NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos win 28-18 over South Sydney Rabbitohs | Match Report

Fans feared the worst when Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds limped off the field against the Rabbitohs, but he has been cleared of a major knee injury.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 14: Reece Walsh of the Broncos celebrates a try during the round two NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, on March 14, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Brisbane’s premiership revenge mission has received a massive boost with champion skipper Adam Reynolds cleared of a ruptured anterior-cruciate ligament injury.

Scan results on Friday showed the Broncos halfback sustained only minor damage to his medial-cruciate ligament after Reynolds hobbled off in the 70th minute of Brisbane’s 28-18 defeat of the Rabbitohs.

Reynolds first took a hit to his knee against the Roosters in Las Vegas last Sunday week and the MCL aggravation leaves him racing the clock to be fit for next Thursday night’s grand-final replay against the Panthers at Penrith.

“The scans show Adam got a knock to a low-grade MCL strain that he sustained in round 1,” Broncos high-performance chief Dave Ballard said.

“We’ll see how he pulls up over the next 24 hours before mapping out a rehab program for the coming days.

“Adam is tough and looks after his body but we still have a full season ahead of us so our priority is ensuring he is ready to go when he returns.”

Adam Reynolds has been cleared of a major knee injury. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Even if Reynolds misses the Panthers clash, the good news is Brisbane’s most important player has been cleared of an ACL tear, which would have required a season-ending knee reconstruction.

The loss of Brisbane’s chief commander for an extended period would have dealt a crushing blow to the Broncos’ hopes of snapping an 18-year title drought this season.

The prognosis will come as a huge relief for Broncos coach Kevin Walters amid initial fears Reynolds could have suffered damage to the ACL in his right knee.

Broncos medicos performed an on-field ACL test on Reynolds when the 33-year-old playmaker went down at Suncorp Stadium and began grabbing at his knee, which was already heavily strapped.

A Broncos doctor was heard saying to Reynolds, “It (the knee) is a bit loose” on the match audio, a medical assessment that usually triggers fears of a suspected ACL rupture.

But a fresh scan has given Reynolds hope of locking horns with Penrith halfback nemesis Nathan Cleary next week at BlueBet Stadium.

Reynolds is in some doubt for Round 3’s Grand Final rematch against Penrith. Picture: NRL Imagery

The worst-case scenario could see the 276-game veteran miss one to three weeks, although Reynolds is renowned for his ability to play through the pair barrier and will do everything possible to take on Penrith.

Should Reynolds be sidelined for the Panthers, understudy Jock Madden will slot into the No.7 jumper alongside five-eighth Ezra Mam for the grand-final grudge match at BlueBet Stadium.

Ironically, former Wests Tigers playmaker Madden knocked back an offer to be Cleary’s understudy at the Panthers two years ago to sign with the Broncos.

Broncos winger Jesse Arthars backed Madden, who has played 22 first grade games, to fill the Reynolds void if the veteran captain is ruled out of the round 3 clash.

“We have full faith in anyone that steps into a role at this club,” Arthars said.

“The boys train really hard to train for those jumpers.

“If ‘Reyno’ is no good, we have all the faith in Jock.”

Speaking an hour after Brisbane’s disposal of the Rabbitohs, Reynolds said: “I’ve stirred up what was already there. It’s pretty sore. I felt it during the game.”

Broncos sweat on Reynolds scans as injury takes gloss off win

Broncos champion Adam Reynolds limped off with a knee injury as Brisbane ace Reece Walsh trumped Souths rival Latrell Mitchell in a titanic fullback battle to inspire Brisbane’s 28-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

Whiz-kid Walsh was wondrous, scoring two tries and having a hand in a third as he outpointed Mitchell, whose costly 64th-minute blunder summed up Souths’ night as the bumbling Bunnies crashed to a second consecutive loss.

But the brilliance of ‘Reece Lightning’ to get the Broncos rolling in 2024 was tempered by the worrying sight of Reynolds – Brisbane’s chief commander – hobbling off 10 minutes from time.

Reynolds is likely to have scans on Friday on a suspected medial-ligament injury that took the gloss off Brisbane’s first win of the new campaign.

Reece Walsh stole the show for the Broncos, burning the Bunnies with two stunning tries/ Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve stirred up what was already there,” the skipper said.

“It’s pretty sore. I felt it during the game. I’ll get another scan and see how it is.”

The Broncos buried their round 1 loss to the Roosters with a spirited display, Walsh piloting his side to a 12-0 halftime lead before a Deine Mariner solo try in the 75th minute consigned sloppy Souths to a 0-2 start.

“It was a horror show,” Souths coach Jason Demetriou lamented.

While the Rabbitohs have major questions to answer, this win eased the pressure valve for Brisbane and five-eighth Ezra Mam, playing his first game since the Spencer Leniu racism saga was resolved.

“It was an ugly game,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “As a team we aren’t quite nailing it but you need to win those games at this time of the year.”

Adam Reynolds hobbled off the field late in the second half. Picture: Getty Images

BACKFIELD BLITZ

It was the Latrell show at Suncorp Stadium 12 months ago. This time, fullback counterpart Walsh won bragging rights.

The 21-year-old was magnificent, busting the game open in the 25th minute when he beat five Bunnies, including Mitchell, to get the Broncos rolling at 10-0.

The fullback battle was crystallised in the 64th minute when Mitchell badly misjudged a Jesse Arthars kick infield and Walsh swooped for his second try to plunge the dagger at 22-12.

And while Mitchell hit back with his 100th career try in the dying seconds, it was Walsh’s night.

“In games like this where it’s pretty tight, you need those game breakers and Reece is one of those guys,” Walters said.

“It was a good performance from him.”

SILKY SELWYN

After a quiet first game at centre last week, Selwyn Cobbo roared to life in his new position, terrorising Souths with his size and speed.

Cobbo looked every bit his childhood hero Greg Inglis as he twice got on the outside of the visitors with his lethal fend and powerhouse frame, finishing with 164 metres and eight tackle busts.

Life after Herbie Farnworth looked glorious when Cobbo tipped on a Walsh pass in the 52nd minute to give Brisbane a crucial 16-12 lead.

The Rabbitohs bounced back after a horror first half, but still couldn’t do enough to stop Reece Walsh. Picture: Getty Images

BUMBLING BUNNIES

South Sydney were left to rue a shocking first half. It was the stuff of a park football side as the Bunnies bumbled their way through 10 errors in the first 30 minutes alone, gifting the Broncos repeated field position.

All at sea trailing 12-0 at halftime, the Bunnies suddenly woke from their siesta with two tries in three minutes to level scores, but they never looked truly in control.

“I couldn’t fault our defensive effort, but we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” Demetriou said.

“We are making schoolboy errors. We have to get rid of the dumb stuff.”

SMASH HIT

Brendan Piakura is the NRL’s new hit man. The Broncos back-rower has played just 17 top-grade games but he is a fearsome presence on Brisbane’s left edge, twice cutting Souths rival Cameron Murray in half with sweetly-timed shots.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos win 28-18 over South Sydney Rabbitohs | Match Report