Queensland rugby league has been rocked after one of the State’s star players was tragically killed in a car crash at the age of 28.
Michael Purcell sadly lost his life on Sunday morning following a car crash in Brisbane.
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The star winger-fullback had played a total of 82 games for the Ipswich Jets and Brisbane Tigers, registering 68 tries and 22 goals.
Purcell, nicknamed “The Kangaroo Catcher” after he once was said to have chased down a kangaroo during a race, was one of the fastest players in Queensland.
His standout abilities on the field led to him receiving an NRL contract with the Melbourne Storm last year.
He joined the Storm for pre-season training before returning to Queensland and playing for the Brisbane Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup.
His death rocked the rugby league community with tributes flooding in following Sunday’s tragic crash.
“I am shattered, it’s so, so sad,” Ben Walker said to the Courier MailPurcell’s former coach at the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup
“He was a really talented kid who definitely had the ability to play NRL.
“We got a tip about this kid playing reserve grade and his nickname was the ‘Kangaroo Catcher’ because the story went he was so fast he once chased down a kangaroo during a cross-country run in the bush.
“We signed him to the Ipswich Jets and he ended up scoring 66 tries in 71 games. He had incredible speed.”
The Sharks have taken the upper hand in the cross town derby, leading 18-12 at halftime.
In the absence of Matt Moylan, Braydon Trindall has stood up with a try and a try assist.
Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey was also sent to the bin for a professional foul before Tautau Moga scored for the Dragons.
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MATCH CENTER: Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons, live scores
45TH MINUTE
The Dragons have hit back, courtesy of a floated pass from young gun Junior Amone to find Tautau Moga.
The Sharks tryline defense had held the Red V out, prompting the five-eighth to look out wide and turn Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo around.
26TH MINUTE
Sharks half Braydon Trindall sliced through the Dragons line to score, handing his side the lead.
Trindall was a late replacement for Matt Moylan, who was ruled out due to a quad injury.
According to Fox League’s Lara Pitt, the 31-year-old playmaker will be fit for Round 22.
But only moments later, Trindall again charged at the line, finding Teig Wilton with a short ball to cross with his first tough.
“Braydon Trindall again, at speed, runs to the line… just look at him, takes off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall has been the man in this first half.”
“The man who is really shining in the absence of Matt Moylan,” Ginnane said.
Only moments later, Blayke Brailey was sent to the bin for a professional foul.
12TH MINUTE
Dragons veteran Tariq Sims was sin binned for an ugly high shot which forced Sharks gun Connor Tracey to be stretched off the field.
Sims shoulder made direct contact with Tracey’s chin and as a result was given his marching orders.
Fox League’s Dan Ginnane was shocked Sims wasn’t sent off.
“That would be the minimum there and that is a best case result for the Dragons,” Dan Ginnane said.
3RD MINUTE
Sharks marquee star Nicho Hynes opened the scoring only three minutes into the contest, throwing a big dummy before ducking underneath the tackle of Tariq Sims.
The scores sit level at 6-6 in the cross-town derby — and the playmaking responsibility sits on Hynes’ shoulders in Moylan’s absence.
“There is plenty of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight,” Greg Alexander said.
“Throws the dummy, gets on the inside of Tariq Sims, and Sims can’t stop him.”
Moments later, Dragons forward Jack De Belin was able to collect a bouncing Ben Hunt kick to score his side’s first.
Sensationally, the star forward is only one try away from being the club’s leading try scorer.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
Craig Fitzgibbon will be without one key playmaker for the club’s local derby — Matt Moylan.
Braydon Trindall has been drafted in to replace the 31-year-old, pairing marquee player Nicho Hynes in the halves, while Lachlan Miller moves onto the bench.
Young gun Kade Dykes will also make his debut at the back after impressing for feeder club Newtown Jets, replacing Will Kennedy after a syndesmosis injury.
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Meanwhile, Anthony Griffin has made changes of his own, with Billy Burns coming out of the side in place of veteran Josh McGuire.
Fitzgibbon’s Sharks will be desperate to come away with the points, currently sitting equal with the Eels after a win against Manly.
If Cronulla can beat their cross-town rivals they will sit in third, above the Melbourne Storm on 14 wins.
