Haas, Reynolds star as Broncos beat improved Cowboys

Adam Reynolds showcased all his guile and prop Payne Haas his power to inspire Brisbane to a 26-16 win over North Queensland.

The unstoppable Haas won the Carl Webb Medal for player of the match, capped by a freakish try.

Reynolds, the 34-year-old Broncos skipper, dug his side out of a hole to set up a try and score one himself in front of 45,318 fans at Suncorp Stadium after they had been stuck in their own half for the opening quarter of Friday night’s first half.

He also went to third on the all-time premiership point scoring list, moving to 2378 points, two ahead of Canberra great Jarrod Croker.

Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was put on report for a shoulder charge on Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi and had a rocks and diamonds night. Two Walsh plays were crucial in the lead-up to tries but he also made five errors.

Broncos fullback Reece Walsh.Credit: Getty Images

At one stage the Cowboys had 28 play-the-balls in the Broncos’ half to Brisbane’s one down the other end.

Reynolds conjured a crafty grubber for back-rower Jack Gosiewski to pounce and give the hosts a 6-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

The veteran then did it all himself to score with a show-and-go to secure an early comfortable lead in the Queensland derby

North Queensland, winless after three rounds, were much better than they had been in the opening two rounds with starting props Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean taking it to the Broncos. Bench front-rowers Griffin Neame and Coen Hess also provided punch.

The Broncos led 12-0 at half-time but the Cowboys soon hit back when Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilled a bomb and Neame charged over.

Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds.Credit: Getty Images

North Queensland weren’t done. Winger Murray Taulagi crashed over in the corner after superb link play by fullback Scott Drinkwater, who converted the sideline conversion to make it 12-all in the 55th minute.

The Broncos kicked clear when Walsh put Arthars over with a cut-out pass and barnstorming prop Haas stormed 30 metres untouched after ripping and tearing all night.

It was a booming 65m left-foot kick by Walsh that won his side a 40/20 in the first half and turned the momentum.

But it was the short kicking game of Reynolds that caused the Cowboys all kinds of trouble.

The Broncos skipper was the difference when his side was under the pump, and now only Cameron Smith (2786) and Hazem El Masri (2418) are ahead of him on the point scoring list.

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A good win for Brisbane in the end, and a lot to like about North Queensland’s performance even though they’re still winless after three rounds.

Payne Haas (205 metres, nine tackle breaks, five offloads, two line breaks and a try) and Adam Reynolds (a try assist, five goals, 29 tackles, no missed tackles and a try) produced two of the best individual performances you’ll see this week.

Full-time: Broncos 26, Cowboys 16

Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue made a good break in the first half and he’s made a better one here, intercepting a pass on his own 10-metre line and showing plenty of speed to beat one diving defender and outrun the rest. It’s just a consolation try but a nice highlight play for a youngster who has had a few struggles in defence in the early rounds this season.

Scott Drinkwater’s conversion attempt somehow misses, but with three minutes left this result is almost beyond doubt.

Broncos 26, Cowboys 16 after 77 minutes

Brisbane go close to adding to their lead via a Ben Hunt grubber kick but Scott Drinkwater cleans up and gets out of his own in-goal, but on their next attacking raid Payne Haas makes no mistakes – the hulking front-rower sees a gap and surges through it, breezing past Drinkwater to score a sensational solo try. He’s the best forward in the league these days.

Broncos 26, Cowboys 12 after 73 minutes

Broncos wrecking ball Payne Haas.Credit: Getty Images

The Broncos receive a penalty and Adam Reynolds adds another two points – taking him to third place on the all-time point-scorers list. It also edges Brisbane eight points clear and makes this a two-score contest.

Broncos 20, Cowboys 12 after 67 minutes

The Broncos are back in front, with a well-worked leftside shift finishing with a looping cutout pass from Reece Walsh to an unmarked Jesse Arthars. This could be headed for a grandstand finish.

Broncos 18, Cowboys 12 after 60 minutes

Another spilled Jack Clifford bomb gives the Cowboys the chance to score again – Reece Walsh produces plenty of highlights plays but his fair share of errors too – and North Queensland pile on the pressure as the Broncos concede a six-again and then a penalty. The Cowboys’ set ends with a grubber for the corner, where winger Murray Taulagi can’t handle it cleanly and drops the ball just short of the line.

But Walsh is penalised for a shoulder charge on Taulagi, and the Cowboys don’t miss with their next chance, spreading it left for Taulagi to score this time. A perfect sideline conversion from Scott Drinkwater levels the scores.

Broncos 12, Cowboys 12 after 53 minutes

The second half kicks off and the Cowboys start with a strong opening set. They’ve been much improved tonight after a couple of bad defeats, and now they just need some points.

And they get them – almost immediately! Prop Griffin Neame is the unlikely try-scorer, with Jake Clifford’s bomb finding the turf and being scooped up by Sam McIntyre, who passes to Neame for the try.

Suddenly, the Cowboys are right back in this.

Broncos 12, Cowboys 6 after 42 minutes