The Brisbane Broncos may have won the game but the big talking point is the possible MCL injury to North Queensland Cowboys powerhouse, Jason Taumalolo.
Coming off a tremendous individual performance in the opening round, many anticipated that Taumalolo was primed to do it again.
Sadly, that did not happen, as around the halfway point of the first half, he suffered a knee injury, potentially an MCL.
Although the severity is unknown, Cowboys coach Paul Green says he does not know the extent of it just yet.
“I’m not going to speculate until we find out exactly what we’re dealing with,” Green said.
“He’s got a medial issue. Don’t know how bad it is yet.”
Ultimately, Taumalolo or not, it was the Broncos who had most of the running and ascendancy in this now fierce rivalry.
Tevita Pangai Jr. kickstarted what was a sublime performance with a strong run that led to Jack Bird and Corey Oates to combine.
The winger scoring his 46th try at Suncorp Stadium to open the scoring.
There was just one other try scored in the first half and that belonged to centre James Roberts.
A crossfield kick saw Jamayne Isaako fly highest to bat the ball down for Roberts to score.
The second half began and in just a short eight minutes, it was all she wrote with no chance of comeback for the Cowboys.
Second tries for James Roberts and Corey Oates and a bulldozing effort by Pangai Jr. all but sealed the Broncos win.
It was Pangai Jr.’s try that had many taking note, however, with many already picking him as a potential NSW Origin candidate.
There were two late consolations for the Cowboys through Jordan Kahu and and Justin O’Neill, although that is all they were.
In the end, the Cowboys were soundly beaten and have some work to do if they are to go toe-to-toe with the big guns.
Green admits that his Cowboys side were just physically dominated and never recovered from there.
“Early in there physically, we just weren’t in the contest and we didn’t go with them,” Green said.
“They beat us to the punch early. Physically, they got on top and we just weren’t prepared to go with them.
“At the back-end of the game, we showed a bit of impact when we decided to go forward.”
The challenge has been set for Pangai Jr. by Broncos coach Anthony Seibold; it is time to play like this every week and be consistent.
“Tevita was really good,” Seibold said.
“He started from the bench last week and was probably a bit disappointed to start from the bench, so he made every post a winner tonight. I thought he was very dominant in the first half which was pleasing.”
“The challenge for ‘T’ is to be consistent and back that up week-in and week-out.
“I just want to see him reach his potential and be the best version of himself as a footy player.
“He has done a lot of hard work, and the performance staff have done a really good job to get him in the physical shape that he is in. ”
NRL News Player of the Game
3. Tevita Pangai Jr.
2. Thomas Flegler
- Corey Oates