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A gross injury to hooker Aaron Booth has compounded the bottom-of-the-ladder Gold Coast Titans woes after a 32-14 loss to Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night.
In what provided sickening replay vision, Booth’s knee collapsed underneath him at right angles as he attempted to make a tackle on Storm five-eighth Cooper Johns.
Not only was it game over for Booth, but it will undoubtedly be season over when scans reveal the extent of the injury.
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It was supposed to be his big night playing in a starting role against his former club, but it ended on a sour note for Booth.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook was emotional in the post-game press conference when talking about the Booth injury.
“I feel for Boothy,” Holbrook said.
“He’s fought really hard to get his shot this year and it’s going to be really nasty for him unfortunately.
“It’s really bad for him.”
Booth suffered a knee dislocation in the landing. It is likely that he has also turned an ACL, but scans will provide further evidence.
“He’s done everything you could do to it,” Holbrook said.
“He’s dislocated it and he’s done lots of other stuff.”
Sam McIntyre came off the bench and provided some punch from dummy half in place of Booth.
Despite the result, it was an encouraging performance from the three-win Titans. Greg Marzhew, promoted on the back of his strong form for the Burleigh Bears, fitted in seamlessly in his return to the Titans line up.
Marzhew ran for 184 meters, bettered only on his side by captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui with 185.
AJ Brimson and Tanah Boyd were solid in the halves, David Fifita muscled up defensively and Beau Fermor, Herman Ese’ese and Brian Kelly scored tries.
After giving up a 16-point head start, the Titans displayed a never-say-die attitude, but every time they got within touching distance of the Storm, they would have a mishap derail their progress.
“A lot to like but just not good enough,” Holbrook said.
“We’re seeing similar things where just one person has fallen off there or they’re doing that wrong and it’s costing us.
“It’s leading to tries which is the disappointing thing.
“I feel like they’re improving a lot and I feel like we were a lot closer than the suggested score, but the result is what the result is and that’s what we’ve got to stop some soft tries.”
Aaron Booth of the Titans leaves the field. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Nothing seemed to go right for Brisbane Broncos on Thursday evening, but Kevin Walters’ men were perhaps lucky to be awarded their second try against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.
The Broncos were trailing by 20 points in the 60th minute when five-eighth Ezra Mam floated a pass over the Roosters defensive line towards winger Corey Oates, who dived over for the try.
But replays suggested the pass was forward, with Mam releasing the ball behind the 10m line and Oates catching it approximately eight meters out.
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The referee believed the ball was passed backwards but floated forwards — which is legal. The Sydney crowd didn’t agree though, with a chorus of boos echoing around the stadium when replays were shown on the big screen.
“Man, that’s way forward,” Channel 9 commentator Mathew Thompson said. “Oh he’s going to let it go. He’s let it go!
“It can’t have been thrown back either.”
Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith continued: “Seriously? Unless it’s come off a Rooster’s hand … I think that ball has drifted forward about three meters.”
Former New South Wales representative Michael Ennis agreed on Fox League. “The pass from Ezra Mam looked like it was two meters forward out of his hands from him,” he said.
“It certainly went forward.”
Regardless, the Roosters have taken another important step towards securing a top eight berth after beating Brisbane 34-16.
Trent Robinson’s men weren’t at their ruthless best, but a fourth straight win has put their premiership rivals on notice.
The Roosters started the round at risk of dropping to ninth but will finish the weekend either seventh or eighth, keeping their closest pursuers at bay for at least another week.
They have a tough run home over the closing month – meeting North Queensland, Wests Tigers, Melbourne and South Sydney – but who would be foolish enough to declare the Chooks won’t reach the finals for a sixth straight season?
And any team featuring James Tedesco, Joey Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Victor Radley and Joseph Suaalii will be a threat come September.
“We feel like we’ve worked hard enough this year and tried different things (and) it’s time to play better,” Robinson said.
“The last month has been good and we’re improving but we’ve got to keep going.”
Skipper Tedesco added: “We’re still chasing that 80-minute performance but we’re getting better and better.”
The Roosters led this must-win game 18-0 after as many minutes, pouring through the Broncos’ ineffectual defense and eating up the meters with ease.
It took the hosts just five minutes to open the Broncos up, a lovely bat-on pass from Tedesco handing Paul Momirovski an open passage to the line.
