NRL semi final: Brisbane Broncos defeat Penrith Panthers 13-6 at Suncorp Stadium

A “SHOCKING” collision marred the Broncos’ commanding semi final win as they sent the Panthers spiralling out of the comp.

The blow was heard from the on-field mic.

• Fresh twist in Manly coach sacking
• Horror blow KO’s Oates

Broncos vs. Panthers Semi Final

The Brisbane Broncos have defeated the Penrith Panthers in the first semi final at Suncorp Stadium.

THE Penrith Panthers have been sent spiralling out of the season in a nailbiting 13-6 loss to the Brisbane Broncos. Horror injuries marred both sides throughout the match, but the most horrifying of the night was Corey Oates’ KO in the first half. The towering winger was caught in an awkward tackle with teammate Anthony Milford and was knocked to the ground cold.

Oates was taken from the field after a short lapse in play.

The Broncos now have a date with the Melbourne Storm next week to play for a spot in the 2017 grand final.

9:43pm

Broncos win over Panthers 13-6

The Panthers’ dream run has been thwarted.

The Panthers played musical chairs trying to find a way over the line in the final 10 minutes, passing the ball around their backline and milking their set of six for all it was worth.

The ball found its way to Tyrone Peachey, who attempted to grubber his way through the Broncos’ defence. Matt Gillett knocked the ball out, forcing Brisbane into a line drop-out.

A gutsy drop-out kicked short brought the Panthers back into the game — but the visitors butchered their last chance at reclaiming the game with a lost ball.

The stage was set for Brisbane’s horror injury night when Queensland winger Corey Oates was heavily concussed in a sickening collision with teammate Anthony Milford in the 21st minute.

Forwards Sam Thaiday and Jai Arrow (both concussion) joined him on the sideline by the second half.

Yet Brisbane somehow still racked up their seventh-straight finals win at Suncorp Stadium to book a grand final qualifier with the Storm. The Panthers season is over despite also bravely battling on with injury. They lost five-eighth Tyrone May (knee) on the stroke of halftime in a huge blow to a Penrith side without captain Matt Moylan for the finals. Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary may have earned Johnathan Thurston comparisons before the match from Brisbane but even he couldn’t spark the visitors with May sidelined.

It was injury city for the Broncos.

Brisbane had already copped a major blow to their quest to end their longest title drought when fullback Boyd pulled out of the sudden-death clash after opting to sit out a second week with a hamstring injury.

And the Broncos were reeling after Oates was floored in friendly fire with Milford.

The 38,623-strong crowd were hushed when Oates lay motionless for minutes after being accidentally taken high by Milford running onto a pass and had to be taken off by a medicab.

Oates had opened the scoring when he snapped up a Ben Hunt pass to run 55m and give Brisbane a 6-0 halftime lead.

David Mead was outstanding as Oates’ wing replacement while centre Tautau Moga monstered the Panthers in attack as Brisbane jumped to a 12-0 lead by the 47th minute when centre James Roberts scored.

Penrith ensured a nervous finish when impressive prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard marched up the middle to score in the 64th minute and cut the deficit to 12-6. Winger Jordan Kahu’s 70th minute field goal iced the result. Wayne Bennett chipped away at his lopsided record against the man he replaced as Brisbane coach in 2014 - Penrith’s Anthony Griffin - with his third win in 12 games.

It was Brisbane’s first week-two finals win since 2011.

— with AAP

9:29pm

Campbell-Gillard gives Panthers hope

Reagan Campbell-Gillard has brought Penrith back into the match after muscling his way over for a try midway through the second half.

The Panthers front rower has played out of his skin tonight with more than 40 tackles to his name. Nathan Cleary converted the try and brought the margin to six points.

Soon after, Broncos forward Sam Thaiday was sent from the field after being involved in a blow with Anthony Milford.

Jordan Kahu slotted in a field goal soon after, all but sealing the Broncos a date with the Storm in next week’s preliminary final.

9:10pm

Roberts goes over early in the second half

The Broncos have their second try of the match after a blistering run from James Roberts skittled the Panthers’ defence early in the second half.

Roberts put the ball down under the posts, gifting the struggling Jordan Kahu an easy conversion to bring the score to 12-0.

Brisbane star Jai Arrow was wobbling after a massive hit and was forced from the field for a concussion test.

8:42pm

Panthers suffer halftime blow

Penrith five-eighth Tyrone May has left the field with a knee injury a minute before halftime.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard returned to the field for the Panthers and immediately made a break through the Brisbane defence — but it wasn’t enough to put the Panthers on the board.

The visitors have a lot to reflect on in the break.

8:20pm

‘This is bad’: Star KO’d in horror collision

Corey Oates was taken from the field in a neck brace.

Corey Oates sent chills around the ground after falling flat on his face unconscious in the first half.

The towering winger got mixed up in a tackle with teammate Anthony Milford and copped the brunt of an attacking Panthers star’s run to the head.

“This is bad,” Andrew Johns said as medical staff rushed to the field.

Play was stopped for a few minutes as Oates was stretchered off.

Channel Nine commentator Brad Fittler was adamant the Panthers should have been allowed to play on, insisting Oates would “still be on the ground after the play”.

