NRL round four: Brisbane Broncos defeat North Queensland Cowboys 38-12 in Queensland derby

Missing three key starters for the Queensland derby, Broncos coach Kevin Walters found inspiration from an unusual place as his wounded side completed a memorable win over the Cowboys.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Billy Walters of the Broncos celebrates a try during the round four NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, on March 29, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Broncos messiah Adam Reynolds produced a Good Friday masterclass to snap the Cowboys’ winning streak and get Brisbane’s grand final redemption dream back on track with an emphatic 38-12 derby mauling.

Reynolds made Suncorp Stadium hell for Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater, piloting the Broncos to their second win of the season in his return from a knee injury.

The victory against the previously unbeaten Cowboys before 45,793 proved the Broncos are a genuine title contender at their best following a patchy start to the season.

It mattered little that injured Broncos starters Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Brendan Piakura watched from the sidelines given their conductor Reynolds was back at the helm.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he was inspired by Penrith’s win against the Roosters without star halfback Nathan Cleary.

“It’s not so much a statement,” Walters said.

“I got really inspired by Penrith and their attitude. They had some of their key players not playing (against the Roosters) and just rolled Penrith out.

“We had some disruptions to our team but we rolled the Broncos out regardless. That’s the Broncos.”

UP AND ADAM

After sitting out last week’s grand final rematch against Penrith, Reynolds had the ball on a string, and North Queensland’s back three in crisis, with his superb kicking game.With torrential rain pouring, Drinkwater developed the yips attempting to defuse Reynolds’ swirling bombs and finished with six errors.

The Broncos captain produced a pin-point grubber for Kotoni Staggs to jag his first try of the season and the Broncos are a totally different team when he’s leading the way instead of Jock Madden at halfback.

“That was one of the reasons why we went to Sydney to get him three years ago,” Walters said.

“He knows which kicks to put up and he made a difference for us.”

While Drinkwater had a night to forget under the high ball, the Cowboys custodian lodged his contender for try-of-the-year with a 45m solo effort.

But his mistakes proved costly for a Cowboys team that lacked discipline from the opening exchanges and suffered their first defeat of the season.

Billy Walters celebrates a try for the Broncos Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

DEARDEN’S “SATTLER” SPECIAL

While the night belonged to Reynolds, Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden produced his own “Scott Sattler” moment with one of the great try-saving tackles.

A runaway Selwyn Cobbo looked certain to score a 95m intercept try that would have sealed the game in the 51st minute for Brisbane.

But Dearden had other ideas, racing from the other side of the field to bundle Cobbo into touch just centimetres before he could get the ball down.

It was reminiscent of former Penrith lock Sattler’s memorable tackle on Roosters flyer Todd Byrne in the 2003 NRL grand final.

Unfortunately for Dearden it was in vain as the Cowboys’ defence went to sleep a few minutes later and Broncos hooker Tyson Smoothy iced the victory before the floodgates opened.

Tom Dearden produced a moment to remember despite the loss. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

COWBOYS FALL OFF

The Cowboys went into the game as the NRL’s only unbeaten team after three rounds but were off the pace and paid the price.

Their poor line speed allowed the Broncos to gallop up the field and Billy Walters darted over from dummy-half within three minutes to get Brisbane off to a flyer.

A first half completion rate of just 56 per cent due to eight errors in slippery conditions for the Cowboys, compared to Brisbane’s 86 per cent, said it all.

The Cowboys finished with 17 errors, nearly triple Brisbane’s six, and you can’t win big games with that sort of discipline.

The Cowboys suffered their first loss of the season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

PAT FIRES UP

Broncos legend Darren Lockyer put the heat on Pat Carrigan to stand up in the absence of Haas (knee) and he delivered, charging for 170m in a dominant performance to claim the inaugural Carl Webb Medal.

Carrigan and Corey Jensen (151m) took advantage of the Cowboys’ lethargic defence and they’ll need to continue that sort of form when the Broncos face their kryptonite the Storm in Melbourne next Thursday.

“Patty really stood up,” Walters said.

“Not a lot of ball playing, but his carries and defensively as well. He was really strong.

“That’s the Pat Carrigan we need every week.”

Originally published as NRL round four: Brisbane Broncos defeat North Queensland Cowboys 38-12 in Queensland derby