Full-time. The Broncos were left licking their wounds after a comprehensive 40-18 defeat at the hands of the Sydney Roosters, with three key players in doubt for next week’s clash with Parramatta.
There are fears halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds has ruptured his bicep, which could leave him sidelined for several months, while winger Jesse Arthars has been sent to hospital amid concerns he has broken his jaw.
Deine Mariner could also have a case to answer at the NRL Judiciary, after being sin-binned and placed on report for a shoulder charge.
After trailing by 12 points at half-time, the Broncos were brave to fight back as Ezra Mam sought to pull the strings – setting up a try and scoring another in back-to-back sets to level the scores at 18-all.
Shortly after, however, the five-eighth was forced from the field for a head injury assessment, and the Sydney Roosters went on an absolute tear from that point.
Skipper’s Blues case. James Tedesco’s place in the NSW State of Origin set-up had been called into question after consecutive series defeats and the brilliant form of Panthers counterpart Dylan Edwards. But on Friday night, the Roosters skipper was simply electric.
James Tedesco was in top form in Brisbane.Credit: Getty
He dictated terms sensationally, particularly in the second half when he punished Brisbane’s weak spots in the absence of several key players.
Tedesco finished with 243 running metres, two try assists, two line-breaks, two line-break assists and nine tackle busts.
Mam’s time to own it. He missed 15 minutes while being assessed for concussion, but Ezra Mam should be fit and firing to take on the Eels next week.
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And with Reynolds likely to be sidelined, he will need to rise to the occasion and stamp his mark on this Broncos team.
Mam showed signs of it against the Raiders two weeks ago, before succumbing to a finger injury, and he showed further flashes of brilliance against Sydney before leaving the field.
The 21-year-old finished with a try, two try assists, two line-break assists and 86 running metres, and will need to take on a greater role moving forward.
