Their coach’s future may be uncertain but Brisbane’s NRL season hopes appear bright after overcoming the loss of back-rower Alex Glenn to hold out Cronulla 12-10.
The Broncos have kept a top four finish in their sights with their seventh win in nine games despite speculation swirling around foundation mentor Wayne Bennett.
The master coach – off contract next year – was considered a “dead man walking” after a News Corp report this week claimed the Broncos board knocked back his request to earn a one year extension and stay on in 2020.
But Brisbane showed there is still plenty of life left in their season by snapping the fifth placed Sharks’ three game winning run with the gutsy Suncorp Stadium triumph.
Sharks half Chad Townsend was left to rue a butchered conversion attempt right in front early in the second half.
After winger Valentine Holmes crossed for his second try to level the scores 10-10 in the 44th minute, Townsend appeared to have another two points in the bag with the point blank conversion but somehow hit the upright instead.
Cronulla had their chances as they applied plenty of late pressure but the Broncos’ defence held tight to seal their fifth win in six home games despite losing Glenn late in the first half.
He is expected to undergo surgery.
There were also concerns for boom Broncos forward Tevita Pangai (ankle, hamstring) in the first half while fullback Jamayne Isaako provided some anxious moments when he landed heavily after a mid-air collision with Cronulla’s Matt Moylan trying to collect a drop out.
Cronulla lost co-captain Wade Graham and winger Edrick Lee (both groin) before kick-off.
Holmes locked up the scores after a dummy half bust by James Segeyaro to score his 17th try in 14 games, becoming the NRL’s top try scorer.
In the end Brisbane winger Jordan Kahu’s 49th minute penalty proved the difference in the rollercoaster clash.
Brisbane held a 10-6 halftime lead after drawing first blood in a scrappy start against the run of play.
Captain Darius Boyd intercepted a Moylan pass and let winger Corey Oates loose to score in an 80m movement.
Brisbane prop Matt Lodge muscled his way over in the 22nd minute to cancel out Cronulla flyer Holmes’ 19th minute four-pointer.