Brisbane’s superstar fullback Reece Walsh had an eventful Saturday evening, scoring two tries, vomiting on the field and limping off with cramp in the Broncos’ win over Wests Tigers.
Last year’s grand finalists were too good for the Tigers, running in six tries to two in the 34-10 win at Campbelltown Stadium.
Walsh was in the thick of the action from the kick-off, playing a pivotal role in Brisbane’s opening try in the sixth minute, before scoring two of his own.
The fullback finished off one of the best tries of the season for the Broncos, who crossed the line on the stroke of half-time following a cross-field kick 60 metres out which was collected by winger Deine Mariner.
There was concern for Walsh late in the game when he was grabbing at his left calf following a 60-metre line break.
But the fullback was suffering from bad cramp, also throwing up on the field with 10 minutes left in the game.
Walsh told ABC Sport he may need to make a few adjustments to his preparation.
“I was cramping and spewing up a little bit there but I’ll probably have a chat to the dietician and see what we can work on so I can get that s*** stuff out,” he said.
Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds also suffered from cramping towards the end of his return.
The Broncos finished the game with 12 men, with Reynolds limping off the field despite the team not having any interchanges left.
Penrith survives late scare against Cowboys
The Penrith Panthers have held off a fast-finishing North Queensland Cowboys to record a 26-20 win in Townsville.
The premiers led 24-4 after 45 minutes on Saturday evening before the Cowboys made a resurgence.
The home side scored the final three tries of the match, and came close to sending the game to golden point in the final minutes.
But Penrith held firm in Nathan Clearly’s return.
The Panthers were their own worst enemy at times especially in the second half, turning the ball over and giving away penalties which put them under pressure.
Captain Isaah Yeo told ABC Sport his side had “things to fix” moving forward.
“I thought we did alright to hold on, but we’re just making it hard on ourselves at the minute,” he said.
“Got out of jail on that one, I think.”
Despite conceding three second half tries, Penrith will be pleased by their defensive effort, particularly in the first 40 minutes.
They kept North Queensland to just four points in the opening half, despite the Cowboys enjoying the better of possession and territory.
Meanwhile, North Queensland will rue their mistakes.
An interception by Paul Almaoti off a Scott Drink Water pass in the final seconds of the first half extended the Panthers’ lead to 18-4.
Penrith secured the 24-4 lead early in the second half when Liam Martin collected a Semi Valemei drop ball to score.
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That is all for the Saturday rugby league blog
We were treated to a pair of really good games.
Brisbane and Penrith were the winners, but Wests and North Queensland were in the fight.
Thank-you for reading the ABC live blog through out the evening.
We will be back again tomorrow for the final two games of round eight.
Goodnight.
Chad Townsend reflects on 250 NRL games
18 tackle breaks from Brian To’o tonight
I had to take a second look at that statistic.
Brian To’o broke 18 tackles.
He scored a try and was solid in defence. A great 100th NRL match.
Isaah Yeo says Panthers ‘got out of jail’ against Cowboys
Penrith captain has spoken to ABC Sport following his side’s 26-20 win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
Yeo said errors were making life hard for the Panthers.
“I thought we did alright to hold on, but we’re just making it hard on ourselves at the minute,” he said.
“Two points is nice, but things to fix.
“Got out of jail on that one, I think.”
FT: Pentrith hold on to defeat North Queensland 26-20
What a fight back from the Cowboys.
They will rue the intercept try on half time, and the drop ball which led to the try in the 44th minute.
But full credit to the Panthers.
Three starters were late withdrawals. But it didn’t matter.
It is next man up for the premiers.
Great game.
79′: Holmes knocks on and the Panthers will win
North Queensland were so close.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki carried five Panthers over the try line, but was held up.
Valentine Holmes takes a crash ball, but he bobbles it.
Penrith will win.
78′: Chad Townsend is clutching his leg, Cowboys get a penalty 40 metres out
It looked like a turnover of possession, but the Cowboys said a player was held back following a chip and chase.