Sam Walker engineered the next try three minutes later with a clever chip kick into the in-goal for Nat Butcher to reach out and ground the ball with his fingertips.
When Angus Crichton pushed through some Brisbane’s flimsy right-edge defense to reach out and score, the Roosters were headed for an 18-0 lead and complete control of a one-sided contest.
Luke Keary of the Roosters celebrates with teammates. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Then they took the foot from the throat, inviting Brisbane back into the game.
The Broncos scored through Corey Oates to narrow the gap to 14 as the Roosters’ completion rate went through the floor.
Robinson told the Tricolours to park the fancy stuff in the second half – and they did – but they still came up with three tries to snuff out any hope of a Brisbane revival.
Keary was superb, putting the finishing touches on a standout performance with a brilliant individual try 12 minutes from the end.
We were expecting a strong response from the Broncos following their shock loss to Wests Tigers, but they fired a few decent shots in another worrying performance.
Their attack was pedestrian and clunky for most of the night and there wasn’t much in the way of whack in defense.
The visitors were chasing the game from the outset and did well to avoid a blowout, although they never really looked like mounting any sort of concerted comeback.
“At 18-0 we got a bit of momentum back and (then) a couple of things didn’t go to plan,” Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds said.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but it’s a learning curve. We’re still a young team that’s figuring it out.”
Brisbane could finish the round as low as seventh if Parramatta and Souths win their respective matches.
Cameron Munster has produced a breathtaking display as Melbourne Storm marked a history-making night with a 32-14 win over gutsy cellar-dweller Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park on Friday night.
But the returning Brandon Smith will be facing a nervous wait after he was put on report for a hip drop tackle late in the first half.
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With the Storm leading 16-4, Smith, who had been out for the last three matches after he was banned for referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard”, landed himself in hot water when making a legs tackle on the Titans’ Tino Fa’ asuamaleaui.
But in a week where the hip drop has been a hot topic after the Broncos’ Patrick Carrigan was banned for four weeks after his tackle saw the Tigers’ Jackson Hastings break his leg.
Unlike a usual hip drop where two players hold a player before the third man attacks the legs, Smith was in motion, slipping off the tackle and onto Fa’asuamaleaui leg.
But referee Peter Gough said: ““I understand it’s wet and he’s sliding, but what it is, is he throws his legs out which drops the weight on the backfoot.”
Premiership winning coach turned Fox Sports commentator Shane Flanagan wasn’t thrilled with the tackle.
“You can’t do it. You know you can’t put your weight on the back of the legs when a player is going away from you, and he gets himself in a bad position,” Flanagan said.
Post match, Storm coach Craig Bellamy called for the judiciary to look at the incident on its own merits.
“I just hope it gets judged on the tackle, not some of the hysteria that has gone on this week,” Bellamy said.
“That is all we ask.
“If you go on one last week, but how many have there been? If there is one in however many games since the last one.
“Pat Carrigan doesn’t go out on the field to break Hastings’ legs, they are an accident.
“I don’t see it as a real big issue in the game, but I understand that it can injure people, but there hasn’t been a whole heap this year I don’t think.
“I just hope it gets judged on that and not on it being in the news a lot this week.”
It was otherwise a good night for the Storm as they celebrated Bromwich brothers, captain Jesse (290 games) and fellow forward Kenny (211), became the first pair of brothers in NRL history to combine for 500 games (501) with the one club .
Kenny produced a first half try to make it the perfect start to the night.
But it was a hat-trick hero Munster who kickstarted the Storm surges with two first-half tries before adding a third in the second half on a night of brilliance.
Returning to the full back position where he started his career, Munster was safe at the back, dazzled with the extra room to move to rack up 252 run meters and offered tremendous leadership with his voice.
Winger David Nofoaluma, loaned from the Wests Tigers, showed off his speed and elusiveness in an impressive first start with the Storm, while center Young Tonumaipea scored a try in his first game for the Storm since 2018.
Hooker Harry Grant and five-eighth Cooper Johns were also influential for the Storm.
The Storm made a barnstorming start with three tries in the opening 22 minutes.
Xavier Coates, returning from a long-term injury, scored one of the easier tries of his career after Grant flicked out a quick pass to find him unattended in the corner.
