The South Sydney Rabbitohs have gone down to the Brisbane Broncos in Friday Night Football at Suncorp Stadium tonight by 30-8 in a dog-fight of a match.
Despite a solid opening half showing that had the Rabbitohs well in the game just after half-time, the Broncos would pull away by scoring consecutive tries to grind out a victory in front of a crowd of 40,275.
The game would see the loss of Hymel Hunt to a pec injury early in the match, while a number of other players spent time on the Suncorp Stadium sideline with the Rabbitohs bench completely bare at one stage in the match.
An early penalty to the Broncos gave the home-side an opportunity to have first crack at the Rabbitohs’ line, and Corey Oates would seemingly cross only for the try to be disallowed on the ground of an obstruction.
Not long afterwards, Hymel Hunt’s night was cut short when he left the field with an apparent shoulder injury, prompting Kirisome Auva’a to come off the bench and into the centres.
But a string of penalties would result in the Broncos drawing first blood with Corey Parker taking a shot at goal from 30 metres out to make it 2-0.
The Rabbitohs were defending strongly, with the Broncos throwing everything they had down the left-hand-side of the pitch.
Another string of penalties and bounces of the ball in favour of the home side would ultimately gift the Broncos the first try of the night – Kodi Nikorima scoring from the scrum-base after a Rabbitohs knock-on on the 10 metre line. Corey Parker converted to give Brisbane an 8-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, a Broncos set-play had Ben Hunt strolling into a gap left by a shooting Rabbitohs defender to extend their lead. Jordan Kahu added the extras from short range to make it 14-0 going into the break.
On the resumption, the match took an aggressive turn, with Sam Burgess being warned by the referee on two occasions for separate incidents – the latter incident resulting in a small scuffle.
After 51 minutes, the Rabbitohs finally crossed for their first points of the match through Greg Inglis – the skipper benefitting from a set-play and a double-pump from Reynolds to race in and score.
The Rabbitohs went up a gear as they looked to attack the Broncos line, but a sickening late shot on Adam Reynolds from Adam Blair with momentum behind the Red and Green’s diffused the opportunity. Reynolds left the field, while Blair was placed on report – Reynolds would return shortly afterwards. Bryson Goodwin kicked two points to narrow the gap to a converted try at 14-8.
The Broncos would hit back though when Corey Oates picked up a miraculous try in the corner to make the score 18-8 and would then back up the effort moments later when an early kick down-field sparked a foot-race that would be won by Jordan Kahu. Parker added the extras to make it 24-8.
Brisbane looked well in control late in the half, with Parker grabbing a try of his own to all but seal the match at 30-8 with seven minutes remaining.
With just two minutes left, the Rabbitohs were denied a consolation try to Damien Cook on the grounds of an obstruction, leaving the match to finish at 30-8.
Broncos 30 (Kodi Nikorima, Ben Hunt, Corey Oates, Jordan Kahu, Corey Parker. tries; Corey Parker 3, Jordan Kahu 2, goals)
Defeated
Rabbitohs 8 (Greg Inglis, tries; Adam Reynolds 1, Bryson Goodwin 1, goals)
