Match Report | Round 3

Defending premiers Brisbane fought back from 14-0 down at half-time to win the grand final rematch in Melbourne and show once again why they are the NRL's comeback kings.

With so much at stake the Broncos dug deep in the second half as Jordan Riki bagged a double and Ben Hunt pulled the strings brilliantly to break a run of nine straight losses at AAMI Park.

The last time the Broncos got the money at AAMI Park was Round 25, 2016 when Hunt was again one of the heroes.

Earlier in the night we kicked off at Allianz Stadium where the Panthers made a statement with a stunning 40-4 victory over a Roosters side that simply had no answers.

From Brian To'o scoring a wonder try in the first half to Thomas Jenkins bagging four tries, the Panthers were simply brilliant as they made it three from three to start the season.

Follow all the action from Round 3 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.

Storm v Broncos at AAMI Park

Madge's 1st XV: The Broncos' gutsy win was achieved with only 15 players being used as Gehamat Shibasaki, Aublix Tawha, Blake Mozer and Jaiyden Hunt weren't needed. Pat Carrigan went the distance and Payne Haas played 72 minutes while Cory Paix played the full 80 minutes at hooker and made 44 tackles. Brendan Piakura and Ben Talty were the only players used off the interchange by Maguire.

No.1 gun: Sua Fa'alogo continues to dazzle for the Storm, tonight coming up with 256 metres from 25 runs and seven tackle breaks to go with a try. Cameron Munster ran for 178 metres and had four tackle breaks while Jahrome Hughes also peeled off 171 run metres.

Pat on the back: Broncos lock Pat Carrigan played the full 80 minutes and powered through 23 runs for 195 metres as well as making 43 tackles. Payne Haas (18 runs for 165m) and Jordan Riki (142m and two tries) were also immense for the premiers.

Full-time: The Broncos have answered their critics with a superb comeback victory - their first win at AAMI Park since 2016. Trailing 14-0 at the break and struggling to control the ball the Broncos turned it all around with almost perfect completion in the second half and courageous defence to keep the Storm at bay.

80 min: The Storm keep the ball alive on the last play of the game and stretch the Broncos defence but Sua Fa'alogo is dragged down in desperate cover as he tried to get a kick in.

77 min: Kotoni Staggs is penalised and placed on report for high contact on Moses Leo who is sent for a HIA.

75 min: Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster combine in the middle of the field but Munster's kick for Will Warbrick to chase is far too heavy and the Broncos bring it back.

73 min: Some sparkling attack from the Storm with Cameron Munster standing and offloading but the final play comes unstuck when Will Warbrick chases a Jahrome Hughes kick but can't bring it down.

68 min: The Storm shift left and Nick Meaney is smashed by four Broncos defenders coming across in cover to bundle him into touch.

67 min: Payne Haas attracts three defenders and slips a good offload to Ezra Mam who drops it cold. 

62 min: Moses Leo throws a pass to Nick Meaney that floats well forward and the Broncos hold on.

61 min: Reece Walsh kicks out on the full to hand the Storm possession 35 metres out.

59 min: The comeback kings of 2025 are back in business as Kotoni Staggs explodes into a hole off a Ben Hunt pass and leaves Cameron Munster clutching at thin air. Reece Walsh adds the extras. Broncos 18-14.

58 min: Reece Walsh's grubber is batted dead by Harry Grant. The short dropout sails out on the full and the Broncos reload.

56 min: Joe Chan is pinged for a high tackle on Ezra Mam and the Broncos get a chance to take the lead.

52 min: A sneaky dart by Ben Hunt out of dummy half from close range produces a second try for Jordan Riki courtesy of a Kotoni Staggs pass. Storm outside backs Moses Leo and Nick Meaney are caught out of position and the Broncos are back big time. Reece Walsh converts from wide out. Storm 14-12.

49 min: The Storm get a great result from a short dropout when it crosses the 10m line and goes into touch without being touched so they get a scrum 10m out from their own line.

47 min: Joe Chan finds space after trampling Ezra Mam and then goes to the boot but the kick is too long and the Broncos come away with a 20m tap.

42 min: The Broncos make the perfect start to the second term as they march down field on the back of a couple of penalties and some skilful ball-play from Reece Walsh puts Jordan Riki into a hole to score. Walsh converts. Storm 14-6.

Flashy Fa'alogo: The Storm No.1 picked up where he left off against the Dragons with 124 run metres, three tackle breaks and a try. Fa'alogo stretched the defence to the limit every time he touched the ball and was on hand to take a pass from Joe Chan to snare a crucial four-pointer.

Half-time: A tight contest for most of the half but the Broncos are left to rue eight errors and 19 missed tackles as they are held scoreless at half-time for the second time this season.

