NRL 2020, Round 5 | Manly Sea Eagles comeback to defeat Brisbane Broncos at Central Coast Stadium

The Brisbane Broncos were left to rue a horror stat after a moment that left commentators and fans baffled heaped more pain on the side.

Patrick Carrigan reacts to the Broncos comeback loss.

The Brisbane Broncos have had the perfect start at Central Coast Stadium but it hasn’t been enough with a 20-point Manly Sea Eagles comeback snatching the result.

Two tries in the opening 20 minutes had the Sea Eagles on the back foot with the under-fire Broncos romping to a 12-0 lead with Kotoni Staggs keeping the ball alive on the last and kicking for himself, before Xavier Coates jumped high to catch a bomb.

Darius Boyd then ran over the top of Tom Trbojevic to make it 18-0 after 32 minutes.

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After a horrific week following the 59-0 loss over the Sydney Roosters, the Broncos looked set to run away with the game against a lethargic Sea Eagles.

“It’s quite remarkable what we have seen in Gosford tonight,” Warren Smith said in commentary after Boyd’s try.

He almost had a second soon after but was called back for obstruction as Daly Cherry-Evans milked an obstruction penalty, putting his arms around Corey Oates, who was running a decoy.

The news also got worse for the Sea Eagles with Marty Tapau out of the match after dislocating his thumb.

The Broncos were on fire in the first half against the Sea Eagles.

But hope just before half-time gave the Sea Eagles a platform to build off when debutant Tevita Funa scored in the corner just before the halftime break.

Cherry-Evans also crossed the line early in the second half to make it a ballgame - 18-10 after 45 minutes — before Moses Suli made it a two point ball game in the 54th minute when he cross in a huge overlap.

A penalty goal in the 63rd minute tied up scores with the Sea Eagles well on top.

Daly Cherry-Evans had a field goal attempt charged down but Manly were handed a controversial penalty for a rake after the whistle.

But commentators were perplexed with a seemingly close call against the Broncos.

“It’s going to be a penalty. I’m a little mystified why it’s a penalty rather than being handed back — isn’t it like passing it after the call of held?” Warren Smith said on Fox League.

Kevin Walters added: “It certainly is, unfortunate there for Brisbane.”

While it may not have been that big an issue at any other time in the match, with 10 minutes to go and the scores locked at 18-all, it gave the Sea Eagles the lead as they held on despite a late effort from Xavier Coates “all or nothing” play with a minute to play.

Broncos prop Matt Lodge said “that’s three calls” on the field after Coates’ last-ditch effort was foiled.

While it was a much improved performance from the Broncos, 12 penalties ensured Brisbane couldn’t hold on in the second half.

Some fans hit out at referee Ashley Klein.

The two obstructions were the right call but the Bronx have been pretty dudded by the refs tonight. Missed 40/20. That stripping penalty. Both came at crucial times. Lopsided penalty count too. #NRL

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) June 11, 2020

Seriously though Broncs kind of dudded that at the end there. Milf could’ve run that through originally. #NRLManlyBroncos

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) June 11, 2020

Look, I’ve got no love for the Broncos but referee Klein is certainly finding every chance to ping them here #NRLManlyBroncos

— Rob Sutherland (@rob_sutherland3) June 11, 2020

Coach Anthony Seibold and forward Matt Lodge front the media after the match, following intense criticism following the Roosters lost.

Seibold said it was “a step in the right direction”. But admitted he was perplexed but the decisive penalty.

“It was a really tough call, it was a one-on-one strip,” Seibold said. “If he had of called held, what normally happens? The guy gets to play the ball again so to lose a game like that is disappointing because I just didn’t think it was a penalty.

“It was a penalty, they got the two-point and there it is.”

Seibold also hit out at the critics of the side.

“People who make comment, they’re not inside our building. It’s going to be there regardless, it doesn’t impact how we train, how we play,” he said. “We’re not trying to silence any critics, we’re trying to get better as a group. The people who criticise our club, myself, the players, they’re not on board anyway. If you spend your life trying to please other people you’re going to be disappointed.”

Lodge said he understood how the referee made the decision.

“Honestly I thought it was one-on-one, but I can completely understand because we’re going the one ref,” he said. “I’m a fan of the one ref. He didn’t have his eye on the ruck and he made his decision on the run and that’s what happens in football so we’re not disappointed in that. We shouldn’t have been in a position where we could lose the game by them taking the two.”

The Broncos were aiming up against the Sea Eagles.

It’s been a week to forget for the Broncos who were heavily criticised for their performances since the return of the NRL three weeks ago.

A big loss to the Parramatta Eels and a record 59-0 loss to the Sydney Roosters, had everyone in the rugby league world piling on after back-to-back drubbings with legends taking aim.

The likes of Wayne Bennett, Gorden Tallis and Kevin Walters all hammered the team, with Queensland coach Walters, who was denied the head coaching position for Anthony Seibold, lashing the team earlier in the week.