The Toyota Forklift Raiders have gone down to the Broncos 29-18 in the round 26 clash at GIO Stadium, Canberra.
The loud and proud Viking clap from Raiders fans paid tribute to Jarrod Croker and Jack Wighton, as they played their last regular season home game for the club.
The Raiders were left to rue their early errors in the opening minutes of the game as the Broncos were gifted repeat sets on the Raiders try line.
The Broncos were able to capitalise with an early try to Selwyn Cobbo from a floating ball from Reece Walsh to open the scoring.
Kotoni Staggs struck the post in his attempted conversion leaving the scores at 4-0.
The Raiders soon found their feet as they continued to put pressure on the Broncos try line.
Corey Horsburgh was out for vengeance on his Queensland teammates, putting a shot on Corey Oates in his 200th NRL game after the twenty metre restart.
‘Big Red’ meant business once again, following up with another big hit to force a Broncos error on their try line.
Another set for the Raiders with the try line looming large posed a huge threat to score once again.
And that they did, after a half-break from Elliott Whitehead on the right edge of the field allowed him to free his arms for a supporting run from Matt Frawley to score the Raiders first try of the night.
The Raiders took the lead in the 19th minute thanks to a successful try conversion from Jamal Fogarty.
The game flowed back in the hands of Brisbane as they had possession of the ball on the Raiders try line again.
A hold up play from Walsh drew in two defenders as he offloaded the ball to Staggs who scored the Broncos second try of the game.
Some ill-discipline from Broncos edge-rower Kurt Capewell, gifted the Raiders possession in the Broncos half.
A break down the right-hand side for the Raiders from the scrum caught the Broncos out, with Elliott Whitehead handing the ball to Nic Cotric with plenty to do, but found the line in style.
Ezra Mam and the Broncos fired back immediately taking the lead once again through a dummy play opening up a gap to the try line.
The game just kept on giving, as a solo-run from Hudson Young created the attacking chance who then shrugged off Walsh to score his ninth try of the season.
Fogarty slotted the kick with ease tying the game up at 16-all to close out the first half.
The Raiders started as they meant to go on, putting the pressure on early in the second half.
An accidental offside from the Broncos enabled a penalty conversion for Fogarty to slot home and lead 18-16.
The Broncos managed to bounce back but only momentarily as the scramble defence from the Raiders proved too strong.
The Green Machine spirit was too much to handle once again as Staggs backed himself to the line only to be barraged over the sideline by four Raiders men.
The defence kept the Raiders in control of the game, keeping the Broncos at bay on multiple occasions.
A penalty helped the Raiders turn defence into attack immediately, going up the other end and left agonisingly close to the line after a sporadic run from Jack Wighton.
A try for the Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo in the 61st minute left the margin to just two points as the game ramped up.
Jordan Rapana was sent to the sin bin for a trip on Cobbo after a review by the bunker.
Cobbo was able to secure his hat-trick as the Broncos caught the Raiders with a lack of numbers, going over untouched in the corner.
After an unsuccessful challenge from the Raiders, the Broncos managed to go down the other end of the field and slot a field goal thanks to Walsh to lead 25-18.
Walsh managed to score a try late in the second half to extend their lead to 29-18.
The game ended in defeat to the Raiders as the full-time siren sounded.
