The new batch of baby Broncos have Brisbane in the mix to take out the pre-season challenge and the $100,000 cash prize after they overcame a slow start to smash Manly 40-14 at 4 Pines Park.
Both teams were without their stars who are in America for next week’s historic Las Vegas double-header, but the Broncos showed off their depth which was a ray of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy evening in Sydney.
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The Sea Eagles jumped out to an early 10-0 lead but the visitors blew the game wide open with a try either side of half-time to give them a 22-10 lead 60 seconds into the second half.
The first was a controversial penalty try with the Bunker ruling that Clayton Faulalo kicked the ball out of Sione Hopoate’s hands in the act of scoring.
The Sea Eagles had no one to blame but themselves for the second try when they let the kick-off bounce, with Delouise Hoeter powering his way over from the ensuing scrum less than a minute into the second half.
COMBINATIONS
It took just a couple of minutes for Brad Parker’s move to the back row to pay off with the former centre crashing over for the first points of the evening.
It’s a trend we’ll see a lot more of in the coming years as outside backs bulk up and move infield, and it could be an important move for Parker with Josh Schuster battling injuries.
Parker looked good while he was on the field and will now head off to Vegas to link up with the rest of the NRL squad ahead of next week’s game against Souths.
