The Broncos have sealed their first win of the season after a Reece Walsh double helped steer them to a 28-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
It was a clunky — and somewhat heated — start to the clash with both sides coming up with some head-scratcher moments.
But it was the Rabbitohs who really struggled to find their groove in the first half, which opened the door for the Broncos to shoot out a 12-nil lead.
MATCH CENTRE:Broncos vs Rabbitohs live updates, score, stats
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Demetriou on Souths’ “horror show” start | 04:59
Deine Mariner scored first points off a perfectly-weighted Adam Reynolds grubber before Reece Walsh stunned when he beat three players — including his opposing No.1 — to cross under the posts.
But the Rabbitohs came out in the second half looking like a completely different side after no doubt copping a spray from Jason Demetriou to score two tries in three minutes and lock up scores.
The Broncos snatched back momentum though with an important try to Jesse Arthars to give them some breathing room before Walsh once again took centre stage.
The superstar fullback received a perfect bounce to score his second of the night, before his opposing fullback Latrell Mitchell got a consolation try in the final minute.
It wasn’t all smiles for the Broncos though with there now being concerns for captain Adam Reynolds, who left the field in the second half with a knee injury.
Adam Reynolds gives an injury update | 05:16
REECE LIGHTENING WINS FULLBACK BATTLE
Fans were salivating over the fullback battle in Thursday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium and they weren’t disappointed with both Reece Walsh and Latrell Mitchell having some nice touches.
But it was the Broncos superstar who won the battle with Walsh scored a double, getting five tackle busts, a linebreak and two linebreak assists.
NRLW star Tiana Penitani summed it up best when she said Walsh is “everywhere at the right time” because that’s exactly how he scored his second try.
Jesse Arthars put up a cross-field kick on the run and it was a cruel bounce for Mitchell, but it popped up perfectly for Walsh to score.
His first four-pointer though was the most impressive given he ducked and wove around three opposition players — including Mitchell.
“Speed, footwork and an enormous amount of confidence, Reece Walsh is just slicing through South Sydney,” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said.
“He is a genius… Walsh is destroying them. He looks dangerous with every touch… In the fullback showdown it’s been Reece Walsh that’s dominated.”
Walsh slices through Souths at Suncorp | 00:42
BUNNIES BURNED BY ‘STRANGE’ ERRORS
Coach Jason Demetriou will have a lot to say after an error-riddled first half proved costly in the Rabbitohs’ 10-point loss to the Broncos.
The Bunnies amassed 11 errors and 24 missed tackles in the first half and went into the break with an alarming 50 per cent completion rate.
Their uncharacteristic errors opened the door for the Broncos to score two tries and get a handy 12-point leave — and it could’ve been much worse given they bombed some tries of their own.
Fox League’s Michael Ennis called the first half “chaotic” and said it had been a “night of strange errors.”
Perhaps the Rabbitohs’ night was summed up best when they were penalised for Davvy Moaele being a blatant blocker as Latrell Mitchell put a kick up in the final five minutes of the first half.
“That’s just about the full house of mental mistakes they’ve made in the first half,” commentator Warren Smith said.
Ennis added: “They’ve rolled it all out… Jason Demetriou will be absolutely livid.”
REYNOLDS INJURY TAKES SHINE OFF WIN
The Broncos will be sweating on the availability of skipper Adam Reynolds, who left the field in the 70th minute after aggravating an existing knee injury.
Reynolds went into Thursday’s blockbuster clash with a knee niggle after copping a knock in the Broncos’ Round 1 loss to the Roosters in Las Vegas.
The club’s medical staff were seen working on the injury in the second half but the veteran halfback was determined to play on.
Reynolds, however, was replaced by Billy Walters with 10 minutes left after a Reece Walsh try took the Broncos out to a 10-point lead.
There’s also some concern regarding the fitness of Reynolds’ halves partner Ezra Mam, who looked to be battling a shoulder injury in the second half.
Meanwhile, powerhouse prop Payne Haas left the field in the first half with a knee injury but was able to return to the game.
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TEAMS
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau. 18th man: 19. Xavier Willison
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Richard Kennar 19. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 16. Shaquai Mitchell 13. Cameron Murray 12. Tallis Duncan 14. Siliva Havili 15. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess. 18th man: 18. Michael Chee Kam
Source Agencies
