Source : the age
Payne Haas will be sent for scans on a knee injury after the NRL’s premier prop failed to finish in Brisbane’s 21-20 win over the Wests Tigers.
Haas hobbled off midway through the first half at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and looks set to add to the Broncos’ sizeable injury list which includes Reece Walsh, Ben Hunt and Jesse Arthars, who limped off after half-time with a calf issue.
A prolonged period without Haas would be devastating for reigning premiers Brisbane, who were steered to victory on Saturday night by halfback Adam Reynolds.
Haas’ fitness will also be of concern for NSW coach Laurie Daley with a little over six weeks until the State of Origin series opener in Sydney.
If Daley were looking for a readymade replacement then Tigers prop Terrell May made a strong audition in a game where he chalked up 188m and made five tackle busts.
May was exceptional in a Tigers side that failed to capitalise on a dominant opening 20 minutes against a depleted Broncos outfit.
Adam Doueihi converted Taylan May’s opening try in the ninth minute and then kicked a penalty goal to put the home side ahead.
Brisbane returned serve when Xavier Willison made a run up the middle and looked to have been contained by Api Koroisau.
But the Broncos prop played on and Ezra Mam was able to fling the ball to left wing for Josiah Karapani to slide over.
Haas got up gingerly after a tackle involving Royce Hunt and tried to soldier on, but came from the field in the 34th minute after the Tigers had extended their lead through Jahream Bula.
Reynolds then showed all his experience to set up winger Deine Mariner with a crossfield kick and hit Ben Talty with an inside ball close to the line to give the visitors an 18-14 halftime lead.
Koroisau finished a flowing move to nudge the Tigers back ahead but two errors under the high ball from teenage winger Heamasi Makasini opened the door for Brisbane.
On the next set, Koroisau gave away a penalty for not being square at marker with Reynolds nudging a penalty.
The veteran halfback then snapped a 70th-minute field goal to seal victory and end the Tigers’ three-match winning streak.
That’s full-time at Campbelltown, where Adam Reynolds 70th minute field goal proved to be the winner as the Broncos secure a 21-20 victory against the Tigers.
Emotions are running high following that loss, as a fight erupts on full-time.
It’s not all celebration for the Broncos though, with Payne Haas ruled out with a knee injury in the first half, before Jesse Arthars also left the field injured in the second.
With the Origin period on the horizon, Haas will be sent for scans to determine the extent of the injury.
Full-time: Broncos 21, Tigers 20
It’s not a try for Brisbane, but with field position in their favour, Adam Reynolds decides to kick the field goal.
The Broncos are back in front.
Broncos 21, Tigers 20 with nine minutes to go
This might be the end of the Tigers tonight.
Adam Reynolds puts the bomb up and Heamasi Makasini drops the ball cold.
Uh oh. Brisbane get a scrum feed 10 metres out from the Tigers line.
Tigers 20, Broncos 20 with 10 minutes to go
Momentum shift.
Brisbane are given a penalty in front of the upright for Api Korisau not being square at marker.
Of course, Brisbane decide to take the two points. Adam Reynolds nails the kick and it’s all square in Campbelltown.
Broncos 20, Tigers 20 with 13 minutes to go
With 15 minutes to go in this match, we’re in a crucial arm wrestle.
If the Tigers can get one more try, it feels like they might just have the Broncos here tonight.
But they’ve had the opportunity for more points in this half, but have come up with some poor errors.
Jock Madden enters the game from the bench. Let’s see what he can do for the Tigers attack tonight.
Tigers 20, Broncos 18 with 15 minutes to go
The Brisbane defence could only take so much, and now, the Tigers have found a way through.
It’s the flick pass from Samuela Fainu to Api Koroisau that does the trick after he drags four defenders in, and Koroisau goes across to score.
The Tigers re-take the lead after Adam Doueihi adds the extras.
Tigers 20, Broncos 18 with 25 minutes to go
The Tigers are smashing the Brisbane defence at the moment, but the Broncos are doing a fantastic job of keeping the Tigers out.
Jesse Arthars is belted sideways by Ai Koroisau, with the Brisbane fullback barely able to get through a set after leaving the field injured in the first half.
When Brisbane do finally get some field position, Cameron Bukoswki drops the ball.
Broncos 18, Tigers 14 with 26 minutes to go
Jahream Bula steps up and the Tigers score the first try of the half and draw equal with the Broncos.
Beautiful footwork from Bula, who stepped around Kotoni Staggs and Jordan Riki to score.
That’s a double Bula, but the excitement is short-lived. Unfortunately, the bunker rules that Taylan May obstructs Adam Reynolds.
No try.
Broncos 18, Tigers 14 with 35 minutes to go
Here we go.
If the Tigers can have a second half like the one they had against the Knights last week, then they’re in for another win.
But they need to figure out their end-of-set plays. They don’t have enough points for the amount of possession they’ve had.
Adam Doueihi gets things under way with the kick-off.
Broncos 18, Tigers 14 with 40 minutes to go
