Broncos, Warriors fight out draw after golden point frenzy
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The Broncos and Warriors have played out a frenetic and absorbing 18-all draw at Suncorp Stadium after six attempts at field goal failed to break the deadlock in extra time.
It was the first draw in the Telstra Premiership since round 21, 2016 and a fitting result for two sides that both showed immense courage and both did their best to lose the game at various stages.
The Warriors and Broncos had two shots each at field goal in the first five minutes of extra time, but none of the attempts were close.
Kodi Nikorima missed a shot from 35 metres out, then Brisbane rake James Segeyaro came up with a trick shot that backfired when he threw a dummy at the play the ball and had a pot shot from 25 metres.
Nikorima had another go from 25 metres, but no cigar. It was then Anthony Milford's turn but he too came up with a slice wide of the uprights.
Brisbane prop Payne Haas made a try-saving tackle on Chanel Harris-Tavita one metre out in the second period of extra time before Nikorima had one last shot that hung in the air and just went wide. Milford had a crack from 47 metres with seconds remaining but that was the last of the madness.
At the end of the hectic extra time period Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had broken the record for run metres by a player in a single NRL game, with a monstrous 367.
Match: Broncos v Warriors
Round 17 -
home Team
Broncos
13th Position
away Team
Warriors
12th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Both teams felt the pressure in the final minutes of regular time with players from each side dropping the ball cold or giving away penalties. Issac Luke had levelled it up at 18-all with a 76th-minute penalty after Tevita Pangai jnr was pinged for a strip.
The Warriors had field position with a minute to go when Jazz Tevaga dropped the ball 10 metres out just when Nikorima was lining up for a field goal.
The 'Baby Broncos' backed up their come-from-behind 24-22 win over Cronulla the week before with another display of guts and determination, mixed in with a dash of brilliance by 19-year-old back-rower David Fifita who scored a stunning 30-metre try to edge Brisbane ahead in the 64th minute.
Haas was a raging beast early and swatted away Tevaga and Agnatius Paasi with ease as he charged over to give Brisbane a 6-0 lead.
By the eighth minute mark the 19-year-old behemoth had already run for 77 metres from six charges.
It was then that the Warriors kicked into gear.
Nikorima kicked a 40/20 with a massive 55-metre effort which the Warriors were unable to capitalise on due to a handling error by Isaiah Papali'i. The former Bronco then decided to ignite his side himself as he sucked in two defenders and found a flying Adam Blair who scored against his old club.
The Warriors attacked the Broncos on the edges and made headway, then came through the middle to open Brisbane up. Crafty half Blake Green made the most of the gaps when he changed the angle of attack and found a flying Luke under the posts.
Green turns the play inside for Luke
The genius of Tuivasa-Sheck then came to the fore as he drew two Broncos defenders and found David Fusitu'a. The man known as 'the flying Fish' scored a trademark try with his body over the sideline and his hand firmly on the ball over the line to give the Warriors a 16-6 lead at the break.
The Warriors wasted early chances in the second half and Milford made them pay with a grubber that Luke dropped cold. Darius Boyd swooped to score and reduce the margin to four.
Ken Maumalo left the field with an HIA and did not return and the Warriors started to run of gas and continue to make unforced errors.
Pangai jnr was enormous in the second stanza after moving into the middle. That allowed Fifita to come on and play on an edge and the teenager made his presence felt with a stunning 30-metre run where he left four Warriors defenders grasping at air.
There was drama in the 76th minute when Peta Hiku was denied a try when Papali'i was ruled to have knocked on after Tuviasa-Sheck got a freakish offload away. Moments later the Warriors were awarded a penalty in front for a strip by Pangai jnr and Luke tied it up at 18-all.
Then came as bizarre an extra time period seen for many a game in the NRL. Both sides went to 15 competition points on the ladder and both will need to win seven of their remaining eight games to make the finals, if 28 competition points proves to be the cut-off.
