Broncos stun Panthers
THE Brisbane Broncos produced a stunning upset to beat the defending premiers 13-12 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
Back-to-back tries by young gun Herbie Farnworth in the opening half put the visitors out to an early lead and a sweetly struck field goal by skipper Adam Reynolds in the 71st minute iced the Broncos’ first win at Penrith since 2009.
It was the Panthers who were first to open their 2023 campaign with a spectacular team try from beyond halfway.
Dylan Edwards, Nathan Cleary and Liam Martin all had a hand in the right-side shift before Stephen Crichton raced away to touch down in the southern corner and hand Cleary his 500th goal.
Come the 17th minute and the visitors hit back through Farnworth who stepped around Crichton, who only had eyes for an intercept, and crashed his way over the line to level the scores.
Just two minutes later and it was Farnworth again who found himself in a race with Panthers winger Brian To’o and managed to get his hands on the ball first to go back-to-back for Brisbane and put Broncos in front 126.
Martin and new recruit Luke Garner both crossed the line before half-time but were unable to capitalise through errors and the visitors went into the break with a six-point lead over the reigning premiers.
The game developed into an arm wrestle in the second half with both sides unable to add to the score until Reynolds landed his one-pointer to make it 13-6.
Penrith missed another opportunity to reduce the deficit with five-eighth Jarome Luai putting the ball down just short of the goal line in the 72nd minute. But the home side refused to lie down and hooker Soni Luke brought his side back within reach when he burrowed over from dummy half. Cleary converted for 13-12.
Cleary had a long range shot at a two-point field goal which fell short and Selwyn Cobbo cleaned up but the Broncos fullback lost possession and it appeared the premiers would get another chance but Luai was ruled offside in the chase and a penalty to the visitors got them out of the danger zone.