Billy Smith stars as Roosters bounce back to stun Broncos

Billy Smith has established himself as one of rugby league’s great feel-good stories, with his two-try heroics inspiring a crucial 26-16 triumph over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Having only just returned from hip and ankle concerns, the 25-year-old centre has managed just 30 NRL appearances since his 2019 debut after being foiled by a series of ACL ruptures.

But the towering outside back was all class on Friday night, his first try a brilliant leap over the top of Broncos fullback Reece Walsh and his second a remarkable grounding off a James Tedesco grubber which looked like it was going dead for all money.

Smith did not have it all his own way, sent to the sin bin under the NRL’s high tackle crackdown. In that 10-minute stint on the sidelines, Brisbane went on the attack – scoring through a Selwyn Cobbo intercept and a Walsh try.

However, when Brisbane edge forward Jack Goseiwski was sent to the sin bin upon review from the bunker, the Roosters went back on the charge – Smith scoring his second, while Angus Crichton forced his way over from close range.

The Roosters celebrate a Billy Smith try.Credit: Getty Images

While Brisbane were first to score in the second half, a pinpoint Walsh cutout pass handing Jesse Arthars his eighth try of the year, Sydney were quick to regain composure – getting into the forward pack grind before Egan Butcher crashed over.

From that point, nothing seemed to click for the Broncos, with passes finding touch and Xavier Willison denied a late try having been deemed to have lost possession. In contrast, the Roosters were strong in defence – Siua Wong leading the way with 31 tackles – to avenge their round one defeat in which they conceded 50 points.

The Broncos put 50 points past them in Sydney in round one, but tonight the Roosters have claimed sweet revenge by beating the competition heavyweights on their home turf – and in front of a 40,000-strong crowd. It’s just their second victory of the season so far (the other came against premiers Penrith) but shows the Roosters still have it in them to get back into finals contention.

And it won’t get the headlines but rookie halfback Hugo Savala’s kicking game was very strong for the Roosters tonight, repeatedly finding the turf and turning around Reece Walsh while Brisbane were desperate for field position late in the contest. After replacing Chad Townsend in the No.7 jersey this week, expect Savala to stick around until Sam Walker is available again in the middle of the year.

Roosters 26-16 Broncos at full-time

The Roosters give away a seven-tackle set as a kick goes over the dead-ball line but the Broncos look out on their feet here. And so it proves after a couple of tackles with Ben Hunt firing a cutout ball that is off target or at least not expected by his outside men, the ball trickling over the sideline.

Now the Roosters put up a bomb and Reece Walsh produces one of the more acrobatic knock-ons you will see, leaping almost onto the shoulders of teammate Ben Hunt to contest the ball with James Tedesco – only to drop it on the way down. That gives the Tricolours a fresh set inside Brisbane’s 20 metres with three minutes left.

Roosters 26-16 Broncos after 77 minutes

It goes from bad to worse for Brisbane with winger Jesse Arthars ruled out of the rest of the contest due to a head knock – but then some razzle dazzle almost gets them back into it. Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt combine as the Broncos surge down the right, and a hail mary offload appears to have put Xavier Willison across for a try but the bunker finds a knock on as he gathers the ball from the turf and touches down.

The Roosters are suddenly in hanging-on mode again, but with a 10-point lead and less than 10 left on the clock they’re in the box seat here.

Roosters 26-16 Broncos after 73 minutes

Brisbane are under a mountain of pressure here, a James Tedesco line break and a full set in attacking territory leading to another six-again call from the referee for a ruck infringement by Martin Taupau. And finally they crack, Nat Butcher crashing over beside the left upright.

Roosters 26-16 Broncos after 66 minutes

Just a refresher on the Roosters’ season so far as we head into the final 20 minutes of this contest, with the visitors leading Brisbane by four points.

They got walloped 50-14 on their own turf by the Broncos in round one, then bounced back to stun the Panthers in round two. Surprise losses to the Warriors and Titans followed, before a less surprising loss to the Rabbitohs last week.

Incredibly, they’re on track to claim another huge win, in what has been a rollercoaster of a season. Can they hang on?

Roosters 20-16 Broncos after 61 minutes

The Broncos defence wraps up Angus Crichton.Credit: Getty Images

James Tedesco cleans up a Reece Walsh grubber kick in the in-goal, but the resulting dropout sails out on the full and the Broncos start their next set on the Roosters’ 10-metre line.

The visitors’ defence looks strong after the break and repels the next few raids from Brisbane. But the Broncos aren’t done just yet and now they go left and a great, flat pass from Reece Walsh puts Jesse Arthars over in the corner.

Adam Reynolds’ sideline conversion swings around nicely but hits the right post.

Roosters 20-16 Broncos after 51 minutes

We’re off and running for the second half, with the Roosters having the edge in most stat categories after dominating possession in the first term.