- Fans applaud the Brisbane Broncos on their unique look
- Broncos snapped their four-game losing streak overnight
Brisbane were dressed like the All Blacks and played like them at stages to break a four-game losing streak in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast.
Decked out in black jerseys for the club’s dedicated mental health round, the Broncos made sure captain Adam Reynolds’ 300th NRL match was a memorable one.
‘I’m more pleased with the performance,’ Reynolds said post-match.
‘I’m glad the week is over. It’s been a big week with everything that comes with it. I’m honoured.
‘I have always been about the team, it’s something I will reflect on after a few beers.’
Footy fans of all stripes couldn’t help but comment on the unique black jerseys.
Fans were impressed with the Broncos’ new look on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium
The Broncos snapped a four-game losing streak in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast
‘These Broncos jerseys are the best NRL jerseys I’ve ever seen,’ posted one fan on X
‘I don’t usually compliment the Broncos, but those jerseys are elite,’ replied another.
‘This Broncos kit will sell out 10 times over, surely. Best kit I’ve seen,’ said a third.
Another posted: ‘Just f**k off … how can my most hated team, have the best looking jersey in the history of rugby league.’
Reece Walsh made an immediate impact on his return from a knee injury, particularly with his passing game, which was on-point. The mercurial fullback scored a late try double to ice an impressive comeback.
Brisbane centres Gehamat Shibasaki and Kotoni Staggs carved it up and had their most impressive games of the season.
The only downside for the Broncos was a second-half ankle injury to bench prop Ben Te Kura.
The hosts scored five first-half tries to race to a 28-0 lead against a Titans side that had no line speed in defence, no energy and tackled like turnstiles.
Even footy fans who hate the Broncos were singing the praises of their unique strip
The black jerseys were worn to make a statement for the side’s dedicated Mental Health Round
‘We didn’t aim up enough,’ Titans coach Des Hasler said.
‘The first 40 was the most disappointing we have played this year.’
The Broncos and their coach Michael Maguire have had the blowtorch applied to them over the past seven rounds, which yielded just one win.
‘Not everything goes your way, and to see the leaders come together has been great,” Maguire said.
‘We have been challenged to find something and now we can move forward.’
It is too early to tell if this victory is a turning point, given the lamentable display of their last-placed opponents.
Walsh threw a stunning 25m pass to send Shibasaki over in the second minute, and the dashing centre had added a second to his tally before halftime after a cracking line-break by back-rower Brendan Piakura, who had his best game of the season.
With Pat Carrigan back in his favourite position of lock, the Broncos looked far more imposing, and his flick pass in traffic for prop Corey Jensen to score was all class.
It was fitting that the kicking and passing games of Reynolds, such weapons throughout his career, were on song.
A pinpoint bomb was gobbled up and planted by a rampant Staggs, and a long cutout pass by the skipper led to recalled winger Josiah Karapani scoring the first try of his NRL career.
Karapani added a second after the break as the Titans picked up their act, with winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira scoring a double before Walsh iced the victory.
Titans forward Arama Hau crashed over late for his first career try.