Munster rose into the night sky to catch, spin and make his way across the line, before Kenny Bromwich got his try burrowing under Titans defenders Phillip Sami and David Fifita.
It would be a horror night for the Titans after hooker Aaron Booth succumbed to a knee injury.
The 26-year-old had to be helped off the ground by the trainers against his former club after his leg collapsed while attempting to tackle Johns.
Storm star Brandon Smith was placed on report for an alleged hip-drop tackle on Titans skippers Tino Fa’asuamaleaui — and Craig Bellamy has pleaded the Match Review Committee to ignore the “hysteria”.
Smith took out the legs of Fa’asuamaleaui and his teammates Tanah Boyd and Sam McIntyre immediately threw up their arms in protest.
Fox League commentators Dan Ginnane and Shane Flanagan made no mention of the tackle until the Gold Coast lock pulled up licks.
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Replays then showed Smith took out the legs in ugly fashion and referee Peter Gough placed him on report.
“I understand it’s wet and he’s sliding, but it’s (that) he throws his legs out which drops the weight on the back foot, it’s on report,” Gough told Melbourne captain Jesse Bromwich.
“That could be very big. Only a two-man tackle not the familiar three-man tackle where that result occurs,” Ginnane said.
“It doesn’t really matter. You can’t do it, we know you can’t put your weight on the back of the legs when the player is going away from you and he gets himself in a bad position.”
Brandon Smith’s tackle on the Titans captain.Source: Getty Images
It comes after Broncos star Pat Carrigan copped a four-game ban for a hip-drop tackle last weekend that broke the leg of Tigers gun Jackson Hastings — an event that was heavily publicized.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy pleaded with the MRC in the post-match press conference to ignore the reports, hoping his star utility remains on the field.
“I just hope it gets judged on the tackle, not some of the hysteria that has gone on this week,” Bellamy said.
“That is all we ask.
“If you go on one last week, but how many have there been? If there is one in however many games since the last one.
“Pat Carrigan doesn’t go out on the field to break Hastings’ legs, they are an accident.”
Bellamy also said he didn’t believe hip-drop tackles were a big issue in the modern game.
“I don’t see it as a real big issue in the game, but I understand that it can injure people, but there hasn’t been a whole heap this year I don’t think.
“I just hope it gets judged on that and not on it being in the news a lot this week.”
Smith’s tackles was heavily debated on the Fox League halftime panel by ex-players Mick Ennis and Corey Parker.
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“We watched it in full speed live, Brandon Smith is just making the tackle and he falls off the tackle and the fact Tino went on that out line dragged Brandon Smith along with him,” Parker said.
“When you slow it all down to the enth degree like we do it doesn’t look great, but he’s just hanging on.
“If you don’t want to end up in that position then Brandon Smith has to let go of the tackle, otherwise what does he do, it’s a complete accident.
“I don’t see it as a genuine hip drop like we saw with Pat Carrigan last week. If he’s not to end up in that position, he needs to let go which completely goes against everything we talk about in rugby league.
Ennis agreed with Parker but said the tackle would be a “big concern” for the Storm.
“All the talk this week was two players holding the man up then that third tackler coming in and showing no duty of care, I don’t like the position that Tino gets in at the end but I’m not sure what else Brandon Smith could do there other than let go of the tackle,” Ennis said.
“Do we put that down to the duty of care? Is that where we’re going? Maybe we have to, where we’re eliminating players from getting in that position.
“That was a real difficult one, he just ended up in that unfortunate position Brandon Smith and I’m not sure what else he could have done.”
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The Titans have kicked off the scoring in the second half, courtesy of a pinpoint grubber to find Brian Kelly.
The Storm still hold the upper-hand as the score sits 22-14, but are without star halfback Jahrome Hughes who didn’t take the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury.
MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams
44TH MINUTE
AJ Brimson has delivered a pinpoint grubber to open the scoring in the second half, finding Brian Kelly.
Jahrome Hughes has remained off the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury, with Tyran Wishart slotting into the halves.
“All of a sudden the Titans are up and about,” Dan Ginnane said.
30TH MINUTE
Titans forward Herman Ese’ese scored his side’s second try, charging onto an AJ Brimson short ball to spark a comeback.
“What is going on?” Dan Ginnane said.
“It hasn’t been fancy but it has been strong and powerful,” Shane Flanagan said.
