A strong second half has seen the Brisbane Broncos emerge 34-20 victors over the Canberra Raiders in the NYC at GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Raiders took a 16-14 lead into half-time but it was the Broncos who would run in a trio of second-half tries to Canberra’s one as Brett White’s men fell to their third consecutive win.
The Raiders burst out of the blocks in the second stanza when halfback Lachlan Cooper found the white line just four minutes in to the hosts a six-point buffer at 20-14.
But Brisbane would then begin to mount a stunning swing of momentum, first reducing the deficit to a two-point ball-game when front-rower Keenan Palasia crashed through in the 49 the minute.
The Broncos again picked the lock on the Raiders’ defence through a try in the 63 rd minute, centre Kotoni Staggs bagging his second try of the game before Gerome Burns made no mistake from the tee as the visitors pinched a 24-20 lead.
Brisbane then ran in two more tries late in the game to walk away 14-point winners.
The Broncos opened the scoring when winger David Fauid crossed on the left edge three minutes in before Burns failed to convert.
It didn’t take long for Fauid to be sent hurtling up the left touchline again, the Stafford Brothers junior putting on the afterburners before throwing an inside ball to fullback Corey Allan to clinch the visitors’ second four-pointer of the game.
Burns made no mistake from the tee this time as Brisbane extended its lead to 10-0.
But the Raiders then showed that what the Broncos can do on the left edge, they can do too, winger Komiti Tuilagi finding the white line from dummy-half in the 15 th minute before
Andre Niko added the extras to cut the deficit to 10-6.
The Raiders then found themselves in Brisbane territory five minutes later off the back of a quality set of six stamped with a number of full-throttle runs up the middle of the park.
They capitalised on the optimal field position when prop William Samuel bustled his way over with a show of brute strength to lock things up at 10-apiece before Niko failed to convert.
After a lengthy arm-wrestle fought in the centre of the park it was the visitors who would break the deadlock through Staggs just inside the right corner post.
Burns failed to add the extras before Raiders fullback Timoci Vatubuli collected a crafty chip kick on debut in the shadows of the half-time break to race away and make things level once again.
Niko put the ball over the black dot as the Raiders pocketed their 16-14 half-time lead, before the Broncos ran away with the game in the second term.
The Raiders are now set to host the North Queensland Cowboys next Saturday evening as they look to remain in contention with the top eight.
