Broncos win bizarre thriller over Wigan

Brisbane have finished their pre-season in ideal fashion – winning a trophy coach Wayne Bennett didn’t even know existed.

Through their thrilling and bizarre golden-point victory over Wigan on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT), the Broncos secured the World Club Series trophy for NRL sides.

They did so by giving Australian sides an unassailable 2-0 lead following St George Illawarra’s win over Warrington and with only the World Club Challenge clash between South Sydney and St Helens (Monday 6am AEDT) remaining.

It was all news to Bennett, however.

The super coach was still coming to terms with his players slogging it out in extra time when he was asked about securing the glory for the Australian teams.

“I didn’t know it was a series until (the media) told me (after the game),” an amused Bennett said.

“No one talked about it back home. I certainly didn’t know it was the case.

“Am I pleased that we won the series for Australia? That wasn’t my priority.”

Corey Parker slotted a penalty goal at the end of the first half of extra time to ice the 14-12 win, which also caught Bennett by surprise – as he’d been anticipating a draw following Wigan winger Joe Burgess’ magnificent 78th minute try which levelled the scores.

“I hadn’t taken a lot of notice of the rules. I couldn’t believe we were playing extra time,” Bennett said.

“I’m in denial about that. Why the hell do they want to play extra time?

“It’s not a fixture match. It’s a London exhibition game per se.

“Really they’re not playing for anything else but pride and the club.”

Parker had been forced to retake his penalty after Wigan’s Anthony Gelling charged down his first attempt in a brain explosion that had the centre sin-binned and led coach Shaun Wane to describe him as “a weirdo”.

Sydney Roosters-bound Burgess sent the match into extra time when he put a fend on Brisbane centre Justin Hodges before sprinting downfield, completing a one-two with five-eighth George Williams and crossing for the stunning 80m effort which had the 20,842-strong crowd on their feet.

Until his late heroics Burgess endured a forgettable game, making three errors, including two in front of his own tryline – the first of which led to the easiest of tries to Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough.

McCullough, who filled the role of Brisbane skipper for the match but won’t be given that honour for the season ahead, seized on a ball dislodged from Burgess’ grasp by a heavy Jordan Kahu tackle, and fell over the tryline to open the scoring.

The scores were locked at 6-all at halftime thanks to a try to Wigan backrower Liam Farrell.

But when Lachlan Maranta finished off a sweeping backline play, making the most of a pinpoint cut-out pass from Hodges, mid-way through the second half it looked like the Broncos would win the match in regular time.

Brisbane’s highest-profile recruit Anthony Milford had a rocks-and-diamonds night that shows he remains a work in progress despite being one of the brightest young stars in the NRL.

Milford, who was dynamic when given room at fullback for the Raiders, looked rushed in attack as Brisbane’s five-eighth and let the Warriors off the hook with a series of poor attacking kicks, twice being charged down.

But then he produced two trademark broken-field runs in the final 20 minutes to remind everyone of his talent.

“Some of the breaks he made, his footwork, he’s got a lot of improvement in him, but I like what he’s got,” Bennett said.

“Hopefully in a year or two he’ll be a really key player for us.”

Second-rower Alex Glenn was a constant menace on the Broncos’ left edge, making more than 200 metres, while recruit Adam Blair also impressed up front.

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