But, Storm gun Cameron Munster stopped Holbrook’s side in their tracks, slicing through to score his second.
15TH MINUTE
After making a late switch to fullback, Cameron Munster has crossed for his side’s second try of the night to make the score 10-0.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes put in a cross-field kick, finding Munster flying high to score untouched.
“I think he will like the challenge at fullback,” Shane Flanagan said.
“This is ominous,” Dan Ginnane said.
Only moments later, backrower Kenny Bromwich crossed for a four-pointer of his own before Titans gun Beau Fermor scored the Titans first.
10TH MINUTE
Storm debutant David Nofoaluma has come desperately close to scoring only seven minutes into the Titans contest, before the returning Xavier Coates crossed.
After arriving in Melbourne last week, the 28-year-old almost opened his scoring tally for his new club.
Gold Coast winger Jojo Fifita swiped at the veteran’s hands to dislodge the ball.
But, only moments later Harry Grant spotted winger Xavier Coates in space finding his man to score untouched.
“Finally Melbourne have it,” Dan Ginnane said.
“Just too good, Harry Grant, I knew he had it,” Shane Flanagan said.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
Craig Bellamy is set to unleash his new look backline against a struggling Titans outfit.
Young Tonumaipea returns to the NRL after a 1,483 day hiatus, having last played in the first grade competition for the Gold Coast in 2020.
Meanwhile, mid-season recruit David Nofoaluma will make his debut for his new club on the wing, alongside Cameron Munster who made a late switch from the halves.
Cooper Johns has slotted into five-eighth, while Tyran Wishart has moved to the bench.
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MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams
Holbrook’s Titans have struggled so far in 2022, but the Gold Coast side will be looking to young gun Jayden Campbell to provide spark from the back.
AJ Brimson also makes up a new halves pairing with Tanah Boyd, who will play in the No.7 jersey.
As it stands, the Titans sit outright last on the competition ladder recording only three wins in 2022 — and with another defeat at the hands of the Storm could find themselves even further away from the pack.
15th place Tigers take on the Knights, who sit in 14th place, and with a win could cement a two-win gap in the wooden spoon race.
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Greg Alexander has doubled down on his claims that the Storm are the perpetrators of the influence of dangerous tackles in the game over the last 20 years.
It comes after Storm legend Cameron Smith hit back at Alexander’s original comments, calling them “unfair.”
Alexander targeted the Storm after Broncos enforcer Patrick Carrigan received a four-game suspension for a hip-drop on Tigers playmaker Jackson Hastings.
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The tackle in the 73rd minute left Hastings with a broken fibula, with the Great Britain representative now in a race to be fit for this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Speaking on SEN, Alexander said he was “surprised” by Smith’s reaction and believes “history shows” that several dangerous tackles have come out of Melbourne.
“I didn’t think it was any kind of revelation when I made those comments about the hip-drop emanating out of Melbourne Storm,” he said on Friday morning.
“I was surprised that Cameron and Denan (Kemp) were surprised that someone would actually think that the hip-drop started out of Melbourne.
“I thought it was just a general consensus that over the last 20 years that all the tackles, the wrestling techniques had come out of Melbourne.
“I might be generalizing or even jumping to a conclusion, but I don’t think I am.
“These tackles over the last 20 years, all the different types of techniques, they appear in the game and it takes the game a little while to catch up to them.
“I remember watching in 2020 and noticing tackles. Not just Melbourne Storm players, but two of the first three charges of 2020 for hip-drop tackles were Melbourne Storm players, Jesse Bromwich and Max King.
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“I distinctly remember the Max King incident because I was calling the game. Max King just fell on the back of Blake Lawrie’s leg.
“I think history shows — and it’s not a stretch for me to jump to a Melbourne Storm conclusion — that the grapple, the chicken wing, the rolling pin, the crusher, the hip-drop… I think they all emanate out of Melbourne.
“Melbourne have led the way. They have changed the game back in 2002-3 where the wrestle became part of the game.”
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Smith initially laughed it off when a caller said on Thursday that Alexander directed all the blame in the Storm’s direction, before adamantly denying that any clubs were teaching their players dangerous techniques.
“I can put that to bed now. I can be honest with you. Brandy is a great analyst of our game and one of the great players of our game,” Smith said on SEN’sThe Captains Run.
