Walsh, Cobbo star as Brisbane push towards minor premiership

The Broncos have put themselves in the box seat to wrap up the minor premiership, grinding their way to a 29-18 win over the Raiders at GIO Stadium on Saturday.

After the scores were locked 16-16 at half time it was fullback Reece Walsh who ignited Brisbane's second half charge, finishing the match with a field goal, a try and two try assists to put the Broncos back on top of the NRL ladder.

However, in worrying scenes the 21-year-old hobbled from the field at full time after suffering a suspected knee injury in the final stages of the match. 

Meanwhile, Ricky Stuart's men took it to the premiership heavyweights but a 63rd minute Jordan Rapana sin binning proved to be the turning point for the home side as another crucial loss put the Green Machine's finals hopes in doubt.

The visitors needed just four minutes to open the scoring thanks to prolific winger Cobbo, who was sent over in the right corner thanks to a long cut-out pass from fill-in halfback Jock Madden.  

After three successive errors, the Broncos goal line defence was finally worn down in the 18th minute when five-eighth Matt Frawley crossed from close range thanks to a deft Elliot Whitehead offload. Jamal Fogarty converted to hand the Raiders a 6-4 lead.

Nine minutes late Jack Wighton was dragged into touch and the Broncos made the most of the gifted field position when livewire fullback Walsh went outside the Raiders defenders to set up Kotoni Staggs on the edge. Staggs converted his own try to make it 10-6.

But a seesawing battle began to play out when Whitehead turned provider again with some quick hands to Nick Cotric who crossed in the corner to lock the scoreboard 10-10.

Three minutes later the Broncos hit back when Ezra Mam's right footed step sent him surging into a hole from close range before Hudson Young returned serve, charging downfield to tie up the scores 16-16 at the break.

The Raiders drew the first blood of the second half through a Fogarty penalty goal in the 45th minute. 

With 24 minutes passed since the last try scored, it was the Broncos who broke the stalemate when Walsh and Staggs combined to put Cobbo over in the right hand corner and hand the visitors a two-point lead.

Not only did the try cost Canberra their lead but the home side also went down to 12 men when Rapana was sent to the sin bin for an attempted trip on Cobbo.

Brisbane were quick to capitalise on the extra man when Cobbo completed his third hattrick for the season thanks to nice lead up work from Walsh. 

Walsh iced another impressive day out in the Broncos No. 1 jersey when he punted a penalty goal for insurance before crossing in the 76th minute to round out the Broncos' seventh win on the trot.

• Raiders winger Jordan Rapana was sent to the sin bin and placed on report for an alleged trip on Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo.
• Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs was placed on report in the first half for contact on Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana.
• Second-rower Kurt Capewell was the only Broncos player who has won an NRL game at GIO Stadium prior to the Round 26 clash.
• Departing Raider Jack Wighton had 13 runs for 136 metres and broke nine tackles in his last game at GIO Stadium.
• Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo had 170 run metres and five tackle breaks to go with his third hattrick for the season.
• Raiders centre Jarrod Croker started off the bench for the first time in his 307 game career. Croker played his 150th game at GIO Stadium.
• Corey Oates returned from a knee injury to celebrate his 200th NRL game.

It started with Reece Walsh and ended with Selwyn Cobbo as the Broncos young guns stretched the visitors to a six-point lead with 13 minutes to play. Continuing his dazzling form at GIO Stadium on Saturday, Walsh put the burners on and danced his way through Raiders defenders to take the ball 30 metres downfield. Thanks to a quick play the ball, Cobbo capitalised on the lead up work in the next set, streaming down the right edge to score his third try for the night.  

"It was a real gritty game for us which we were expecting. It was getting pretty close and I guess the sin binning came at the right time, it pushed us along a bit but it was a tough game. We know we've got great depth in the club and at times that's been challenged this year but we've come up with the right answers and that will continue in the next few weeks. We know we've got the Storm next Thursday I don't think Reyno (Adam Reynolds) will be available next week and neither will Pat Carrigan so we've got to have full confidence in the group that they will go out next week and get a similar result. - Broncos coach Kevin Walters

"We spoke about it this week, we wanted to win tonight and we knew we were capable of winning and we showed that tonight. I thought we played really well and obviously we didn't get some calls our way but I'm still pleased with the way we played. So we'll have to go back to work next week and we need to win now." - Raiders coach Ricky Stuart

The Raiders head to Shark Park to meet with the Sharks while the Broncos open the final round of the season when they host the Storm at Suncorp to prove their premiership credentials.