The Brisbane Broncos have pulled off an unlimited scalp, coming into the Panthers home to rob the defending premiers 13-12 within the season opener, which commentator Dan Ginnane known as a “monumental upset”.
The Panthers regarded to have hardly skipped a beat when Stephen Crichton capped off a protracted vary attempt to rating early for Penrith however the Broncos shocked the league when Herbie Farnworth pulled off a double.
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Farnworth’s second attempt was one thing particular as he by some means chased down the ball after he was outpaced by Brian To’o however dived excessive of the winger to floor the ball.
The second half was scoreless till the seventieth minute when Adam Reynolds slotted a subject objective to make it a seven-point deficit for the Panthers.
However the residence aspect was not about to put down.
Bench hooker Soni Luke had ignited the Panthers from the second he entered the sector within the 54th minute.
It was one thing the Panthers sorely missed as they transfer into the post-Api Koroisau period.
Simply earlier than the half, Michael Ennis mentioned the Panthers had been lacking the spark which has made the aspect an unstoppable pressure the previous three seasons.
“It’s regarded just a little predictable, it’s been just a little sluggish from Penrith and there is no doubt in any respect they’re lacking Api Koroisau’s craftiness across the dummy half space and definitely Viliame Kikau’s presence out on that left hand aspect,” Ennis mentioned.
However Luke pounced within the 76th minute to attain subsequent to the posts and arrange a grandstand end.
Whereas Koroisau is a giant loss, it appeared his inheritor obvious emerged, regardless of the loss.
“They’ve missed Koroisau, who has been one of many elite dummy halves for thus lengthy, however Soni Luke’s come on with that deception, that craft and the power to trigger the opposition complications across the ruck,” Ennis mentioned.
Alexander mentioned regardless of the back-to-back premierships, it was an “huge” problem to match the 1981-83 Eels, who had been the final group to three-peat.
“Take the 2 gamers who’ve now moved on to different golf equipment — Kikau and Koroisau — doesn’t matter the way you sugar-coat it, they’re huge losses and it’ll take them time,” Alexander mentioned.
“However I used to be very impressed by what Mitch Kenny and Soni Luke did. Soni Luke got here on the sector and made a distinction and I assumed bought Penrith again into the sport along with his runs from dummy half.”
Whereas the Broncos are anticipated to carry out higher than final 12 months, assuming Reynolds can keep match, it was a shock loss because the Panthers had gained 31 of their final 33 at residence main into the match, courting again to late 2019.
However it was a defensive masterclass from the Broncos which noticed the Panthers’ three-year run of going 8-0 to start out the season snapped.
“It’s the primary time in a few years I’ve a lot resilience on their (the Broncos’) personal tryline,” Gorden Tallis mentioned.
“I don’t know what number of units the Panthers had 20m out.
“It was a kind of moments the place Brisbane, they only dug deep, Penrith had been throwing every part at them however Brisbane simply believed in themselves.”
Panthers legend Greg Alexander mentioned: “Brisbane’s defence was excellent. Brisbane tackled themselves to a win.”
