In the Sea Eagles’ last Pre-Season Challenge game at 4 Pines Park on Saturday night, they were defeated by the Broncos 40-14.
In anticipation of the historic season opener in Las Vegas, where both teams are presently in camp in the United States, the surviving players in Australia were determined to create an impression in front of a significant 2024.
Manly had an advantage going into the match because they had played 257 NRL games as opposed to Brisbane’s 143. However, the combination of the weather and the occasion proved to be too much, as the Broncos easily won by 26 points.
The Sea Eagles were unable to secure a Bonus Point and left empty-handed. In the end, they had seven offloads (three short), four line breaks (one short) and three tries (two short). With 14 of a possible 15, the Broncos were in compliance for tries and line breaks but not for offloads.
Second-rower Brad Parker, who has played centre for the Sea Eagles for 97 NRL games, scored a touchdown in the third minute of play following a deft ball near the line from five-eighth Jamie Humphreys. For an early 6-0 advantage, the latter converted perfectly.
Brisbane’s second try came from Blake Mozer, who crashed over under the posts following a short ball near the line from hooker Cory Paix. There were three minutes left in the first half when Rogers converted from in front to give the visitors a 12–10 advantage.
At the stroke of halftime, Broncos winger Sione Hopoate was given a penalty try after it was determined that Faulalo had obstructed him while trying to ground him. Rogers successfully converted from in front due to the Penalty Try, resulting in an 18-10 advantage at halftime.
Eight minutes later, winger Max Lehmann gave Manly their second try on the other end. After making a swift shift, centre Cameron Brown broke through the defence and passed to Lehmann, who dived over unharmed to extend his team’s lead to ten points.
Five minutes later, Kurt Falls, the halfback for Brisbane, scored with a straightforward show-and-go, dribbling a pass to the right and dodging a tackle from a defender to score under the posts. Josh Rogers, a five-eighth, converted from in front to make the score 10–6.
The Bunker overruled the ruling, denying winger Watson Heleta, just as the Sea Eagles appeared to be set for a third try. Heleta was set up by centre Clayton Faulalo’s well-timed ball, but Parker was judged to have impeded the defender in the lead-up, earning the Broncos a penalty instead.
With a touchdown in the right corner by centre Delouise Hoeter just one minute into the second half, Brisbane extended their lead to 12 points.
In the 51st minute, Manly stormed downfield for their third try after a fierce battle for possession. The score was 22-14 when Lehmann scored his second goal of the game and dove over in the left corner unnoticed following a precise cut-out pass from utility Tylor Bunting.
Starting in the 59th minute, the Broncos scored three tries in fifteen minutes. The visitors’ goals came from Paix, Falls, and Patston, and Rogers converted all three of his chances for a 40–14 final score.
