The Brisbane Broncos‘ hopes of defending their title have diminished following a 24-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium. The defeat marks the Broncos‘ seventh consecutive loss, impacting their chances of securing a top-four position. The team now faces the challenge of winning a significant number of their remaining games to qualify for the finals.
The match also saw several players placed on report, raising concerns for the upcoming State of Origin decider. Among those reported were Lindsay Collins, Sam Walker, and Robert Toia from the Roosters, all of whom are Queensland Origin players.
Concerns for Origin players
Lindsay Collins, a prop for the Roosters and Queensland Maroons, was placed on report for a high tackle on Xavier Willison early in the first half. Willison subsequently left the field and failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). Collins himself later failed an HIA after symptoms developed during half-time, leading to an 11-day stand-down period.
While the mandatory stand-down does not automatically rule him out of the Origin decider, it means Collins will have limited duties during the initial days of the Queensland camp, with no contact sessions permitted for nine days. His availability for the decider depends on the charge sheet, which was expected to be released on Saturday morning.
Sam Walker was also placed on report for a shoulder charge on Reece Walsh in the first half, and Robert Toia for a lifting tackle in the second half. Despite these reports, Roosters coach Trent Robinson expressed optimism that the players would not miss the decider, stating he didn’t anticipate significant repercussions for them.
The Broncos‘ performance was further complicated by the absence of injured halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam. In their stead, Tom Duffy and Ben Hunt formed the halves pairing. Duffy was a standout performer for the Broncos, scoring their first try and setting up another for Brendan Piakura.
The Roosters, despite not being at their peak, managed to secure the win. Sam Walker scored a try in the 60th minute, breaking a 16-all deadlock, and later kicked a penalty goal in the 70th minute to extend their lead. The Roosters‘ victory marks their 10th win of the season and their third consecutive win over the Broncos.
Broncos’ challenging season
The Broncos, who were the reigning premiers, have struggled this season, appearing to be a different team from the one that claimed the premiership last year. Their current record of 5-10 puts them in a difficult position, needing to win eight of their remaining nine games to make the playoffs.
The team’s struggles were evident in the match against the Roosters, particularly in their attack, which lacked cohesion. Reece Walsh, a key player, found it challenging to impact the game as the Roosters adapted better to the wet weather conditions in the second half.
Payne Haas captained the side in the absence of Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan, and along with Josiah Karapani and Grant Anderson, put in a strong effort. However, their efforts were not enough to secure a victory against the Roosters, who showed resilience after trailing 16-12 at half-time.
The Roosters‘ ability to win while trailing at the break marks their fourth such victory this season. They have also held opponents tryless in the second half in three of those instances. The Broncos‘ seven consecutive losses represent the longest losing streak by a defending premier since Wests in 1953.
The State of Origin decider is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8.
Source: foxsports.com.au
