Broncos fend off Warriors

The Brisbane Broncos have held on in the closing minutes to defeat the New Zealand Warriors 23-18 in a thrilling encounter at Auckland this afternoon.

The Broncos went into the game having won just three of the previous 10 matches between the two clubs, the visitors crossed four times to three and secured victory in the final minute when Shaun Berrigan slid over in the corner.

Brisbane joins Melbourne Storm in equal share of the competition lead at the halfway mark of Season 2006.

The first points came through a piece of good timing from Warriors centre Simon Manning. Whilst surrounded by Bronco tacklers he somehow managed to get his ball holding arm out and offloaded to Nathan Fien, the forward then dazzled the Bronco defense before gaining an overlap on the left wing for Patrick Ah Van to stroll over untouched.

Tony Martin added the extras from the sideline and the home team led 6-0.

Brisbane replied eight minute later through try-scoring specialist Tame Tupou, the winger comes with the reputation of crossing for doubles, however no double from Tupou today as he left the field injured soon after and was replaced by Greg Eastwood.

New Zealand regained the lead when Ruben Wiki benefited from the Steve Price charge down of Darren Lockyer’s last tackle clearing kick, from the halfway line, in the 17th minute.

The Broncos could sense their second try and with quick hands in their own half winger Darius Boyd was away. He was however stopped on halfway and bundled into touch by halfback Grant Rovelli.

However, the following scrum saw first receiver five-eighth Jerome Ropati taken down in a two-man tackle which forced him to dislodge the ball. Shaun Berrigan swooped and offloaded to Eastwood, who headed straight for the left corner.

The Broncos were in again with an Eastwood double inside five minutes, Corey Parker added the conversion and the visitors led 18-12 with half time closing in.

The rain began to fall heavily as the siren went for half time, at the break Brisbane led 18-12.

Sunshine greeted the players for the resumption after the break.

On the back of another set of six after a Bronco knock on, the Warriors capitalised early in the second half with Wiki diving over, for his second, next to the posts.

The offload from Michael Luck, which led to the try, was possibly forward however referee Shayne Hayne awarded it and from directly infront Martin levelled the scores at 18-all.

Lockyer put his team under enormous pressure with his restart kick going out on the full, from the ensuing penalty – first in the match after 48 minutes – the Warriors were on the attack deep in enemy territory.

No try came in that forte, and both defences were fully tested in the 25 minutes that followed.

Rovelli attempted a field goal with nine minutes to play only for it to come off the side of his boot and dribble cross field.

What Rovelli couldn’t do, Lockyer did at the other end and put the Broncos ahead by one with a sweetly timed field goal shot.

The Broncos sealed the win in the final minute through a great passage of teamwork, Berrigan finished off what Tupou’s replacement started deep in their own territory.

Next week, the Sydney Roosters host the Warriors at Aussie Stadium on Sunday, while South Sydney entertains the Broncos at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night.

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