Isaako, Haas turn on the power as Broncos hold off Panthers
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A stunning 40-metre individual try by prop Payne Haas sealed a 24-12 win over the Panthers to lift the Broncos into seventh position on the NRL ladder.
With the game in the balance in the 73rd minute the giant Brisbane 19-year-old forward decided to win it himself with a bust that showcased his incredible speed and strength as he left James Tamou and Viliame Kikau grasping at air before running around fullback Dylan Edwards to score.
Minutes earlier Haas had twice defused James Maloney kicks in-goal with one of those efforts saving a certain try. All that, while also running for 219 metres in another astonishing display by the NSW front-rower.
With a finals berth beckoning for both sides, there was plenty of feeling in the first half.
Match: Broncos v Panthers
Round 22 -
home Team
Broncos
7th Position
away Team
Panthers
9th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos half Jake Turpin was sin-binned for a swinging arm to the head of Dylan Edwards, Kikau was put on report for a high shot on Kotoni Staggs and Matt Lodge was pinged for a head-high tackle on Maloney in the opening 40 minutes.
The Panthers were unable to capitalise on Turpin’s early binning with poor handling and the Broncos made them pay in the 16th minute.
Andrew McCullough schemed out of dummy half and eluded Brent Naden before flipping a one-hander to a flying Kotoni Staggs who palmed off Dylan Edwards to score in the corner.
Brisbane’s scrambling defence was highlighted by Payne Haas, Anthony Milford and Corey Oates who combined to bundle a rampaging Brian To’o into touch in-goal.
Pangai sent to the sin bin for crusher tackle on Maloney
A Jamayne Isaako penalty gave the Broncos an 8-0 lead in the 31st minute. Penrith had completed just six of their first 13 sets but finished the half with a surge.
Panthers half Nathan Cleary decided to do it all himself when he cut back in towards the posts on a determined dart to the tryline in the 36th minute for Brisbane to lead 8-6 at the break.
The Broncos started the second half with a bang and scored within five minutes on the back of one of their best backline plays in recent weeks. Turpin found Milford who combined with Staggs to send a flying Isaako over in the right corner.
Naden was then ruled to have knocked-on in the in-goal after a deft short kick from Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny.
Milford’s short kicking game came to the fore with a pinpoint grubber for Isaako to race through and give Brisbane an 18-6 lead in the 55th minute.
The Panthers hit back via a cracker by To’o after Maloney threw a floater to Dean Whare, who flicked a pearler inside to the rampaging winger to cut back on the angle and cut Brisbane’s lead to six.
Sit back and marvel at this try from Payne Haas
Isaako was on fire in the second half. The Broncos winger counter-attacked on a 70 metre run before being cut down in a brilliant try saving cover tackle by Edwards.
The Broncos defended set after set on their tryline before Haas made his own indelible stamp on the game with one of the great tries by a front-rower.
Tevita Pangai suffered an injury to his left knee mid-way through the first half but strapped it up and continued to play. Pangai was sin-binned late on for landing a high shot on Maloney, while Milford may come under scrutiny from the match review committee for what appeared to a trip in the first half.
Another right side raid comes up trumps for Brisbane