40 min: Jahrome Hughes takes on the line on the last play of the half and stands in a Pat Carrigan tackle and offloads for Joe Chan to score. That's a hammer blow for the Broncos who had hung tough for 39 minutes. Harry Grant converts. Storm 14-0.

39 min: A high tackle by Ben Hunt on Cooper Clarke brings another penalty and again the Storm roll up field.

38 min: The Storm shoot for goal after the Walsh penalty and Harry Grant knocks it over. Storm 8-0.

37 min: Reece Walsh is placed on report after taking Cameron Munster high.

35 min: The Storm muscle up in defence after a good kick-chase and force an error from Deine Mariner.

33 min: Ben Hunt floats a long ball to Kotoni Staggs who can't make the catch and again the Storm come away.

32 min: Reece Walsh gets into first receiver and comes up with a monster 40-20 to put the Broncos in prime position. That's the eighth 40-20 of Walsh's career.

29 min: Pat Carrigan crashes the line and tries to pop an offload but the Broncos turn it over and Sua Fa'alogo comes up with a long run out of trouble.

28 min: Moses Leo is penalised for tackling Reece Walsh after he had passed the ball. Broncos go inside the red zone.

26 min: Reece Walsh kicks high and the Storm let it bounce but Ezra Mam can't control the ball and comes up with a knock on.

22 min: The Big Three of Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes handle with the Kiwi halfback putting Joe Chan into a hole and the back-rower delivering a nice offload for a flying Sua Fa'alogo to score his sixth try of the season. Grant converts. Storm 6-0.

20 min: Trent Loiero comes off the interchange for his first taste of NRL action for the season after serving a suspension.

19 min: Moses Leo comes up with an error to invite the Broncos into Melbourne's half again.

18 min: A poor last-tackle option by the Broncos with Jordan Riki finishing up with the ball and forced into a kick which goes out on the full.

17 min: The Storm swing the ball to the left but the Broncos slide well and Moses Leo's flick pass goes behind Nick Meaney and into touch.

15 min: The Storm are penalised for offside and then marched an extra 10 metres when Harry Grant decides to argue the call with referee Todd Smith.

11 min: Harry Grant rolls in a grubber for Stefano Utoikamanu to chase but the ball evades the prop and rolls dead.

8 min: Ezra Mam goes to the short side but his pass to Kotoni Staggs proved too hard to handle and another Broncos opportunity is lost.

7 min: The Storm hand the ball back when Sua Fa'alogo throws a wayward pass that evades Will Warbrick and goes into touch.

6 min: The Broncos come up with an error deep in their own territory and Nick Meaney swoops.

Late Mail

Storm: Back-rower Alec MacDonald returns from concussion and will start in place of Ativalu Lisati, who faces a month out after suffering a calf strain during the week. The interchange bench includes a return for Trent Loiero following his two-game suspension, alongside Tyran Wishart, Davvy Moale and Cooper Clarke.

Broncos: Skipper Adam Reynolds was named on Tuesday but has been ruled out due to rib cartilage damage so Ben Hunt takes over at halfback. Cook Islands star Brendan Piakura is also in the mix for his first appearance of the year after recovering from off-season knee injury and has been listed in jumper No.18. Former Storm flyer Grant Anderson comes on to the wing for his Broncos debut, with Deine Mariner shifting to the centres and Gehamat Shibasaki moving to the interchange. 

Numbers Game

• The Storm have won their last nine games against the Broncos at AAMI Park.
• The Broncos have conceded 66 points in their opening two games.
• The Storm have scored 13 tries in 14 games against the Broncos.
• Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has scored 28 points in his last two games against the Storm.
• Storm coach Craig Bellamy has won 14 from 17 against Michael Maguire-coached teams.

 

Roosters v Panthers at Allianz Stadium

Follow the leader: James Tedesco keeps on going and going regardless of the scoreline and finished the night with six tackle breaks and 170 run metres while Naufahu Whyte (12 runs for 137m) led the way in the middle.

Full-time: A comprehensive victory for the Panthers who completed at 90 per cent and were simply relentless all night long as no fewer than nine of their players ran for more than 100 metres led by four-try hero Thomas Jenkins (189m) and centre Paul Alamoti (170m).

78 min: Egan Butcher's offload is spilled by Daly Cherry-Evans in a clunky play that sums up a horror night for the Roosters.

74 min: Brian To'o and Daniel Tupou in a great contest for a high ball and it spills free into the Roosters in-goal where Paul Alamoti grounds the ball for a dropout.

71 min: Precision passing from Blaize Talagi, Lindsay Smith, Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo before Dylan Edwards scrambles his way over for his second try. Cleary converts. Panthers 40-4.

65 min: The Roosters go to the air and the ball bounces 10 metres backwards off James Tedesco and it's Moses Leota on hand to scoop it up and give it off to Thomas Jenkins who sprints 70 metres to make it four tries for the night and eight for the season. Nathan Cleary converts. Panthers 34-4.

