NRL round 18 LIVE: Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers

Lindsay Smith, where has that come from?

The Panthers prop has just, I’m going to say, had his first kick in the NRL, and it has ended up with a super, super try.

It all started with Jarome Luai putting up another midfield bomb, Liam Martin was the only one who really wanted to catch it, he shovelled it out the back for Smith, who kicks unbelievably well for a halfback - let alone a prop - for Brian To’o to score. I never knew he was capable of that.

That is stunning rugby league.

Dylan Edwards’ conversion from again near the sideline is not a good one, but the Panthers have the lead again.

Panthers 8 Broncos 6 after 48 minutes

The Panthers have started this second half with the same intensity they began the first.

Mitch Kenny has raced down and buried Reece Walsh with a perfectly-timed tackle off a Jarome Luai bomb. Just a little reminder to the Brisbane whizkid the type of pressure they will be putting on him.

From the next set, Walsh decides to run the ball on the last and Ezra Mam makes a break, kicks through for a flying Jock Madden, who has pulled up lame. A sniper has got him. That hamstring is gone.

Awful news for the Brisbane halfback, who limps straight off and is replaced by Billy Walters.

How are the Broncos in front given these numbers?

Didn’t that fly by?

I can’t believe that 40 minutes finished so quick, but when there are not a lot of errors and very few stoppages, that’s how quick a game can go.

The Panthers have certainly had most of the ball, most of the field position, most of the chances … but they trail on the scoreboard.

Jack Cole’s try only seconds after coming onto the field for the injured Daine Laurie was cancelled out by Reece Walsh’s spectacular response. Boy, wasn’t that good to see again?

Kevin Walters will have to take a lot out of that first half. Big second stanza coming up for Brisbane.

Broncos 6 Panthers 4 at HT

That is criminal. Absolutely criminal.

Four minutes before half-time and the Panthers get a penalty in their own half, maybe with a chance to take a lead to half-time, and they fail to find touch with the kick. Corey Oates hauled it in easily. Just madness.

I know the conditions aren’t great, but is it really that hard?

Thankfully for the Panthers, Payne Haas makes a rare error in possession on the next set with Brisbane encroaching on Penrith’s end. That’s got to be a relief.

Broncos 6 Panthers 4 after 37 minutes

Jock Madden takes on the Penrith defence.Credit: Getty Images

Well, I think Jarome Luai has produced the best kick of the night followed by one of the worst.

He’s just hit a last tackle option from 20 metres like one of my golf shots - a shank. Jesse Arthars catches it on the full in the in-goal with not a black jersey within sight. Maybe he was in two minds about the kick, maybe he wasn’t.

But that was a shocker.

Broncos 6 Panthers 4 after 32 minutes

It just had to be him, didn’t it? It’s so good to watch.

Reece Walsh, who forced the Penrith mistake down the other end with a big tackle on Jack Cole, goes back to what we know best and has scorched the Panthers defence with an amazing run from near the half-way line.

Izack Tago shoots out of the line as Brisbane spin the ball to the left, and he steps past Tago, splits Brad Schneider and Paul Alamoti, and then stands up his State of Origin counterpart Dylan Edwards, who stood no chance with Walsh having built that momentum. Absolutely brilliant.

Walsh makes no mistake with the conversion and the Broncos are in front.

Broncos 6 Panthers 4 after 27 minutes

There’s been minutes of sustained pressure on the Broncos. When I say minutes, I mean it.

It’s so hard in the modern game to keep a team out when you don’t have the ball for such a long period of time.

Penrith knock back an easy penalty goal from in front. Mitch Kenny is held up over the line. Brisbane keep tackling.

And finally, Reece Walsh - defending in the line - stands next to Kobe Hetherington and manages to jam the ball free from Jack Cole, rushing back to the middle of the park.

Outstanding.

That’s the type of play which can help turn a match.

Isaah Yeo charges into the Broncos defence.Credit: Getty Images