The Broncos lined up to defeat the Bulldogs 16-10 in an exciting clash to finish Round 2 – and secure back-to-back victories to begin the season.
The dogs first came on board thanks to a Braidon Burns attempt. They were able to capitalize on a Broncos error as fullback Tesi Niu dropped an impressive Matt Burton bomb – which Sideline commentator James Hooper called “genius.”
Brisbane were hit by Corey Oates, who shot a pinpoint Albert Kelly kick.
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MATCH CENTER: Bulldogs vs. Broncos Score, Live Updates, Video
Neither Burton nor Reynolds were able to convert attempts and the scores were blocked 4-all at halftime.
A Burnt Dogs outfit came out in the second half and it only took eight minutes for the lead back from Hoker Jeremy Marshall to come back from the dummy half.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith summed up the opening minute of the second half as he said “who let the dogs out?”
But five minutes later the tables turned as Herbie Farnworth snatched the ball from Braidon Burns and ran 50 yards to score. Reynolds beat the conversion and the scores were blocked once again.
Brisbane had a chance to take the lead, but bombed what would have been a sensational attempt. Reynolds had an impressive ball – between his legs – just for the Kotoni Staggs to hit across the line.
They did, however, as Farnworth was crucified for his second of the night. Sharpshooter Reynolds beat the conversion and took a 16-10 lead for the Broncos.
The Bulldogs desperately tried to fight back and it came after Josh Addo-Carr put a grubber in the last 10 seconds, but Albert Kelly picked up the ball to seal his team’s victory.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters said before the game that he wanted Reynolds to “slide as smoothly to the side as possible.”
The even halfback did just that, said Michael Ennis, as he did his business in the first half without overplaying his hand.
“It was a direct impact of the Broncos’ No. 7,” he said.
“You can already see how quiet they are, happy to play that long game here and roll through the middle and Reynolds’ kicking game just happy to turn the Bulldogs around.”
But with the game locked 4-all at halftime, Reynolds really started to come alive.
“All the conversation this week, all the hype was around the little master,” Ennis said.
“This is for what he was brought to the club, this is exactly where the Broncos have been in recent seasons. They are in a dogfight here and they need their No.7 to get their home.
“This is what he was brought to do, this is what he is so good at – taking the game away from the opposition and suffocating them.”
Even if it was not Reynolds’ most dominant game, there is no doubt that his calm nature did the Broncos wonders as things got hectic in the final minutes.
He also gets a special mention for throwing his crazy bucket pass his legs, which would have been Attempted Assistant of the Year if Staggs had not hit it over the line.
Walters need not worry about Reynolds. The 31-year-old is a proven winner and will find his groove soon enough. The big question mark was always over who would play five-eight.
Albert Kelly got the angle over Billy Walters – who was used as a hooker by the bank – and the 30-year-old did more than enough to cement his place in the No. 6 jersey.
Kelly had a strong round 1 and then supported it on Sunday, setting up the Broncos’ first attempt and in the final 10 seconds collecting a desperate Dogs Grubber to save the game.
“We saw his instinctive play against Cody Walker last week, where he plucked the ball out of Cody’s back pocket and ran 80 yards to score. With his first proper injection on the left, it’s a really nice shot. Chip, “said Ennis of Kelly’s kick to Oates.
“That was special from Kelly. He had a split second to realize that Okunbor – who is a big man – was struggling to turn around when he landed that kick perfectly and just changed in a flash.
BURTON’S BOAT GETS BRONCOS NIGHTMARES
It was Marquee Half versus Marquee Half and although Adam Reynolds’ Broncos got the two points, Matt Burton finished the contest above.
It’s hard to believe that Sunday’s game was just his 12th and a half. The 22-year-old was named the Dally M Team of the Year last season – in the center – but was signed by the dogs to solve their half headache.
Burton looked dangerous with the ball in hand … but the ball on foot, he was on a different level.
Broncos fullback Tesi Niu will have nightmares after Burton’s ginormous left boot tortured him from start to finish.
Niu dropped the Burton bomb, which eventually led to the Bulldogs’ first attempt.
“Even if it wasn’t his best strike when his NRL career was over, he had a future in the NFL as a point guard,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith said.
“That was a high bomb,” Michael Ennis added.
“He did not hit it off perfectly, but I said when I got into the clash that we knew how effective Reynolds was with his boot, so Burton needed a big night out … that was a beauty.”
Niu later had a chance to correct his mistake and this time he just let the ball bounce.
“Burton got them to pieces,” Smith said.
The five-eighth star finished the night with 83 running yards, three tackle busts, two offloads, one linebreak, one linebreak assist and 410 kick meters.
“Matt Burton for me was probably the best player of the game. He was excellent,” Corey Parker said at the break.
“What he is capable of producing with the boot – he has Tesi Niu in absolutely all sorts.
“He was brought to the club, we know what kind of player he is, he has an electric left foot and his boot proves the difference.”
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A SOS TO KOTONI STAGGS SHEAR
Kotoni Staggs is one of the best players of the Broncos and yet when they needed him the most, he was nowhere to be seen.
The 23-year-old – who was referred to as “Ferrari” by Michael Ennis – made just two runs in the 55th minute of the game.
It was a stark contrast to center-back Herbie Farnworth, who alone collected 83 yards in the first half in two tackle busts.
“The Broncos have to try to find a way to get Kotoni Staggs into the game,” Ennis said.
“They have a Ferrari out there who is one of the most dynamic players in our game and he touched the ball twice. That’s it. He ran the whole game two times.
“They have to get him on his feet. He has to go looking – Farnworth has 11 carries.
“Surely they are planning an SOS on Kotoni Staggs. It’s scandalous – Kotoni Staggs was barely in the game tonight.
“One of Brisbane’s most devastating players, one has to get him a message to get himself into the game.
“He’s just sitting on the right edge.
“I think of some of the big centers, one with which I played at the Broncos was Justin Hodges and no matter the competition, whether it was a dummy half run or one out of the jerk, he just kept getting in the way. of Concours found.
“Staggs needs to come and invest himself, he needs to get involved in the game. Brisbane need him.
The gun center had a moment to blink as Reynolds threw an incredible pass between his legs to set up an attempt … except that Staggs clapped as he dived over the line.
Staggs finished with 51 running yards from five runs, four tackle busts, an offload and a linebreak. He was completely overwhelmed by Farnworth’s two attempts, one linebreak, four tackle busts and 216 running yards.
“Herbie Farnworth he absolutely showed the Kotoni Staggs tonight,” Fox League sideline commentator James Hooper said.
TEAMS
Bulldog: 1. Matt Duffy 2. Jayden Okunbor 3. Braidon Burns 4. Brent Naden 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Jake Averillo 15. Corey Waddell 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Jack Hetherington 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Jackson 8. Luke Thompson 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 16. Max King 17. Ava Seumanufagai Substitutes: 25. Aaron Schoupp
Broncos: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Albert Kelly 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13 Patrick Carrigan 4. Ryan James 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. TC Robati 17. Billy Walters Substitute: 18. Brenko Lee
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