Brisbane looked right at home at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night as they recorded a vital 30-6 'away' win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium.
Anthony Milford starred for the Broncos, scoring two tries and setting up another as the Broncos ran away with an important win heading into the State of Origin period. The Sea Eagles struggled to build any momentum in the match, outclassed by a superior Brisbane outfit that led from start to finish.
The win sends Brisbane to the top of the NRL ladder and sets up a blockbuster grand final replay when the Broncos meet the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium next Friday.
It was a first half of missed chances for the Sea Eagles, with forward passes robbing them of two near-certain tries that would have kept them in the match.
These costly errors resulted in a comfortable 12-0 scoreline at the half-time break and Brisbane started the second half where they left off, with Jordan Kahu slotting a penalty goal in the 44th minute to give the Broncos a 14-0 lead.
In the 49th minute, Brisbane five-eighth Milford scored his second of the night with a brilliant side step that bamboozled the Sea Eagles defence. Kahu continued his perfect night with the boot to give the Broncos a commanding 20-0 lead.
It took until the 56th minute for Manly-Warringah to get onto the scoreboard, with second-row forward Martin Taupau pouncing on a Dylan Walker grubber kick to give the Sea Eagles a rare highlight. Jamie Lyon converted from the left of the posts to give the Sea Eagles a chance at a miraculous win as they trailed 20-6.
The joy was short lived for the Sea Eagles as Milford put Sam Thaiday through a gaping hole in the 58th minute, with Thaiday's try converted by Kahu to give Brisbane a 26-6 lead.
In the 70th minute, a superb cut-out ball from Darius Boyd gave Queensland Origin hopeful Corey Oates his first try of the night. Kahu failed to convert from the sideline and the lead stayed at 30-6.
It was a comprehensive win by Brisbane who never looked to get out of second gear.
Earlier in the match, Broncos fullback Boyd pounced on a Daly Cherry-Evans mistake in the 10th minute to run 20 metres through a large gap and score under the posts untouched. Kahu converted from straight in front to give Brisbane an early 6-0 lead.
A brilliant inside ball from halfback Ben Hunt found Milford 30 metres out from the Sea Eagles line and the 21-year-old had the skill to step Manly-Warringah fullback Tom Trbojevic and score under the posts in the 14th minute. Kahu kicked truly to give Brisbane a 12-0 lead heading into half-time.
Brisbane Broncos 30 (Anthony Milford 2, Corey Oates, Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd tries; Jordan Kahu 5 goals)
defeated Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6 (Martin Taupau try; Jamie Lyon 1 goal)
at Suncorp Stadium.
Crowd: 52,347.
On Report: Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles).
Boyd, Milford fire as Broncos beat Sea Eagles - NRL.com
