Brisbane Broncos celebrated Wayne Bennett’s 800th game as an NRL coach with an 18-10 victory over Parramatta Eels.
Brisbane opened the scoring. Jamayne Isaako beat Bevan French in the air and stepped around Corey Norman to score.
With Michael Jennings in the bin for a professional foul, Corey Oates scored Brisbane’s second after good work from Darius Boyd.
The Eels tried hard to produce points but the Broncos were hard to get past. They did take two points on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit to 12-2.
Only three minutes into the second half, Brisbane extended their lead. Jaydn Su’A charged through and fed James Roberts who flew in at the corner.
Parramatta gave themselves a chance when George Jennings intercepted an Anthony Milford pass and charged 90 metres. Moses then added a second penalty to bring them back to within six.
But those two points were immediately wiped out by an Isaako penalty. Brisbane were then comfortable despite French’s late effort being ruled out for a forward pass.
Broncos: Boyd, Oates, Roberts, Kahu, Isaako, Milford, Nikorima, Lodge, McCullough, Thaiday, Pangai jnr, Su’A, Ofahengau; Interchanges: Tagataese, Fai, Staggs, Mago
Tries: Isaako, Oates Roberts; Goals: Isaako 3
Eels: Norman, French, M Jennings, Takairangi, G Jennings, Gutherson, Moses, Alvaro, King, Vave, Ma’u, Moeroa, Terepo; Interchanges: Smith, Matagi, Gower, Niukore
Tries: G Jennings; Goals: Moses 3
Sin-bin: M Jennings (13) – professional foul
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
