The Brisbane Broncos' desperate bid to launch their title defence ended in frustration on Thursday night, as Parramatta staged a stunning comeback to claim a 40-32 victory at Suncorp Stadium. The defending premiers looked destined for victory after racing to a 20-6 lead inside 26 minutes, only to see the Eels score three tries in five minutes and take a 22-20 halftime advantage.
By the final whistle, the Eels had claimed their fifth win in their past six starts at the venue, capitalising on a destructive performance from stand-in second rower Kelma Tuilagi and excellent efforts from the spine, with Mitch Moses, Jonah Pezet and Isaiah Iongi leading the attacking frenzy. The loss leaves the defending premiers winless after two games.
The Broncos looked on song early, crossing twice in the first 10 minutes and leading 20-6 after 26 minutes, but let the Eels back in the contest with errors and penalties and were made to pay. The numbers told a damaging story. Despite having an 81 per cent completion rate, the home side still made 12 errors (to Eels five) and conceded eight penalties (to Eels three), regularly needing to defend back-to-back sets.
The turning point came through aerial pressure and handling errors. The Eels maintained their composure in the second half and capitalised on the Broncos being unable to handle a series of Jonah Pezet grubber kicks, leading to tries that sealed the win. Pezet bounced back from a difficult Eels debut the previous week to show his attacking prowess, with three try assists and two line break assists to go with his two tries, whilst missing just one tackle in defence.
For Brisbane, the collapse represented a repeat of Round 1 failings. Andrew Johns flagged completion and possession as decisive metrics from round one, observing that Broncos completed 61 per cent with 42 per cent of possession and the Eels pretty much similar. The message was clear before kick-off: early-season form demands control of territory and discipline, particularly in the opening 15 minutes of each half.
The Broncos had appeared to heed that advice. Their explosive start through fullback Reece Walsh and centre Kotoni Staggs suggested a team ready to regroup after being held scoreless by Penrith. But as fatigue crept in and the Eels' new playmaking combination found its rhythm, Brisbane's vulnerability in defence became exposed. With captain Adam Reynolds departing late with a rib injury, the hosts had no answer for Parramatta's sustained assault.
The result ensures both teams face uncomfortable questions early in the season. Parramatta, despite the victory, showed they can capitulate if pressure mounts (as witnessed against Melbourne). Brisbane, despite their talent depth, must address whether discipline and set completion will hold them back from defending their title.