A rampaging try by inspirational prop Payne Haas has sealed Brisbane’s 24-12 NRL win over Penrith at Suncorp Stadium to keep their finals hopes alive.
It seemed only something special was going to prove the difference in Friday night’s see-sawing match, as finals rivals the Broncos and the Panthers threw everything at each other in front of 23,643 fans.
Enter Haas.
The 19-year-old cut through four defenders in a stunning 45m run to score in the 72nd minute and ice a much-needed victory for the Broncos.
Brisbane provisionally jumped to seventh on the ladder, leapfrogging the Panthers as they sealed their second-straight win.
The Broncos have suffered just one loss in their past seven games.
However, Brisbane initially looked like they might have lost their Midas touch against the freewheeling Panthers.
Sparked by playmaker James Maloney, on his return from a tripping suspension, Penrith somehow stayed in the hunt despite appearing to be outclassed by the hosts.
After trailing 8-6 at halftime, the visitors came back again to trail 18-12 when winger Brian To’o crashed over in the 57th minute to ensure some anxious moments for the home crowd.
But Haas finally put the result beyond doubt with his stunning run that capped a tremendous match in which he ran 195m, had nine tackle busts and made 29 tackles.
Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold might still have some post-match headaches after fullback Anthony Milford had appeared to trip Nathan Cleary before the Panthers’ playmaker crashed over for a 37th-minute try.
Broncos back-rower Tevita Pangai was sin-binned in the 79th minute for a hit on Maloney.
And Brisbane No.7 Jake Turpin might come under the match review committee’s scrutiny for his swinging arm on Dylan Edwards. This also earned him a sin-bin stint in the eighth minute.
The Broncos blew the scoreline out to 18-6 in the 54th minute after winger Jamayne Isaako crossed for two tries in 10 minutes, but the Panthers refused to go away before Haas struck.
Brisbane have won 11 of their past 14 games against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium including four straight.