“I just don’t know how he can come up with that comment.
“To single out one club and to say that they introduced that tackle into our sport, that’s a little bit over the top.
“I work with Brandy on our radio station on SEN and he’s a great fella, but to single out the Melbourne Storm, that’s really unfair, really unfair.
“To say that a club or even clubs now are practicing or teaching their players to fall into the back of legs, I think that’s a little bit over the top.”
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Smith, who won two Dally M medals during his career, began to question how ‘Brandy’ could even come to that conclusion.
The 39-year-old couldn’t recall ever seeing Alexander at a Melbourne Storm training session during his decorated 20-years at the club.
But after questioning the claim, Smith shared why he believes that the hip-drop tackle has begun to make its mark in the game as players go without “any reward” for legitimate tackles.
“A reason why this has crept into the game is because there’s no reward for legs tackles anymore… It’s harder to make one-on-one tackles so you’re taught to make multiple defender tackles,” he added.
“The game has taken away any reward for good leg tackles, one-on-one leg tackles. You watch the games over this weekend, if someone makes a good covering tackle around the legs, or even just a good front on tackle on-one-one… as soon as the ball carrier hits the turf, the referee is screaming at the tackler to release.”
The 430-game NRL veteran said that these tackles are performed all the time in a game of rugby league, but are only cited whenever it looks “ugly” or there’s an injury.
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Smith suggested that the Match Review Committee would have to be tougher on players if they want to eliminate the technique from the sport.
“If you actually watch the game closely and you watch every tackle, these tackles are performed all the time.
“You could almost find one of these tackles in every set. But it’s not until someone gets injured or there’s a really, really ugly, messy looking tackle where someone’s legs get caught and they get bent back over the defender that’s sat down on those legs.
“Nothing’s done about it. There’s actually nothing done about it.
“Maybe the way for the NRL to go if they want to eliminate these tackles from our sport, the MRC need to start going through these games with a fine tooth comb and anytime something like this is performed, then the player needs to be notified any even charged.
“I don’t know whether it’s a fine to start with, if it’s a less dangerous hip-drop tackle and there’s no result of injury, just to say ‘hey mate, we’re onto ya’”.
Nothing seemed to go right for Brisbane Broncos on Thursday evening, but Kevin Walters’ men were perhaps lucky to be awarded their second try against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.
The Broncos were trailing by 20 points in the 60th minute when five-eighth Ezra Mam floated a pass over the Roosters defensive line towards winger Corey Oates, who dived over for the try.
But replays suggested the pass was forward, with Mam releasing the ball behind the 10m line and Oates catching it approximately eight meters out.
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The referee believed the ball was passed backwards but floated forwards — which is legal. The Sydney crowd didn’t agree though, with a chorus of boos echoing around the stadium when replays were shown on the big screen.
“Man, that’s way forward,” Channel 9 commentator Mathew Thompson said. “Oh he’s going to let it go. He’s let it go!
“It can’t have been thrown back either.”
Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith continued: “Seriously? Unless it’s come off a Rooster’s hand … I think that ball has drifted forward about three meters.”
Former New South Wales representative Michael Ennis agreed on Fox League. “The pass from Ezra Mam looked like it was two meters forward out of his hands from him,” he said.
“It certainly went forward.”
Regardless, the Roosters have taken another important step towards securing a top eight berth after beating Brisbane 34-16.
Trent Robinson’s men weren’t at their ruthless best, but a fourth straight win has put their premiership rivals on notice.
The Roosters started the round at risk of dropping to ninth but will finish the weekend either seventh or eighth, keeping their closest pursuers at bay for at least another week.
They have a tough run home over the closing month – meeting North Queensland, Wests Tigers, Melbourne and South Sydney – but who would be foolish enough to declare the Chooks won’t reach the finals for a sixth straight season?
And any team featuring James Tedesco, Joey Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Victor Radley and Joseph Suaalii will be a threat come September.
“We feel like we’ve worked hard enough this year and tried different things (and) it’s time to play better,” Robinson said.
“The last month has been good and we’re improving but we’ve got to keep going.”
Skipper Tedesco added: “We’re still chasing that 80-minute performance but we’re getting better and better.”
