NRL Round 18 2024: Penrith Panthers win 14-6 over Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos’ mid-season rut has gone from bad to worse as they continue to lose touch with the top eight after five straight losses, with the Panthers claiming victory in the grand final rematch.
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Brisbane’s scrumbase stocks are in tatters with halfback Jock Madden tearing his hamstring as their grand-final nemesis, the Panthers, returned to haunt the Broncos on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Penrith broke Brisbane’s hearts in last year’s NRL decider and they plunged another dagger into the Broncos with a gutsy 14-6 victory in a pulsating grand-final replay in the wet.
Inspired by Liam Martin and Jarome Luai, the premiers held their nerve to consign the Broncos to their fifth straight defeat and finals alarm bells are ringing for a Brisbane (7-9) side which could finish the weekend as low as 12th.
To compound Brisbane’s pain, Madden limped off in the 43rd minute and never returned, taking the gloss of a magnificent first half that represented the Broncos’ best opening stanza of the season.
Trailing 6-4 at halftime, Penrith were heroic after the break. They kept Brisbane scoreless, with Brian To’o crossing (47th) to edge Penrith ahead at 8-6 before hooker Mitch Kenny crashed over 10 minutes from time to seal an epic triumph.
HALF THE BATTLE
Brisbane’s scrumbase depth hit crisis point the moment halfback Madden grabbed at his hamstring just three minutes after halftime.
Already missing chief commander Adam Reynolds (biceps), the Broncos were left to rue the sight of Madden breaking down as he attempted to outpace Brian To’o for an Ezra Mam kick.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has a major halves headache for next Saturday’s clash against the Dragons with Reynolds, Madden and 18-year-old halfback Coby Black (broken thumb) all injured. Tristan Sailor could answer an SOS at five-eighth to partner Ezra Mam.
MAGIC MARTIN
Penrith’s desire is remarkable. They overcame Brisbane’s best first half of the season and the absence of champion halfback Nathan Cleary to trump the Broncos in a desperate battle of will.
Not for the first time, the Panthers found stars in Moses Leota, Edwards (234m) and James Fisher-Harris, who charged for 170m to consistently pressure in midfield.
But the true hero was Martin. The NSW Origin back-rower is a freak. He made two try-saving tackles and when Luai put up a bomb in the 47th minute, it was Martin who swooped to have a hand in To’o’s match-turning try.
WIZARD WALSH
Despite the loss, Broncos fullback Reece Walsh buried the demons of his tough night in Origin II with a fine performance.
Playing his first game for the Broncos in almost six weeks, Walsh produced one of his finest all-round displays in an ominous sign for NSW ahead of the Origin decider at Suncorp.
‘Reece Lightning’ lit up Suncorp when he charged onto a Mam pass and danced past two Panthers in a scorching 45-metre solo effort to give Brisbane a 6-4 lead in the 26th minute. He finished with 133 metres and five tackle busts.
But it was the less glamorous stuff that really impressed. Walsh forced an error with a superb front-on shot and his short and long kicking game kept the heat on the Panthers in the wet.
BRAVE BRONCOS
Brisbane’s ill-discipline has been costly over the past month but their defensive resolve against the premiers was first class.
Under siege in the opening 20 minutes, it was a testament to the Broncos’ defensive desperation that they held Penrith to just one first-half try in the face of a Panthers onslaught.
Superstar prop Payne Haas personified Brisbane’s heart with 31 tackles in a tireless first half and if Brisbane keep this form up, they can stabilise to reach the playoffs.
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Originally published as NRL Round 18 2024: Penrith Panthers win 14-6 over Brisbane Broncos
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