The Broncos have fallen agonisingly short of pulling off the biggest comeback in NRL history on a crazy night in Sydney where the defending premiers’ injury crisis worsened with skipper Adam Reynolds suffering a sickening head knock.
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The Roosters led 30-0 early in the second half and looked set to run up a cricket score, but a stunning try-saving tackle by Reece Walsh turned the game on its head as the visitors raced in four tries in 15 minutes to cut the gap to six.
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But a moment of madness from Kotoni Staggs with 10 minutes to go ended any thoughts of a comeback after he elbowed Hugo Savala in the back of the head on the ground and was marched for 10 minutes.
The sin bin proved costly with the Roosters adding a penalty goal a few moments later as they held on for a 38-24 victory on a night that could prove costly for both sides.
Staggs binned late for rogue elbow! | 00:31
INJURY CARNAGE
Both teams will be counting the cost of Saturday’s bruising affair with three players failing to get through the first half, while Reynolds was forced off just three minutes after the break to add to their woes.
The inspirational halfback’s head slammed into the ground while trying to tackle Naufahu Whyte and was immediately in trouble, with Tom Duffy his likely replacement for next week’s game against Manly.
Michael Maguire revealed in the post game press conference that Reynolds suffered a Category 1 concussion and will miss one match.
It adds to their injury woes with stars like Payne Haas and Ben Hunt also sidelined, while winger Josiah Karapani came off with a foot injury and was replaced by Deine Mariner who came off in the first half with a cork.
The club have since confirmed that Mariner suffered an acute compartment syndrome injury to his right thigh.
This saw him admitted to hospital in Sydney overnight and has subsequently undergone surgery – the Broncos have yet to provide a projected return timeline.
Maguire admitted in the post-match press conference Mariner should not have returned to the field.
“Deine probably shouldn’t have gone back out, but that’s what they’re doing for each other,” he told reporters.
Ramsey return “A special moment” | 08:28
Roosters prop Lindsay Collins was forced off early in the first half and failed his head injury assessment following a clash of heads that will keep him out of next week’s game against the Titans.
Teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase is also long odds to make the trip to Gosford after he was forced off with an ankle injury, while Blues veteran Angus Crichton failed to finish the contest and had an ice pack on his knee.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said post-game it was a medial ligament injury for Crichton and syndesmosis for Nawaqanitawase, who is likely to need an operation which would rule him out of Origin contention.
ORIGIN AUDITION
Reece Walsh produced the highlight plays, but James Tedesco had the last laugh as the NSW Blues hopeful got one over the Queensland superstar in a Saturday night heavyweight bout between two of the best fullbacks in the world.
Tedesco has played 23 games for his state, but the former NSW skipper hasn’t donned the blue jersey since the 2024 series opener with Dylan Edwards the incumbent.
But he’s been the best fullback in the competition this season and was strong again on Saturday with 153 metres and a try assist to set up Daly Cherry-Evans for the opener.
He was a menace through the middle and has to be in contention for an Origin recall where he would come up against Walsh later this month.
The Broncos fullback had a quiet first half in his first game back from a facial fracture but did come up with a stunning tackle to deny Hugo Savala a certain try, before he burrowed over moments later to get his side on the board.
Walsh also laid on a try for Jordan Riki and had six tackle busts as he reminded Blues fans just how dangerous he is with ball in hand.
Maroons bolter Sam Walker had a few big plays in attack as he punished the visitors with his short kicking game, while big man Naufahu Whyte was forced to play huge minutes and didn’t disappoint with 21 runs for 190 metres.
Roosters outlast defiant Broncos | 02:29
CODY THE COMEBACK KID
The injury to Nawaqanitawase paved the way for Cody Ramsey to make an emotional return in what was his first NRL appearance since the 2022 season.
The former Dragon was told he’d never play again after he was sidelined with ulcerative colitis which required multiple surgeries.
But despite losing 28 kilos in just seven weeks, Ramsey never gave up on his footy career, with the outside back returning in reserve grade for the Dragons last year.
And after waiting 1337 days, Ramsey finally got his chance to play in the NRL in what turned out to be one of the wildest games of the year.
Ramsey speaks after emotional NRL return | 04:16
CYA SLATER
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has joined legendary Storm fullback Billy Slater in third spot on the all-time leaderboard after he scored the 190th try of his illustrious career and had another disallowed for obstruction.
Tupou finished off a slick backline move in the left corner 18 minutes into the contest, with the veteran to play his 300th game against Slater’s former side later this month.
JUDICIARY WATCH
Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Talty was placed on report for a hip drop tackle on James Tedesco in the sixth minute but has not been charged for the incident.
The same can‘t be said for teammate Kotoni Staggs, who has been hit with a two-match suspension after being sent to the sin-bin for a forearm to Hugo Savala, who was on the ground.
Likely to accept an early guilty plea, if he decides to fight the charge and is deemed guilty, he will be suspended for a further match, making it a three-game ban.
Meanwhile, star Roosters lock Victor Radley who was placed on report for a crusher tackle in the 13th minute, has not been charged by the match review committee.
“Really? Is it April Fool’s?” Radley said on Fox League.
“I thought for sure something was coming. So it’s actually great news.”
FOX LAB STATS
– Five straight wins for the Roosters for the first time since late in 2023.
– Roosters have now won 17 of last 19 games the week after scoring 45+ points, and have also won 12 of last 14 games the week after ANZAC Day.
– Roosters won nine of 12 against the Broncos since 2020
– The Roosters led 30-0 when Hugo Savala bombed a certain try in the 48th minute. The Broncos scored 24 unanswered points before the Roosters sealed the game with Kotoni Staggs in the sin bin.
– Broncos have conceded 35 points or more in three of their four losses this season – the most they conceded in a game last season was 34.
– The Roosters finished with 56 percent possession on the back of a 9-5 penalty count and 8-3 set restarts.
– The Broncos were held to just 911 metres – their second lowest on record (751 v Eels in 2019 finals)
Fox Lab POTM – Nat Butcher put in a quality workhorse performance after replacing Lindsay Collins in the first half. He scored a try, ran for a career high 184 metres and made 28 tackles without missing one.
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