-off blunder

The Broncos put aside the Payne Haas contract saga to unleash a second-half blitz to overrun the Titans, who produced one of the blunders of the season to trigger Brisbane’s stunning comeback.

The Broncos overcame the shock of the Payne Haas contract saga to stun the Titans with a comeback for the ages as Brisbane sealed a sixth successive win with a 35-24 great escape at Suncorp Stadium.

Haas rocked Brisbane on match eve with his bombshell request for an immediate release and the flying shrapnel threatened to cut deep when the Broncos collapsed to a 24-4 half-time derby deficit.

In remarkable scenes, the pro-Broncos crowd of 32,864 booed Haas — Brisbane’s three-time Paul Morgan medallist — every time he touched the ball.

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The embattled Titans seized on the Red Hill soap opera, bolting to an 18-0 lead early as shellshocked Brisbane struggled to handle red-hot Gold Coast duo Toby Sexton and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

But just as the Haas affair threatened to break Brisbane’s spirit, the Titans sensationally choked at Suncorp for the second consecutive season after squandering a 22-0 lead last year.

Ezra Mam celebrates a trry during the Broncos’ stunning comeback against the Titans. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

With Brisbane awaiting the knockout blow, the home side bounced off the ropes with five tries in 21 minutes and 31 unanswered points to temporarily charge into the top four and leave the Titans’ finals hopes on life support.

The stunning revival was crystallised by the sight of contract villain Haas smiling like The Joker as Brisbane delivered a second consecutive win without talismanic halfback Adam Reynolds, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

“I just wanted the real Broncos to run out in the second half,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “The energy wasn’t there in the first half, but it was a good turnaround for us.

“Half-time couldn’t come quickly enough, just to get them down into the sheds and get them settled. It was just a matter of resetting and going ahead.

“I knew the guys weren’t playing at a level they were capable of. We weren’t in there physically, but to their credit they came out and started to play like the Broncos that we know they are.”

PLEASURE AND PAYNE

The Haas melodrama has polarised the NRL. There is a view the Broncos can resolve the rift with Haas. Brisbane legend Corey Parker believes the NSW Origin enforcer should have his Broncos contract torn up urgently.

In the first half, Brisbane’s Mexican stand-off with Haas appeared untenable. The Broncos looked rattled early, but after the break, any concerns about the potential for dressing-room division at Red Hill was blown away by a red-hot second half.

Walters dismissed suggestions Haas’ release revelation had the potential to destabilise the squad.

“I don’t think it had an effect,” he said. “There’s been a few distractions this week for the playing group, but they came together beautifully in that second 40 after the week we’ve had.

“The news we had on Payne wouldn’t have been great for the players to hear, but they got around Payne and it was a really good second half.

“I was a bit disappointed and surprised he asked for a release, but I’m really confident we can sit down with Payne’s management and sort something out.

Payne Haas was booed by Broncos fans at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“We won’t release him and he has been a big part of our club for a few years now and I believe he will be a big part into the future.”

Centre Herbie Farnworth was outstanding with nine tackle busts and it was his solo try in the 59th minute which drew Brisbane close at 24-22.

When rookie playmaker Ezra Mam released Corey Oates 10 minutes later for Kurt Capewell’s try, the Titans were toast. Brisbane weren’t at their best but did well to hold their nerve.

The revitalised Oates was again superb and must be in the Queensland selection frame for Origin I.

TOWERING TINO

Fa’asuamaleaui sealed his Queensland Origin jumper with an outstanding skipper’s knock for the Titans.

In one of the most brutal singular forward performances of the season, Big Tino ripped the Broncos apart in midfield. By half-time alone, he had a staggering 177 metres and finished with 228m as his Origin battle with Broncos rival Pat Carrigan turned into a one-sided cakewalk.

Fa’asuamaleaui deserved to be in a winning team but the good news is he’s running into peak form for the Queensland Origin side at the perfect time.

Selwyn Cobbo was on the scoresheet again for the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

TITANIC BLUNDER

The contest turned in the 54th minute when the Titans had a brain explosion, ordering winger Jamayne Isaako try a short kick-off.

The Titans were leading by 14. Broncos hooker Cory Paix speared through and released Jordan Riki for the try which kickstarted Brisbane’s fightback at 24-16.

The woeful decision summed up the Titans’ implosion. They are languishing in 14th place and pressure is building on coach Justin Holbrook to stop the rot at Parkwood.

Originally published as NRL 2022 round 12: Brisbane Broncos defeat Gold Coast Titans, short kick-off blunder