Battered Broncos win

ALREADY without Darius Boyd, Brisbane overcame a growing injury count to beat Penrith 13-6 in last night’s knockout NRL semi-final at Suncorp Stadium.

The Broncos booked a preliminary final against minor premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park next Friday night despite at one stage being reduced to one fit bench player.

The stage was set for Brisbane’s horror injury night when Queensland winger Corey Oates was heavily concussed in a sickening collision with teammate Anthony Milford in the 21st minute.

Forwards Sam Thaiday and Jai Arrow (both concussion) joined him on the sideline by the second half.

Yet Brisbane somehow still racked up their seventhstraight finals win at Suncorp Stadium to book a grand final qualifier with the Storm.

The Panthers also had their injury problems and lost fiveeighth Tyrone May (knee) on the stroke of halftime.

Oates had opened the scoring when he snapped up a Ben Hunt pass to run 55m and give Brisbane a 6-0 halftime lead.

Brisbane jumped to a 12-0 lead by the 47th minute when centre James Roberts scored.

Penrith ensured a nervous finish when impressive prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard marched up the middle to score in the 64th minute and cut the deficit to 12-6. Winger Jordan Kahu’s 70th-minute field goal iced the result. AAP