Injury-Hit Broncos Come Up Short Against Roosters

Lock Pat Carrigan was a goliath leading from the front for his team and was ably assisted by Payne Haas and Xavier Willison, while five-eighth Ezra Mam and centre Kotoni Staggs were standouts in the backline.

The home side had the best of the early exchanges and dominated possession across the opening 10 minutes, forcing the Roosters to defend set after set.

That pressure finally told when Jordan Riki surged onto a nice short pass on the right edge from Mam to score, with the conversion by Adam Reynolds making it 6-0 after nine minutes.

But Brisbane then began to make mistakes and gift the Roosters possession, the visitors hitting back with a converted try to Joseph Manu in the 12th minute - the Broncos were then dealt a blow shortly after when Jesse Arthars was forced from the field with a broken jaw.

Selwyn Cobbo moved to the wing to cover for Arthars with Staggs swapping sides to cover for Cobbo at left centre, with Riki moving from second row to centre over on the right side.

The Roosters pushed ahead in the 26th minute when Angus Crichton barged over from close range through for a 12-6 advantage and then extended their lead to 12 points on the stroke of halftime when they capitalised on a Broncos turnover to put Crichton over for his second converted try of the night.

Brisbane endured a tough start to the second stanza when Reynolds was forced off with a bicep injury but as he was escorted back to the sheds, Mam launched a Broncos comeback when he created space on the left and then floated a lovely long pass to Staggs who scrambled across in the corner.

Two minutes later and it was Staggs returning the favour for Mam, breaking the line after being switched back inside by Reece Walsh and then delivering a pass on the chest of the halfback who scorched away for a great try under the posts. Walsh converted from in front to make it 18-18 after 48 minutes.

But the sinbinning of winger Deine Mariner for a shoulder charge in the 53rd minute halted the home team's momentum, and the Roosters were able to cross through Tyrell May to put the Roosters back ahead 24-18 with 20 minutes to go.

Mam was then forced from the field for a head injury assessment, leaving Brisbane with Billy Walters and Staggs in the halves - the Roosters again exploiting the home team's 12 men for Connor Watson to score and re-establish the visitors' 12-point advantage with 15 minutes to go.

Mam passed his HIA and returned to the field but the undermanned Broncos were out on their feet as May scored a second converted try to put the Roosters out of reach at 36-18 in the 70th minute.