Broncos send 'huge' statement to Panthers; Cowboys star closes in ...

Pat Carrigan, Ezra Mam, and Reece Walsh starred as the Adam Reynolds-less Broncos won an entertaining Queensland derby against the Cowboys in Townsville 30-14.

The game hung in the balance at 20-10 before a Reece Walsh try in the 74th minute.

Walsh was emotional when celebrating the try, with Fox League’s Brent Tate reporting that the fullback had a death in the family.

Round 23

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The Cowboys scored through Heilum Luki to maintain a flutter of hope and when Kyle Feldt regained a chip and chase, the game was on a knife’s edge however the winger elected to try and pass instead of putting the ball down and knocked it on.

Selwyn Cobbo scored an intercept try on full time to inflate the end margin.

Carrigan scored a try and set up one, Walsh was seemingly everywhere and Mam scored a try and had a number of key defensive stops.

They were backed up with strong performances from forwards Brendan Piakura, Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell.

It was a fast start, with both sides making plenty of ground at will. The Cowboys had the first great opportunity, but returning winger Kyle Feldt was bundled into touch as he was attempting to ground the ball.

The Broncos made the home side pay shortly after, when winger Jesse Arthars crossed in the left corner, getting on the end of some slick Brisbane ball movement.

“It’s high octane, it’s fast and it’s got skill,” Corey Parker said.

“What about the intensity of this game. It’s fast.”

Feldt would atone in the 12th minute, as plenty of space again opened up for him on the left wing.

It was Feldt’s try was his 126th, moving four away from Matt Bowen’s club record of 130.

The Broncos regained the upper hand over the next ten minutes, scoring a try but bombing two others.

Firstly, Tom Flegler made a big break down the middle and only had to give it off to Ezra Mam on his left, but he went himself before being tackled.

“Tom Flegler doesn’t find himself in the open much and he’s absolutely bombed a try for the Brisbane Broncos,” Parker said.

A couple of sets later, Broncos second rower Brendan Piakura broke clear down the right side but was unable to give it off cleanly to Kotoni Staggs ten metres out, instead passing it into Staggs when he was in front of him and causing an accidental offside penalty.

It would be Carrigan who finally added Brisbane’s second try.

Carrigan, who was held tryless in 77 games, scored his second in as many weeks.

Billy Walters jumped out of dummy half and created a gap for Carrigan, before giving the forward a lovely short ball who then barged over from short range.

“It took him 78 games to get his first but now he’s raining with tries,” Corey Parker said.

Brisbane continued to look threatening nearly every time they touched the ball in the first half, and lead the line break count 6-2, but they failed to convert, with the 13/19 completion rate attesting to that.

Herbie Farnworth had an excellent chance in the final minutes of the half to extend the lead, but some determined Cowboys defence thwarted another golden opportunity for the Broncos.

A Chad Townsend penalty on halftime ensured the Cowboys were within a try heading into the sheds.

Carrigan’s terrific afternoon continued in the 53rd minute as he broke the line again, in Cowboys territory, before finding a streaking Ezra Mam on his inside with a beautiful offload.

Mam would cross under the posts and ensure the Cowboys task would be near impossible.Feldt scored his second in the 59th minute with the home side not willing to go away quietly, however Walsh wrapped it up with his try 15 minutes later.

Read on for our three big hits...

BRONCOS RETURN SERVE IN RACE FOR MINOR PREMIERSHIP

It appears now the minor premiership is a race in two, if it wasn’t already.

The Panthers were outstanding in a 26-6 win over the Storm on Friday night, to extend their lead on the ladder to a win, but the Broncos ensured the Panthers wouldn’t run away with the minor premiership when they defeated the Cowboys.

Both the Panthers and Broncos will end Round 23 with 36 points, with Penrith’s for and against far superior. That means Brisbane will have to find an extra win somewhere over the final four games.

The Warriors are back in third on 32 points and are technically still a chance, but it’s hard to see the Broncos and Panthers lose half of their games to end the season.

Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said it was a “statement” win from the Broncos.

“Huge performance from the Broncos. Penrith made a statement last night with their win over the Storm well I think the Broncos have done exactly the same thing,” Cronk said.

“No Adam Reynolds, they give away a lot of penalties, commit a lot of errors, they give enough attacking ball to the Cowboys that they should have won the game but their goal line stood strong and they were resilient

“Kevin Walters knows he has a very, very good team on his hands and it was a great performance.”

“There’s something very special about this bunch,” Mal Meninga added.

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FELDT NUDGES CLOSER TO CLUB RECORD

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has been kept out of the side in recent weeks due to the play of recently-recruited Semi Valemei, but due to Valentine Holmes’ suspension, Feldt found himself back in the team.

The Cowboys veteran has happy memories against the Broncos considering he scoring a match-tying try in the 2015 Grand Final.

Of course, the Cowboys would then win that game in golden point.

Feldt started strong on Saturday, scoring in the 12th minute.

He then scored another midway through the second half, which improved his career total to 127.

That brings him to be within three of club legend Matt Bowen’s try-scoring record of 130.

With Holmes to miss the next three games, expect Feldt to be given every chance to achieve the historic feat.

Feldt wasn’t afraid of the tough stuff either, recording 186 metres from 23 runs, which were team highs in both categories.

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YOUNGSTER STARS DESPITE EMBARRASSING MOMENT

Broncos second rower Brendan Piakura had a moment he would probably like to forget in the first half, but bounced back from that to enjoy a career-best game in just his ninth NRL appearance.

Piakura made a break down the right hand side and just had to give it off to Kotoni Staggs for a Broncos four pointer, but instead threw it forward into Staggs, resulting in a penalty for accidental offside.

In fairness, it wasn’t entirely Piakura’s fault considering Staggs changed which side he was on as the Broncos youngster looked for support.

It wouldn’t matter in the end as Brisbane ran out easy winners, with Piakura more than playing his part.

Piakura has now played seven games in 2023, starting and playing 80 minutes at second row in his past four games.

Against North Queensland, the 21 year-old ran for 150 metres, recorded five tackle busts, two line breaks and 24 tackles.

His form means Jordan Riki, who was a regular starter in the back row before suffering a foot injury, is in a battle to retain his spot.

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