The Roosters led this must-win game 18-0 after as many minutes, pouring through the Broncos’ ineffectual defense and eating up the meters with ease.
It took the hosts just five minutes to open the Broncos up, a lovely bat-on pass from Tedesco handing Paul Momirovski an open passage to the line.
Sam Walker engineered the next try three minutes later with a clever chip kick into the in-goal for Nat Butcher to reach out and ground the ball with his fingertips.
When Angus Crichton pushed through some Brisbane’s flimsy right-edge defense to reach out and score, the Roosters were headed for an 18-0 lead and complete control of a one-sided contest.
Then they took the foot from the throat, inviting Brisbane back into the game.
The Broncos scored through Corey Oates to narrow the gap to 14 as the Roosters’ completion rate went through the floor.
Robinson told the Tricolours to park the fancy stuff in the second half – and they did – but they still came up with three tries to snuff out any hope of a Brisbane revival.
Keary was superb, putting the finishing touches on a standout performance with a brilliant individual try 12 minutes from the end.
We were expecting a strong response from the Broncos following their shock loss to Wests Tigers, but they fired a few decent shots in another worrying performance.
Their attack was pedestrian and clunky for most of the night and there wasn’t much in the way of whack in defense.
The visitors were chasing the game from the outset and did well to avoid a blowout, although they never really looked like mounting any sort of concerted comeback.
“At 18-0 we got a bit of momentum back and (then) a couple of things didn’t go to plan,” Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds said.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but it’s a learning curve. We’re still a young team that’s figuring it out.”
Brisbane could finish the round as low as seventh if Parramatta and Souths win their respective matches.
Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith has slammed suggestions his former club invented the hip drop tackle.
Debate has reignited around the controversial tactic after Brisbane Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan was given a four-game suspension for a hip drop tackle on Jackson Hastings, which resulted in the Tigers playmaker suffering a broken fibula.
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Panthers great and Fox League commentator Greg Alexander said on SEN radio the Storm were the first team to introduce the hip drop tackle, a claim which Smith strongly denied.
“Brandy (Alexander) is a great analyst of the game and one of the greatest players of our game,” Smith said on SEN on Thursday.
“I just don’t know how he came up with that comment.
“To single out one club and to say that they introduced that tackle into our sport, that’s over the top.
“I can’t ever recall seeing Brandy at one of our training sessions throughout my career and my 20 years at Melbourne.
“I work with Brandy on our radio station and he’s a great fella, but to single out the Melbourne Storm, that’s really unfair, really unfair.
“To say that a club or even clubs now are practicing or teaching their players to fall into the back of legs, I think that’s a little bit over the top.”
Hip drop tackles occur when a third player enters and attacks the ball carrier’s legs, which has resulted in serious leg injuries such as broken legs and ruptured ACLs.
Smith believes hip drop tackles have become more prominent in the NRL because referees are no longer rewarding players for one-leg tackles.
“There are no rewards for leg tackles anymore,” he said
“Players are taught to have multiple defenders be in the tackle.
“If someone makes a tackle low around the legs, as soon as the ball carrier hits the turf, the referee is screaming at the tackler to release.
“So why would you perform that tackle anymore when you’re not rewarded for it?
“You are giving an advantage to the attacking team (because) you get to play the ball quickly.
“That’s completely against what you are trying to do in slowing the ball down.”
Smith said hip drop tackles are used “all the time”, adding the onus is on the NRL to clamp down on the tactic.
“If you actually watch the game closely and you watch every tackle, these tackles are performed all the time,” he continued.
“You could almost find one of these tackles in every set. But it’s not until someone gets injured or there’s a really, really ugly, messy looking tackle where someone’s legs get caught and they get bent back over the defender that’s sat down on those legs.
“Nothing’s done about it. There’s actually nothing done about it.
“Maybe the way for the NRL to go if they want to eliminate these tackles from our sport, the Match Review Committee (MRC) need to start going through these games with a fine tooth comb and anytime something like this is performed, then the player needs to be notified and even charged.
“I don’t know whether it’s a fine to start with, if it’s a less dangerous hip-drop tackle and there’s no result of injury, just to say, ‘Hey mate, we’re onto ya’.”
Carrigan’s suspension is a blow to Brisbane’s top four chances. The Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters tonight in a clash that looms as crucial for the final hopes of both teams.
