The Brisbane Broncos maintained their pursuit of a top-four finish in the NRL after a resounding 60-14 victory against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. This victory meant that with 28 points the Broncos had scored more points than any other team, putting them only two points behind the fourth-placed Warriors. The team’s biggest test is to come, with the squad heading to Melbourne on Thursday night.
Colorado’s offensive dominance was on full display during the match with multiple Broncos finding the scoresheet. What a performance by Reece Walsh! He had four try assists and scored a try of his own, in what was a massive bounce-back from his poor performance against Parramatta. Selwyn Cobbo had a huge impact on the team after being brought back into the lineup, with his dynamic presence taking them to the next level.
As memorable as the match was, it did not come without its losses. The Broncos were dealt a huge blow when prop Xavier Willison seemed to suffer a broken arm in the 48th minute. This is a significant foot injury that could cause him to miss the remainder of the season. Fellow prop Ben Te Kura had already ruled himself out with a broken foot, adding to the team’s front-row crisis.
Peter Mamouzelos had been named in the squad but developed delayed concussion symptoms. In turn, he was finally ruled out. This only exacerbated the uphill battle for the Broncos to climb as they played the match a pair of players short.
Yet through all of these challenges, their Broncos’s depth and resilience as a team allowed them to shine. Ezra Mam was the star of the match, scoring a brace. Kotoni Staggs wasn’t far behind, doing the damage in attack and creating two tries for others. The combined skill and determination of the team made it clear just how focused they were on moving forward into a playoff position.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs were arguably outplayed for the entire game. Not only were they shallow – having to play their match without an available 18th player – the loss of Jamie Humphreys, ruled out with concussion, made their uphill task on the pitch even more daunting. The Rabbitohs’ struggles to stay in the fight underscored just how resounding the Broncos’ supremacy was in this matchup.
The Broncos turn their focus to Sunday’s grand final rematch with Melbourne. They need to overcome their own team’s injuries and somehow play through the high they surely should be feeling after their recent lopsided victory. The stakes are anything but low! They have every reason to want to maintain their top position in the league and secure a playoff spot.
