NRL 2023: Kevin Walters braced for Wayne Bennett blockbuster in Battle of Brisbane
Kevin Walters v Wayne Bennett. The Battle of Brisbane is set for an explosive first chapter when the Broncos and Dolphins – both unbeaten – clash for the first time.
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Kevin Walters is bracing for the biggest coaching test of his career as he prepares to face his Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett in this Friday night’s historic derby blockbuster against the Dolphins.
The River City Rumble is set for an explosive first chapter with the Dolphins and Broncos both unbeaten and ready to collide in the wake of Brisbane’s 40-18 disposal of the Dragons on Saturday night.
Incredibly, new expansion franchise the Dolphins have shocked the league with three consecutive wins, inspired by the coaching genius of wily 73-year-old Bennett.
Who would have thought such a scenario – Bennett’s Dolphins riding high atop the league with a perfect 3-0 record – was possible?
Now the master will square off with the apprentice, with Walters, Bennett’s champion five-eighth during Brisbane’s premiership glory years, to face the super coach for the first time as mentors in the Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
“That’s why the Dolphins were put in Brisbane to create that rivalry, we’re not rivals of the Dolphins, we’re the Broncos, that’s our mindset,” Walters said.
“Wayne (Bennett) has already had one night’s sleep and we’ll be ready for him next week.”
Walters is confident star prop Payne Haas will be cleared after being put on report for a high shot and the Broncos head into the Dolphins derby unbeaten thanks to the instinctive brilliance of skipper Adam Reynolds.
It was Reynolds’ two-point field goal on the stroke of half-time that whittled Brisbane’s deficit to 16-8. It proved the masterstroke that kickstarted Brisbane’s six-try second-half riposte to crush the Dragons.
“He did that to us in a Souths jumper a few years ago and I wanted to ring his neck then,” Walters said.
“We’d like to think Adam brings so much to our team as captain. He knows when to kick the ball. When our forwards support him, he is very good at what he does. We’re glad to have him in Maroon.”
Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam injured his knee following a Dragons try in the first half, but he played strongly in the second half and Walters is confident the classy rookie will be fit for the Dolphins.
The Broncos were boosted by the presence of club legend Brad Thorn, who was a guest of honour in Brisbane’s coaching box.
“Brad gave his all for the club, he is a winner and a good coach and we swapped ideas. We’re learning off each other,” Walters said.
“I thought we were better in some places.
“Our first half wasn’t great, but our leaders were very good at half-time.
“Our senior boys really drive this club.”
Comeback kids: Walsh, Haas inspire incredible Broncos blitz
Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh delivered a superb one-two punch to inspire Brisbane’s patchy 40-18 defeat of the Dragons and set up a historic derby blockbuster against expansion rivals the Dolphins.
Before 26,612 at Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos overcame a sloppy first-half siesta to bury the plucky Dragons as Reynolds, Walsh and two-try Kotoni Staggs fired Brisbane to a third consecutive win.
Now the stage is set for a mouth-watering Battle of Brisbane, with the Broncos and Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins heading to Suncorp next Friday night both unbeaten and flying high at the top of the league.
Don’t be fooled by the scoreline. This was no cakewalk for the Broncos, who were listless in the first half and trailed 16-6 after 34 minutes against a hungry Dragons side that could sniff a Suncorp boilover.
With scores locked 18-all, the Broncos went berserk with four tries in the final nine minutes, Walsh releasing Selwyn Cobbo in the 71st minute before posting a double himself (74th and 79th) to sink the Red V.
HOT-AND-COLD BRONCOS
After a sizzling opening fortnight, the Broncos looked as flat as week-old lemonade in the first half.
Brisbane completed at 72 per cent in the opening stanza and they lacked energy in defence, allowing the Dragons to dominate the middle-third as big boppers Frank Molo, Blake Lawrie and Josh Kerr powered over the advantage line.
Trailing 16-8 at halftime, the Broncos responded to a halftime rocket from coach Kevin Walters, scoring six second-half tries as Payne Haas (198m) and Tom Flegler (155m) took control of the midfield.
Haas could have a case to answer after being placed on report for a high shot on Michael Molo in the 35th minute.
HALF HIS LUCK
A moment of instinctive brilliance from Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds underlined why he is so important to Brisbane’s title hopes.
With nothing happening seconds before the halftime siren, Reynolds took possession 45 metres out, looked up for a split second, and blasted a sensational two-point field goal to narrow the Dragons’ lead to 16-8.
It was a play that breathed life into a Broncos side that exploded into action after the break. Reynolds then plunged the dagger with some teasing short kicks.
ON CLOUD NINE
He is Brisbane’s No.14 utility and Cory Paix stepped up as their super sub, igniting the Broncos’ second-half resurgence.
It was Paix’s clever dummy-half snipe from one metre out in the 44th minute that whittled Brisbane’s deficit to 16-14 and when Staggs won the race to a Reynolds grubber four minutes later, Brisbane had the lead for the first time.
There is a push for Paix to start at hooker ahead of Billy Walters but the nuggety rake gives Brisbane some crafty punch off the bench.
WHITE-HOT WALSH
Walsh was dynamite against the Cowboys last week and he waged a thrilling backfield battle with Dragons dynamo Tyrell Sloan.
While Sloan was slick and quick, charging onto a sublime Jaydn Su’A 28th-minute offload to give the Dragons a 10-6 lead, whiz-kid Walsh searched for a headline moment as Red V defenders watched his every move.
Brisbane’s star recruit fumbled in the 14th minute and two minutes later, a clearing kick on the last tackle went sailing off the side of his left boot.
Forever hungry, Walsh came alive in the second half and landed the killer punches, turning Cobbo inside to break an 18-all deadlock before his one-two tryscoring punch put the Dragons on the canvas.
Bring on Bennett’s Dolphins.
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