"This is bad." - Joey. #NRLBroncosPanthers #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/Qc0LwYG3D5

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) September 15, 2017

That was the worst ive seen in a while. Hope Corey is ok. #NRLBroncosPanthers

— Shannon McCann (@Shannon_McCann) September 15, 2017

Geez that impact was shocking you could hear the contact on the field mic !!! let's hope Oates is OK ! That was nasty #NRLBroncosPanthers

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) September 15, 2017

8:05pm

Broncos score first with Oates runaway try

Corey Oates has scored his 11th try in 10 games after breaking through the Panthers’ defence early in the first half.

The Queensland Origin winger found a gap after receiving a pass from Ben Hunt at dummy-half, outrunning Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards before plonking the ball over in the left corner.

Jordan Kahu butchered the conversion attempt, skewing the ball almost 20m to the right of the posts.

The Panthers looked far too rushed in their opening 10 minutes with a number of brain fades affecting their attack and defence. The Broncos were awarded a penalty under the posts in the 14th minute and chose to take the two points.

“That was really dumb,” Brad Fittler said of the Panthers.

7pm

Fresh twist in NRL coach’s sacking

This is the last thing Manly needed.

The Manly Sea Eagles have sacked assistant coach Willie Peters after an altercation with the club’s high-performance director Dan Ferris.

Peters, a former South Sydney and St George Illawarra halfback, was involved in a fight with Ferris outside a pub in The Rocks on Wednesday night. The pair were spoken to by police, with Peters issued with an infringement notice for offensive behaviour.

Brent Read, a reporter for The Australian, revealed the ugly bust-up was “far from over” on Triple M’s Dead Set Legends.

“There’s talk of bullying,” he said.

“Basically, Willie Peters has been put in a pretty untenable situation and he’s reacted to it.

“We are going to hear a lot more about this over the next few weeks, it’s far from over. Willie Peters isn’t overly happy about what has happened today.”

Read said the sacked coach could potentially appeal his axing via a wrongful dismissal claim.

6:30pm

The wake-up call whingeing NRL needed

Reserved is not a term that comes to mind when seeing Craig Bellamy in a coach’s box.

But the passionate Melbourne Storm mentor claimed he would think twice before spraying referees at press conferences after a wake-up call from Todd Greenberg. The NRL boss called a press conference this week to tell coaches to “grow up” after Cronulla’s Shane Flanagan and Manly’s Trent Barrett were fined a total of $50,000 for venting over referees as they bowed out of the finals. The Storm coach, who has not been known for keeping his emotions in check, said Greenberg’s address had made him “sit up and take notice” about his responsibility to set a good example.

“I just thought Todd handled that really well,” he said.

“When you’re heavily involved in the game ... you know the grassroots — the kids and their coaches — they’re all watching.

“Sometimes we forget that we should be setting an example for our game. “That’s what I got out of what Todd said.” Bellamy said he did not see Barrett or Robinson’s press conferences but admitted press conference sprays were “not on”.

Craig Bellamy has backed Todd Greenbergs stance.

“What Todd said when he mentioned about the grassroots ... watching that (behaviour) then mimicking that — that’s not on,” he said.

“That made me sit up and take a bit of notice.

“Whether you’re a player, coach or administrator at NRL level we’ve all got a responsibility to the game.

“Sometimes we can forget that I suppose.

“It was a good reminder for all of us I think.” Still, Bellamy admitted he could understand how frustrating a controversial finals loss would have been for Flanagan and Barrett.

“I think it’s hard when something happens in the game and you’ve lost then you’ve got to talk to your players then go to a press conference,” he said. “When there’s a couple of controversial decisions what’s the first question you’re going to get?

“It would be great if you could do it the next morning but I know that’s not a viable proposition.

“To go into a press conference and you’re boiling up over something whether it be referees or whatever — it’s hard for that not to come out.” Minor premiers Melbourne have a week off before hosting a preliminary final at AAMI Park.

— with AAP

6pm

Origin coach debate rages on

Will Freddy pull NSW out of the dumps?

It’s no secret NSW fans want Blues legend Brad Fittler back in the mix after Laurie Daley’s axing. The Blues have lost 11 of the past 12 Origin series to Queensland in what has been the most dominant era in the competition’s history.

Fittler once said he would be interested in returning to coach his state to exact revenge on the Maroons, but the 45-year-old has since reeled-in his excitement for taking on one of the most scrutinised coaching roles in the country.

Appearing on Sky’s Big Sports Breakfast Friday morning, Fittler responded to the speculation over his future as NSW’s coach.

“When are they announcing you as the Origin coach?” host Michael Slater asked.

“Well I believe the chairman’s on holiday,” Fittler replied hesitantly.

“I think it’ll come to a bit of a head soon in a couple of weeks. I think they’ve got to plan board meetings ... whether they come out with a coach at that stage or say they’re coming out to talk to a few people, I don’t know.

“I’m keeping my hand down at the moment. I’m just going to wait and see what they’re going to do because there’s a fair bit of thought you’ve got to put into a job like that.”

“Do you want to do it though, mate?” Slater probed.

“A long time ago I was asked an impromptu question: would I do it? And I naturally said, ‘Of course, I’d love to’,” Fittler replied.

“It then caused a bit of a situation. I thought I belittled the job a little bit — Laurie Daley did a great job and I promised myself I’d never do it again. So I think I’ll wait and see what the board do and see what situation they want and what the role entails.”