Bennett triumphs, but a dream ends
WAYNE Bennett capped off a tumultuous week with victory in his 800th game, but James Roberts’ Origin dream is in tatters after the Broncos centre limped off Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane’s 18- 10 win against Parramatta last night.
The Broncos moved back into the NRL top eight for the first time in six weeks but it was far from a polished performance from Brisbane against the last- placed Eels.
In front of a subdued school night crowd of 21,555, the injury- ravaged Broncos did enough to notch their fourth win in five weeks ahead of a crucial bye before Origin I.
The sloppy contest will not feature in Bennett’s list of most memorable games, but the fact it came less than 48 hours after his future was thrust into the spotlight would have made the victory more satisfying than most.
Brisbane’s clandestine approach to Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy was exposed on Tuesday night, pushing Bennett’s future at Red Hill into the spotlight.
The 68- year- old Bennett, a seventime premiership- winner, was defiant in declaring he would see out his deal until the end of 2019 and whether impending speculation affects Brisbane’s title tilt remains to be seen.
While Bennett was celebrating his 496th win in the top grade, Roberts sat on the sidelines for the final 20 minutes with a suspected achilles injury. Dubbed “The Jet”, the electrifying Roberts was in the mix for a NSW Origin debut at the MCG on June 6 following a sizzling start to the season.
But the ice on his achilles and his slow limp around the sidelines of Suncorp Stadium suggested he is a long shot of being available for Origin I.
Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako continued his sensational form with his seventh try of the season before Corey Oates capitalised when Eels centre Michael Jennings was sinbinned for a professional foul.
Parramatta’s only points in the first half came through a penalty goal after the siren to make it 12- 2 at the break and the Broncos extended their lead to 16- 2 when boom backrower Jaydn Su’A burst through to put NSW Origin contender James Roberts over four minutes into the second half. From there Brisbane looked in cruise control until Parramatta fought back.