The Brisbane Broncos open their home season this Friday, 21 March, against the North Queensland Cowboys, carrying the weight of two performances that have left fans questioning the team’s true identity. Madge’s side enter the encounter with a point to prove after their promising start was derailed in the nation’s capital. Broncos vs Cowboys kick off 7:00 p.m. at Suncorp Stadium.
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Electrifying Start Raises Expectations
Michael Maguire’s Red Hill revolution began with a bang in round one, as Brisbane dismantled the Sydney Roosters 50-14 in a statement performance at Allianz Stadium. The Broncos’ new-look outfit fired on all cylinders, overcoming an early deficit to run in nine tries against one of the competition’s traditional powerhouses.
The revamped Brisbane midfield showcased a perfect blend of power and precision, with Payne Haas proving unstoppable. Despite observing Ramadan, the front-rower tore through the Roosters’ defence, amassing 145 metres and 11 tackle busts while providing a clever assist for Cory Paix’s try. Alongside Haas, Pat Carrigan excelled in his switch from lock to prop, chalking up 202 metres and setting up Jack Gosiewski with a deft short ball.
The veteran halves combination of Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds controlled the game with composure and guile. Hunt, in his first appearance back in Broncos colours, orchestrated Brisbane’s opening try and crossed for one himself, while Reynolds’ precision kicking game tormented the Roosters’ outside backs.
Perhaps most impressive was the performance of Cory Paix, who ended a 553-day NRL exile with a standout showing in the number nine jersey. The hooker’s enterprising play around the ruck provided Brisbane with the zip they needed, while Selwyn Cobbo’s hat-trick out wide put an exclamation mark on a commanding display.
Reality Check in Canberra Exposes Vulnerabilities
The euphoria of round one quickly evaporated as the Broncos came crashing back to earth with a 32-22 defeat against Canberra Raiders.
Brisbane’s imposing forward pack found themselves outmuscled by the Raiders’ duo of Corey Horsburgh and Josh Papali’i. The pair set the tone early with ferocious charges and stinging defence, limiting the influence of Haas and Carrigan. The Broncos’ enforcers were beaten to the punch by a hungrier Raiders outfit, with Brisbane’s completion rate plummeting to just 65% compared to their clinical execution against the Roosters.
The halves pairing of Reynolds and Hunt struggled to stamp their authority on the game, with Reynolds failing to register a single run in the first half. While Hunt created two tries with pinpoint cut-out passes to Jesse Arthars, he was badly exposed defensively when Canberra’s Matty Nicholson bumped him off en route to the try line.
Most concerning for Broncos fans was the neutralisation of fullback Reece Walsh. The electric number one, who had terrorised Canberra in previous encounters, was restricted to just 51 metres from five runs as the Raiders kicked to open spaces and denied him quality possession. Walsh’s defensive frailties were also exposed, with four missed tackles compounded by four handling errors in a night to forget.
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Broncos vs Cowboys
The Friday night clash against the Cowboys now takes on heightened significance as the Broncos look to establish consistency under their new coach. For Brisbane to prevail in front of their home faithful, they’ll need to recapture the midfield dominance that laid the platform for their round one success.
Haas and Carrigan must win the crucial battle of the engine room, while Reynolds and Hunt will be eager to demonstrate their combination can flourish even when facing defensive pressure and limited time with the ball.
As they prepare to run out at Suncorp Stadium for the first time in 2025, the Broncos stand at a crossroads in their early-season journey. Will supporters witness the ruthless machine that demolished the Roosters, or the vulnerable outfit that was outmuscled in Canberra?
Published 17-March-2025