Broncos 'flex their muscle' in 'demolition job' as Eels' chances ...

The Broncos have produced a 54-10 “demolition job” on the Eels with star halfback Adam Reynolds scoring 22 of those points in his return from injury.

Reynolds, who missed last week with a groin injury, scored a try and nailed eight conversions and a penalty goal to become the second player in NRL history to kick 1000 goals. He also overtook Johnathan Thurston as the fourth highest pointscorer of all-time.

Meanwhile, a line has basically been put through the Eels premiership chances with Mitchell Moses’ fractured cheekbone just adding to their woes.

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The Eels had a promising start to the game with both sides aiming up in the opening 20 minutes. But once Reynolds crossed it was all Brisbane.

Star fullback Reece Walsh spotted an opportunity down the left edge and sent Kurt Capewell into space. The veteran second-rower put a perfectly-weighted grubber in for Reynolds, who scored under the posts.

“Skill personified from the Brisbane Broncos,” Voss said.

They backed it up with three tries in the space of 12 minutes, sparking expert analyst Cooper Cronk to call the Eels’ defence “poor” and the Broncos simply “electric.”

The third one was the most thrilling with Deine Mariner intercepting an Eels pass and offloading to Herbie Farnworth, who ran 50 metres. He was mowed down by Moses, but backward rolled out of the tackle, got back up and ran backwards for five metres before scoring.

The Broncos didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half with Mariner and Billy Walters crossing for their second of the night

The Eels finally got on the board through Sean Russell and Brown, who scored within six minutes of each other, but Walsh put an exclamation mark on the Broncos’ win with a try in the 73rd minute.

Corey Parker said the Broncos were “flexing their muscle,” while Voss called the performance a “Brisbane demolition job.”

BIG HITS

WALSH, REYNOLDS MAKE UP PREMIERSHIP-WINNING ‘INGREDIENTS’

Is there a more exciting player to watch than Reece Walsh?

The Broncos fullback was at his devastating best at The Gabba on Friday, scoring a try, setting up another, getting two linebreaks, five linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 109 running metres. He also kicked his very first 40/20.

Fox League’s Greg Alexander said Walsh was “outstanding again” and that he’s “always involved in everything,” while Cooper Cronk said “every time Reece Walsh touches the ball, his footwork, his speed and his footy IQ for a young man…”

It was a special night for veteran No.7 Adam Reynolds too. He missed last week with a groin injury but returned in style, scoring the first try of the night.

Reynolds nailed his first 40/20 of the season and kicked his 1000th career goal, while also overtaking Johnathan Thurston as the fourth highes pointscorer of all-time.

Walsh and Reynolds make up the “ingredients” that Cronk believes can help the Broncos all the way.

“I would love to play halfback with a threat of this guy out the back of shape. He is electric,” Cronk said of Walsh.

“How many times does he beat the front defenders through footwork, speed and acceleration? On top of that he goes looking for work.

“His ability to be a gambler and throw risk and not worry about the situation, just go all-in on a play. It’s beautiful to watch.

“The Broncos are humming and that combination of Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh is just really good to watch.

“To the Broncos fans, if you’re going to do something special this year, you have the ingredients in Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh to do it all.”

EELS’ SEASON HANGING BY A THREAD

Fox League expert Cooper Cronk believes we can “pretty much” put a line through the Eels’ premiership chances after a “poor” performance against the Broncos.

The first 20 minutes indicated that the Eels were very much up for this clash — even coach Brad Arthur said in the post-game press conference that his side’s “attitude was on.”

But once the Broncos scored two tries in the space of four minutes, Cooper Cronk saw the “worrying signs.”

Making matters worse, the Eels will now be without star halfback — and perhaps their most important player — Mitchell Moses, who fractured his cheekbone. Andrew Davey failed his HIA and Wiremu Greig was put on report.

“(It’s) a devastating blow to their hopes,” Cronk said of the result.

“I don’t want to put the line through them but you pretty much can because this has been a poor performance tonight.”

The Eels sit 10th with games against the Roosters and Panthers before a bye in the final round, but Arthur refuses to give up.

“Our attitude was on, you could see that in the first 20 minutes. We were just beaten by a team that was too good for us. Simple as that. We had some carnage and they were too good,” he said.

“It makes it tough but we’re not giving up. We’re going to keep fighting. Until it’s over, we’re going to keep fighting.”

BRONCOS’ UNSUNG HEROES SHINE

It’s not often that Billy Walters and Kurt Capewell stand out when they’re in a side that boasts the likes of Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh but the two unsung heroes got their moment on Friday night.

Walters, who has played every game of the season, scored his first career double, got a good ball away to Patrick Carrigan early in the game and almost kicked a 40/20 until Clint Gutherson knocked it backed in.

Cooper Cronk called Walters’ 61-minute stint “absolutely tremendous” and highlighted how much he’s evolved as a player.

“The Walters family is proud of this man’s development because he’s come to the club where his dad was such a famous player and hasn’t he delivered. He’s improved out of sight on both sides of the football,” Cronk said.

“When you’ve got players like Adam Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam there’s an opportunity for him to overplay his hand, well he hasn’t,” Corey Parker added.

“He’s been Brisbane’s most improved player for mine. He’s just been able to do his role, deliver the ball when he’s needed to those key players but when he sees an opportunity he backs himself. He’s in terrific form.”

Capewell got a well-deserved try in the 66th minute after setting two up earlier — one with a cross-field grubber and the other with an offload.

“Kurt Capewell has had a night out. Talk about some of the rock stars in this team, Capewell has set up multiple tries and has scored one,” Cronk said.

Capewell finished the game with two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, two tackle busts, 99 running metres and 16 tackles — no misses — to go with his try and assists.

Walters was also rock-solid with three tackle busts, an offload, a linebreak and 18 tackles with no misses.

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TEAMS

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Jensen

Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Daejarn Asi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Andrew Davey 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Brendan Hands 18. Makahesi Makatoa