SATURDAY JULY 21 2018 SPORT 73 Broncos find old spark

Canberra coach to take down Panthers Dud calls RIKKI-LEE ARNOLD sistency to be considered a BRONCOS just eight minutes later by It was a particularly thrill- major threat, their flair in the 50 showing incredible strength to ing start for Brisbane, who big blow THE Broncos’ hopes of a top opening 40 minutes was im- beat five defenders to score. managed an incredible 95 per four finish are alive and well pressive enough to hand them PANTHERS His absence in the second cent completion rate in the to Raiders’ after a stunning first half per- the massive 32-point victory. 18 stanza was obvious, but it was opening 40 minutes. But what formance ignited by Tevita Their win was sealed BRISBANE clear coach Wayne Bennett they need to show now is con- Pangai Jr saw them run away through Kodi Nikorima, who Tries: T Pangai Junior 2 K Nikorima did not want to risk further in- sistency on a weekly basis. prospects with a 50-18 victory over the managed to pull off two inter- 2 J Roberts C Oates D Boyd M jury given the Broncos had al- Just two weeks ago the Lodge Panthers last night. cept tries in the final 20 min- Goals: J Isaako 6 J Kahu 3 ready secured the win. Broncos were celebrated for a PAUL CRAWLEY Just five days after they utes in his best game of the It was a wise move from strong 34-0 win against the Ti- PENRITH were embarrassed 26-6 by the season. Tries: W Blake J Mansour T Peachey Bennett, but if anything it tans – their biggest win of the THE NRL’s under-fire match Warriors on their own home But the real hero appeared Goals: N Cleary 3 showed just how much the season so far. officials better batten down the turf, Brisbane responded in to be forward Pangai Jr, who Broncos need Pangai Jr if they It appeared that they had hatches after two absolute fine style against a fellow top only notched up 31 minutes in are to push for the top four. secured their top eight spot howlers all but put the red pen eight team to show why they his return from a hamstring He opened the scoring for Broncos great Darren Lock- only to be dealt a massive re- through Canberra’s 2018 finals should not be ruled out of the strain. Brisbane desperately Brisbane in the 4th minute, yer last week labelled the off- ality check last week in their hopes. premiership race just yet. missed him against the Warri- barging towards the line off a contract star as the “key” to loss to the Warriors. In the most controversial While they still have to ors last week and his impact Sam Thaiday offload, and then Brisbane’s premiership hopes In the space of five days, game of the season that will show more week-to-week con- was immediate last night. nabbed another four-pointer and they will need him fit. they have turned it around. have a huge impact on the make-up of the top eight, the Raiders had two terrible calls go against them that ultimat- Dragons ely cost them a vital victory, with Cronulla holding on for a BROTHERS 28-24 win. 12 Valentine Holmes starred rain on for the Sharks on the day the NIGHTCLIFF club reportedly tabled a new 56 four-year offer to the Brothers’ BROTHERS to try to stop him making the Tries: P Wees 2 M Gela move to North Queensland. Goals: Nil But that story got lost in the parade NIGHTCLIFF drama last night after a refer- Tries: B Sneddon 4 E Murphy D eeing performance that will be Tabuai S Salaa W Tuputala M Golsby JACK HISLOP J Phillips talked about for some time. Goals: A Corrie 8 The Raiders had every right BROTHERS’ birthday cele- to be seething after two stun- brations were dampened at ning calls went against them. Rugby Park last night as the One came from a knock-on club’s first grade outfit was that handed Cronulla’s Sione rolled by arch-rival Nightcliff. Katoa a try. Honouring 60 years of rich While the Raiders later had history, the Brethren fielded a try called back when a pass an inexperienced line-up that was ruled forward but replays was unable to challenge the clearly showed the ball from Dragons, who tightened their Joey Leilua to grip on second place with a travelled backwards. 56-12 victory. The Sharks’ win pushes Nightcliff took a 20-4 lead them to 26 competition points into the break, despite the first and keeps them well and truly try being awarded to Brothers in the hunt for a top four finish. in the 10th minute. The Raiders were always It came through Marshall going to be up against it miss- Gela, who crossed just inside ing five key players including the right corner post, but from skipper , half- that point the Brethren’s lack back Aidan Sezer, fullback of ball control proved costly. Jack Wighton along with for- It allowed the Dragons wards Shannon Boyd and Joe quality field position and on Tapine. the back of momentum from To make the finals from their imposing pack – led by here they are going to need a David Paull, Ed Murphy and miracle. They remain on 18 Whitmer Tuputala – Nightcliff points and most likely can only struck four times before oran- afford one more loss from their ges. six remaining games. They did so first after Mur- When you look at their phy barged over from short draw it doesn’t look likely. range. The second try came They take on the Storm from a Brad Sneddon dummy- next Saturday in Melbourne half scoot. followed by the Panthers, Ti- David Tabuai set the game gers, Roosters, Rabbitohs and alight in the 30th minute when Warriors. he made a 70m burst to the They showed tremendous stripe, before Sneddon crossed fight just to get their way back for his second try just before into the game after trailing halftime. 22-6 at the break. Any chance of a Brothers comeback was thwarted a SHARKS minute into the second period 28 when Shaun Wauchope bus- ted through the line and RAIDERS linked up with fullback Simai- 24 ka Salaa. CRONULLA And to make matters worse Tries: A Fifita R Leutele V Holmes for the Brethren, Sneddon W Graham S Katoa Goals: C Townsend 4 crossed for two more in the second period either side of CANBERRA Tries: J Leilua 2 B Abbey J Rapana tries from wingers Matt Gols- Nightcliff’s Rhys Petrilli prepares to get a pass away in last night’s first grade Round 10 match against arch-rival Darwin Brothers at Goals: S Williams 4 by and Josh Phillips. Rugby Park Picture: FELICITY ELLIOTT

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