But it was Madden’s long kicking game as Manly chased the Broncos down, levelling the score at 12-12 and seemingly flying through the second half with the momentum, when the lessons he had learned from Reynolds came to the fore.
His 618 kicking metres enabled Brisbane’s defence to keep the Sea Eagles at bay, before slotting the match-winning field goal with four minutes remaining to clinch a famous win.
Has Cobbo’s Walsh SOS sealed Origin return?
Friday night’s battle was deprived of one of the game’s most enthralling fullback battles, with Trbojevic beginning his seven-week recovery for a hamstring injury and Walsh out with a minor knee injury.
It meant two centres – Tolu Koula and Selwyn Cobbo – donned the No.1 jerseys, and it was the latter who rose above and put an exclamation mark on his State of Origin credentials.
Cobbo proved a man too daunting to contain with the extra freedom to roam – finishing with 222 running metres, two linebreaks and a whopping 14 tackle busts.
Selwyn Cobbo was brilliant for the Brisbane Broncos at fullback against the Manly Sea Eagles.Credit: NRL Photos
The 21-year-old proved fearless under the high ball, leaping above the pack early in the contest and shrugging off several would-be defenders to get the Broncos inside Manly’s half.
From the following tackle, Taniela Paseka was sent to the sin bin, unable to handle Brisbane’s swing of momentum, and Ezra Mam was quick to put Deine Mariner over in the corner.
But it was with his team under pressure, particularly in the later stages of the opening half, it was Cobbo’s positional play on threatening kicks that paid huge dividends, thwarting many an ominous raid to keep the Sea Eagles at bay.
One amazing effort in the second half on a swirling giant bomb from Daly Cherry-Evans, in which he then ran 30m on the back of the catch, summed up his knack for the miraculous.
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After scoring twice in Queensland’s series opening win in last year’s Origin showdown, a hip issue kept the 21-year-old out of action for the following clash, and he was unable to usurp his replacement Xavier Coates.
But Cobbo’s move to the centres this season has ignited a more formidable foe, and his versatility to cover the wing and now fullback will no doubt pique coach Billy Slater’s interest.
As incumbent winger Murray Taulagi and centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow take their first steps back from hamstring injuries this weekend, the form surge of Cobbo could prove too tempting to ignore.
Haas scare could trigger greater role for X-factor
The fallout from the Broncos’ great escape could have game-changing ramifications – both for their campaign and the looming State of Origin series.
The sight of marquee Brisbane and New South Wales Blues prop Haas being helped from the field midway through the second half has sent a collective shudder through the respective camps.
Despite looking in significant distress as he was helped from the field, he somehow returned to help close out the contest, finishing with 166 running metres and six tackle busts in a brave display.
Payne Haas is helped from the field in the Brisbane Broncos’ triumph of the Manly Sea Eagles in Magic Round.Credit: NRL Photos
In a side already without Reynolds and Walsh, coach Kevin Walters’ men can ill-afford to lose their inspirational middle man.
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Should Haas be forced to miss time on the field, it could spell a defining period in the career of Xavier Willison.
The blossoming prospect’s talent became obvious when Haas was sent to the casualty ward for six weeks earlier in the season, having undergone surgery on his knee following the round two win over the Rabbitohs.
If fit, Haas will be one of the first name’s picked on the New South Wales team sheet when Michael MacGuire picks his first Origin side in less than two weeks, as will lock Pat Carrigan for the Maroons.
Brendan Piakura also looms as a potential Queensland bolter, while 20-year-old phenom Ben Te Kura will miss the next four months.
Come Origin, the Broncos will be well short of forward depth, and Willison will need to rise to the occasion.
His 20 tackles with just one miss and 64m with three tackle breaks was a small taste of what he has shown thus far, but he will need to hit another gear moving forward for Brisbane’s title credentials to remain intact.
Ironman Carrigan to lead the way
After an early onslaught, Brisbane found themselves on the back foot regularly in the opening half, but Manly failed to penetrate.
It was not just that the Broncos were able to hold out their rivals, but they attacked off the ball – epitomised by a brutal hit from Pat Carrigan on Luke Brooks within his own 10m line.
Pat Carrigan in action for the Brisbane Broncos against the Manly Sea Eagles in Magic Round.Credit: NRL Photos
Errors quickly followed from the Sea Eagles, several passes ending up in touch just as they looked to make a dangerous raid.
Within the final five minutes of the opening stanza, another strong Carrigan hit forced the ball loose from Matt Lodge’s possession with his side under pressure once again.
Without a host of stars, the Broncos are going to need their defence to set the standard.
Carrigan showed the fruits of that, finishing with 268m and made 34 tackles.
Manly even held the ascendancy at halftime in terms of possession [52 per cent to 48], while the Broncos also made more errors [six to five] and gave away an extra ruck infringement [two to one].
It was a theme that would continue in the second half, forced to defend several sets on their own line inside the opening 10 minutes, broken by a questionably forward pass from Haumole Olakau’atu for Reuben Garrick to score.
The Sea Eagles appeared to have the weight of momentum behind them for much of the second half, culminating in an equalising try through Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega to set up a grandstand finish.
But with Carrigan leading the defensive resolve, Brisbane held firm, and if they can get all their troops back on deck for the business end of the campaign, this may be the performance they look back on as a defining one in their development.
Source Agencies