64 min: Nathan Cleary produces a cross-field banana kick for Brian To'o to chase but the winger can't make the catch and the Roosters hang on.

62 min: A powerful charge by Salesi Foketi carries him over the line but Luke Garner, Dylan Edwards and Lindsay Smith join forces to hold him up.

59 min: The Roosters string some passes together on the left but Junior Pauga can't handle the ball when it is turned back inside by Daniel Tupou. 

55 min: Reece Robson puts in a grubber out of dummy half but Connor Watson is offside and goes inside the 10m so the Panthers have the penalty.

54 min: Isaiah Papali'i is placed on report and penalised for shoulder contact to the head of Siua Wong.

52 min: A mistake by Blaize Talagi hands possession to the Roosters on the halfway mark as the home side look to launch a comeback.

45 min: The Panthers come up with another beauty after Paul Alamoti makes a break down the right and when he is tackled they swing the ball back to the left where Nathan Cleary and Blaize Talagi handle before Isaiah Papali'i produces a superb cut-out pass for Thomas Jenkins to complete his hat-trick. Panthers 28-4.

43 min: Scott Sorensen leaves the field for a HIA which he passes and is able to return.

Perfect Panthers: The men in pink had 54 per cent of possession and completed 23 of 23 sets as they took a stranglehold on the match.

Half-time: Four tries in 12 minutes blew the game wide open for Penrith after the Roosters had started well. Rival fullbacks Dylan Edwards (nine runs for 110m) and James Tedesco (eight runs for 102m) created plenty of opportunities while Brian To'o stole the show with a sensational solo try. 

39 min: Junior Pauga finds space down the left and goes to the boot to try and find Roosters support players backing up on the inside but the ball hits Dylan Edwards and the Panthers No.1 cleans up.

35 min: Connor Watson is pinged for a second effort in the tackle and Nathan Cleary helps himself to two more points from the penalty. Panthers 24-4.

32 min: Mark Nawaqanitwase takes a kick on the full and is taken back in goal. The Roosters go short with the dropout and Nawaqanitwase tries to tap it back but is ruled to have gone forward. The Roosters throw in a captain's challenge but the bunker supports the on-field call and the challenge is lost.

28 min: Make it three doubles in three rounds for Thomas Jenkins as he finishes off brilliant work from Nathan Cleary, Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean to cross wide out. Jenkins becomes the first Panther to open a season with doubles in the first three games. Cleary adds the extras. Panthers 22-4.

23 min: The Panthers get adventurous 10 metres out from their own line with Paul Alamoti leaving Junior Pauga in his wake and streaking away before finding Nathan Cleary on the inside and the halfback sends it on to Dylan Edwards who scores. Cleary converts from in front. Panthers 16-4.2

20 min: Brian To'o sets Allianz Stadium alight with a magical double-kick try for himself after taking the ball from Paul Alamoti 30 metres out. To'o was confronted by the Roosters cover and grubbered for himself. He regathered and put in a second kick which he followed through and go to first ahead of Nathan Cleary. An absolute cracker of a try to give Penrith the lead. Cleary converts. Panthers 10-4.

16 min: Brilliant dummy half play from Mitch Kenny as he operates on an extremely narrow short and side and puts Thomas Jenkins over in the corner with a clever pass. Mark Nawaqanitwase slid in off his wing and came up empty as Jenkins dived over. Nathan Cleary misses the conversion. 4-4

14 min: Rob Toia goes close to making it a double but the Panthers scramble well and the Roosters centre puts the ball down just short of the line.

11 min: The Panthers put in a chip kick which is taken on the full by Paul Alamoti and flicked back but Lindsay Collins shows great urgency to dive on the loose ball.

9 min: Lindsay Collins comes up with an error on the halfway mark and the Panthers get a chance to mount some pressure.

5 min: The perfect start for the home side as James Tedesco slides across field and picks up right centre Rob Toia who burns Casey McLean to post the eighth try of his career. Sam Walker fails to add the extras. Roosters 4-0.

Late Mail

Roosters: Star hooker Reece Robson is on track to play his first game as a Rooster after making a rapid recovery from pre-season thumb surgery. Former Dragon Cody Ramsey is part of the six-man bench as he chases a first NRL appearance since late 2022.

Panthers: No late changes for the Panthers. Liam Martin is set to play his first game of the season after overcoming a calf complaint that he has battled for the past month. The representative back-rower's return will see Luke Garner shift to the bench. Utility Jack Cogger is set to miss the match after suffering a head knock last week, with Freddy Lussick the new man on the interchange. 

Numbers Game

• The Roosters have conceded 30 points or more in five of their past six games against the Panthers.
• The Panthers have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Roosters.
• Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored nine tries in his last five NRL games.
• Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards has scored a try in five of his last six games against the Roosters.
• Roosters five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans requires one try for a century of NRL tries.