Reece Walsh denied matchwinning try as Eels win 22-20 over Broncos
The Broncos’ top four hopes have been dealt a massive blow, with the Parramatta Eels stunning Brisbane, after star fullback Reece Walsh was denied a miracle try at the death.
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Brisbane’s top four hopes are in tatters after Mitchell Moses inspired the electric Eels to a dramatic 22-20 ambush of the Broncos on Friday night.
Moses turned it on in his return from injury before 39,057 at Suncorp Stadium to snap Brisbane’s five-game winning streak and drive a dagger into the Broncos’ premiership dreams.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh looked to have salvaged an unlikely victory in the final minute – only for the try to be overturned by The Bunker when he was ruled offside.
It was the correct call and ensured Parramatta secured just its sixth win of the season in stunning circumstances.
In one of the upsets of the NRL season, a Zac Lomax double helped second-last Parramatta stun the fifth-placed Broncos in a result that could crush Brisbane’s aspirations of breaking a 19-year title drought.
To make matters worse for Brisbane, star Broncos prop Payne Haas limped off the field.
“It’s disappointing, they played the long game and we didn’t,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
“We tried to be cute, didn’t build pressure and they did.
“We’ve got to be better at that. That’s the game. They were better than us in that department.
“We need to be more consistent. We’ve played periods but need to be able to do that longer.
“They turned up for a long game, kicked to corners and played the simple things well and we didn’t handle it.”
REECE’S ROCKS
Walsh had more rocks than diamonds in a forgettable night for Brisbane’s No. 1.
The Broncos were unbeaten since Walsh returned from a knee injury in round 14, with his speed and glamour sparking a previously faltering attack.
After making two poor errors early in the second half, Walsh looked to have conjured victory with two pieces of magic.
First, he burst through the line to set up Billy Walters for a try and then pounced on a mistake from rookie Eels fullback Joash Papalii to score the matchwinner in the final minute.
But The Bunker took the try off Walsh because he was off-side in the lead-up play.
BUMBLING BRONCOS
This was a game Brisbane could not afford to lose.
The Broncos could finish the weekend three wins out of the top four with six rounds to play and will have to rely on a capitulation from the Storm, Bulldogs or Warriors to sneak into the top four.
This game will be remembered as one that got away if the Broncos fall short again this year in their premiership quest.
The Broncos have a mixed draw to finish the season with games against the Rabbitohs, Storm (twice), Dolphins, Knights and Cowboys to come.
They will likely have to win them all to have any hope of finishing in the top four – which history shows is a prerequisite for winning the grand final.
Reece Walsh ALMOST won it for the Broncos!
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PAYNE’S PAIN
Payne Haas is producing a superhuman effort to play like he is at the moment but there is something wrong with Brisbane’s pack leader.
Haas was given two weeks off after the Origin decider to nurse a back injury he has carried for most of the year.
If you look at his statistics it would seem there is nothing wrong with the game’s No. 1 prop. At halftime he had already charged nine times for 74 metres in a 28-minute stint.
The Broncos looked a different team when he came back on the field after 30 minutes on the bench, producing a couple of big carries.
But he continues to be bothered by the back issue and went up the tunnel for treatment before the break.
Haas also left the field early in the warm-up for extra massage and was limping badly at full-time.
Haas is one tough hombre and will continue to soldier on but he will have to be delicately managed to make sure he is firing when the big games roll around.
ELECTRIC EELS
The Eels have been hopeless without Moses since he tore his calf in the lead-up to Origin II but not many teams fire when their No. 1 man is missing.
Moses brought a totally different direction to Parramatta’s attack and his kicking game is among the best in the NRL.
The Eels looked up for the contest from the opening exchanges and arguably outpointed Brisbane’s physicality.
A Sean Russell chip and chase was an unlikely first try and Moses’ cross-field kick for a flying Zac Lomax was a thing of beauty.
The teams traded tries in the second half before Josh Addo-Carr brought up his 150th to edge Parramatta ahead 22-20 in the 64th minute.
The Eels deserved to win and the off-side ruling at the death was a just reward for Parramatta.
Originally published as Reece Walsh denied matchwinning try as Eels win 22-20 over Broncos
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