The Canberra Raiders have suffered a disappointing 24-18 loss to the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite the loss, Joseph Tapine was great once again, running for 240 metres, producing six offloads and four tackle breaks.
Both sides looked promising early with some great carries and defensive plays but it was the Broncos who opened the scoring in the ninth minute.
Off the back of a penalty and a few set restarts, Ezra Mam crossed over for the first try of the match. Reynolds converted from the left side of the post to put the Broncos up 6-0.
The Broncos came close to scoring again off the back of a Raiders error but failed to capitalise. This gave the Raiders their first attacking set of the game after a set restart but they also could not cross over the line.
The Raiders then capitalised on a few set restarts of their own to score their first try of the match in the 17th minute. Nick Cotric was able to win the aerial contest off a Jamal Fogarty bomb in the left corner. Fogarty converted to bring the game to 6-6.
It didn't take long for the Broncos to hit back after being gifted great field position from another error.
It was a great bit of individual brilliance from Brenko Lee off the scrum who put Jordan Pereira over in the right corner. Reynolds converted once again to put the Broncos back in front by six points in the 22nd minute.
Corey Horsburgh was able to hit back for the green machine, outmuscling the Broncos forwards on the way to the tryline. Fogarty converted to tie the scores once again at 12-12.
The Raiders came close to scoring back-to-back tries in the following set as Tapine made a great run to then offload the ball to Savage but they failed to take the lead.
The Raiders looked to have gained momentum in the match and looked dangerous but it was the Broncos who were able to score the next try. A great left side play put Herbie Farnworth in open space who won the footrace to the tryline. Reynolds missed his first conversion of the night as the Broncos took a 16-12 lead.
The Broncos had wrestled back momentum following the try but gave away a penalty which invited the Raiders into their territory.
The Raiders then produced one of the tries of the year as the ball found six pairs of hands before a Papalii double pump pass allowed Adam Elliott to score in the 38th minute. Fogarty converted which put the Raiders up 18-16 at half-time.
The Raiders lead was short-lived as the Broncos opened the second half scoring in the 43rd minute.
Ezra Mam was able to offload the ball to Farnworth who scored his second try of the night, with Reynolds converting to put the Broncos back in front 22-18.
The Broncos came close to scoring another try in the opening minutes of the second half but a great try-saving tackle from James Schiller stopped Corey Oates from crossing over.
The Broncos created more chances but the Raiders were able to hold them out with some terrific goal line defence.
The next scoring play came in the 55th minute as the Broncos kicked a penalty goal to extend their lead 24-18.
Matthew Timoko created a chance for the green machine with some individual brilliance but failed to win the foot race to the tryline.
Jack Wighton also came close to scoring in the 65th minute but he was held up by some great scramble defence from the Broncos.
The Raiders kept creating chances through some terrific offloading and scoots from Tom Starling from dummy half as they looked to tie the game in the final 10 minutes.
The Broncos forced an error from the Raiders and earned some great field position but it was Tom Starling who came up with a great one-on-one steal in the 72nd minute.
The Raiders then earned a repeat set off a great kick from Fogarty and set up a right sided play but couldn't execute.
The Raiders kept trying to chance their arm, shifting it early and contesting kicks but the Broncos defence proved too good for the Raiders attack.
The Broncos held on to defeat the Raiders 24-18 at home. The Raiders will return home to take on the Knights at GIO Stadium next Sunday.