The Bunker agrees.
They have a penalty 40 metres out, with two minutes to play.
Townsend was down, but he is back up.
77′: Cowboys hold on with great goal line defence
The Cowboys survive.
They have three minutes to get one more try.
Dylan Edwards looked like he was going to score, but the home side held him out.
Can they march down the field?
73′: Semi Valemei spills another high ball. Penrith on the attack
Poor Semi Valemei.
He has dropped another high ball from Nathan Cleary.
Second one of the half.
Not the best catching technique.
But his teammates bail him out. Cowboys concede a goal line dropout and they regather it.
71′: Panthers get a penalty in front as Cowboys suffer head clash
Penrith marched downfield with the help of a penalty for a crusher tackle.
The Panthers are looking to end the game right here.
High tackle. Penalty Penrith.
Oh, there is a head clash between two Cowboy players involved in the offending tackle.
Reuber Cotter and Reece Robson hit each other.
Robson is bleeding under his cheekbone.
Nathan Cleary kicks the goal and Penrith lead 26-20.
68′: Cowboys full of running but Penrith hold firm
North Queensland are really asking questions of the premiers.
Jeremiah Nanai nearly crossed the line again, but
Jarome Luai made a brilliant leg tackle.
Panthers hold on.
61′ TRY: Cowboys are back with another try after helping penalties
It’s three tries in a row for Jeremiah Nanai.
The Cowboys are marching here.
North Queensland received back-to-back penalties. Both were high tackles from Taylan May.
The Cowboys convert their great field position. They have found a method to success — and it is running hard.
They tried going around the Panthers’ defence in the first half.
In the second half, they have run right though the middle.
This time Jeremiah Nanai gets the short ball near the line and crashes over.
54′ TRY: Cowboys score again
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki scores for the Cowboys.
North Queensland get rewarded for weight of possession.
Penrith worked so hard in defence, but eventually, the Cowboys figured out the puzzle.
The key was patience. They kept the pressure on.
Then Scott Drinkwater went from dummy half to the short-side, passed to Holmes, who then gave it to Kulikefu Finefeuiaki who crashed over.
Holmes is one from three with the boot.
Panthers lead 24-14.
52′: Cowboys go close to scoring. They have another set at the Panthers’ line
The Cowboys marched up the field off the kick-off.
Kyle Feldt made a big run.
North Queensland get a few set restarts for infringements and forces a goal line drop out.
Can the Cowboys score again?
49′ TRY: Holmes goes over for the Cowboys
And it takes them one play to score.
Valentine Holmes gets the ball off the scrum (second scrum after an offside penalty was awarded) and he steps off his left foot and crashes over.
Liam Martin was unable to bring him down.
Penrith lead 24-10.
48′: Cowboys get a chance after Dylan Edwards knock-on
The Cowboys get a full set from 10 metres out.
Dylan Edwards drops the ball.
It was probably knocked out by a Cowboy, but the Panthers have wasted their challenge.
44′ TRY: Panthers score a soft try. Cleary kicks his 600th goal for Penrith
Liam Martin has been given a gift.
Cowboys’ winger Semi Valemei dropped a fairly innocuous high-kick, and Martin collected the ball in stride and crashed over.
Nathan Cleary kicks the conversion. That is his 600th goal for the Panthers.
Reaction from Brisbane’s win over Wests: Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds joined ABC Sport after Brisbane’s win over the Tigers.
After being told Payne Haas called him a fossil following cramps, Adam Reynolds said that is one of the nicer things he gets called at Red Hill.
“Cramps … not the best. I cop all sorts of nicknames at the club, that’s (fossil) probably one of the nicer ones.”
Reaction from Brisbane’s win over Wests: Reece Walsh
Reece Walsh has spoken to ABC Sport after his eventful evening in Campbelltown.
“I was cramping and spewing up a little bit there but I’ll probably have a chat to the dietician and see what we can work on so I can get that s*** stuff out,”
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