
Concerns grow for NRL star Victor Radley after another head knock in Roosters' win over Newcastle
James Tedesco has inspired a 12-8 defeat of Newcastle, but his Sydney Roosters have cause for concern after Victor Radley suffered the latest in a long list of head knocks.
Hard-nosed forward Radley suffered his second game-ending head knock of the season attempting to tackle Fletcher Hunt in Saturday night's win in Newcastle.
Radley has one of the most extensive concussion histories in the NRL, estimated to have gone down with seven game-ending head knocks in the past four seasons.
He will miss at least next week's clash against North Queensland, but the Roosters have traditionally taken a conservative approach to players with a track record of concussions.
Errors meant the Roosters struggled for any kind of ascendancy in the first half, trailing 6-0 after Newcastle's Jack Cogger put Kyle McCarthy over on the back of a Dylan Lucas break.
But Tedesco stepped up in the second half and proved the difference between the two sides, missing a combined total of 17 players to injury, suspension and State of Origin duties.
At the 50-metre line, Tedesco broke through Kai Pearce-Paul and Jackson Hastings - playing his first game of the year - and reached around to find Salesi Foketi.
The up-and-coming forward grabbed Tedesco's one-handed offload and tore past Hunt and through James Schiller's tackle to score his first NRL try.
The try came the set after right winger Schiller went within inches of giving the Knights a three-score lead, only to drop the ball over the try-line.
A profane chant rang out from the Knights' home crowd after the Roosters' ultimately game-winning try, again set up by Tedesco.
The fullback put a grubber kick through the line and Siua Wong was ruled to have grounded the ball with his forearm.
Dom Young was seen embracing Roosters teammates at full-time of what was likely to be his final game for the club.
Right winger Young looked likeliest for the Roosters in the first half and is set to rejoin the Knights mid-season, possibly in time to face the Dolphins next week.
Out-of-favour Hastings was solid without having any moments of brilliance playing five-eighth in his first game for the injury-stricken Knights since July last year.
He looked particularly dangerous linking with Pearce-Paul on the right side.
But Hastings found himself caught with the ball on the fifth tackle inside the red zone in the second half, one of many times the Knights failed to capitalise on their many chances.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Advertiser
37 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Four-try Hammer's hand up to join Maroons fullback club
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has backed up his actions by declaring himself ready to be the next Queensland fullback as coach Billy Slater mulls his options for the State of Origin decider. Kalyn Ponga's foot injury suffered on Friday night has ruled the Newcastle No.1 out of next Wednesday's third game in Sydney. The contenders queued on Saturday, with 2024 custodian Reece Walsh in fine form for Brisbane before Dolphins whiz Tabuai-Fidow scored four times in his 100th NRL game to oust South Sydney. Walsh has battled soreness in his heavily strapped knee to stake his claims in what would be a straight swap with Ponga. But the other option would be to shift Tabuai-Fidow and call in North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi. Tabuai-Fidow has scored 11 tries in nine games for Queensland but played either centre or wing in all of those. Slater will name his squad on Monday, when they will again gather at their Sunshine Coast training base. "To have that No.1 on my back, would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after his sizzling milestone performance. "You think about the players that have worn that No.1 jersey (before me) and given it all. "It's a bit of chop and change (after playing centre and wing already this series) but I'm comfortable with it; it's my preferred and a good opportunity for me after playing fullback at club-land week in, week out." Walsh has played five Origins, all at fullback, and won the backing of his Broncos teammates after their third-straight win on Saturday. "His knee looked good, he's done the work, ready to go and there's an opportunity," Brisbane and Maroons forward Pat Carrigan said. "He's growing; he's still only 22 or whatever but he's playing tough for us and we're really appreciating what he's doing. "He does what he does and they try to nail him every week so I know he'll be up for it." Walsh copped some heavy attention in last year's Origin series and Blues prop Haas, fresh off playing alongside him on Saturday, said nothing would change if he was recalled. "It's State of Origin, you go after each other," he said. "One hundred per cent, he can do a job for them and he should be there." The Blues muted Queensland in an 18-6 win in Brisbane before the Maroons held off a NSW comeback to win 26-24 in Perth to level the series. "It'll be free flowing, the lungs will be burning and it'll be on," Carrigan said. "Decider footy, well and truly a cracking game." Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has backed up his actions by declaring himself ready to be the next Queensland fullback as coach Billy Slater mulls his options for the State of Origin decider. Kalyn Ponga's foot injury suffered on Friday night has ruled the Newcastle No.1 out of next Wednesday's third game in Sydney. The contenders queued on Saturday, with 2024 custodian Reece Walsh in fine form for Brisbane before Dolphins whiz Tabuai-Fidow scored four times in his 100th NRL game to oust South Sydney. Walsh has battled soreness in his heavily strapped knee to stake his claims in what would be a straight swap with Ponga. But the other option would be to shift Tabuai-Fidow and call in North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi. Tabuai-Fidow has scored 11 tries in nine games for Queensland but played either centre or wing in all of those. Slater will name his squad on Monday, when they will again gather at their Sunshine Coast training base. "To have that No.1 on my back, would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after his sizzling milestone performance. "You think about the players that have worn that No.1 jersey (before me) and given it all. "It's a bit of chop and change (after playing centre and wing already this series) but I'm comfortable with it; it's my preferred and a good opportunity for me after playing fullback at club-land week in, week out." Walsh has played five Origins, all at fullback, and won the backing of his Broncos teammates after their third-straight win on Saturday. "His knee looked good, he's done the work, ready to go and there's an opportunity," Brisbane and Maroons forward Pat Carrigan said. "He's growing; he's still only 22 or whatever but he's playing tough for us and we're really appreciating what he's doing. "He does what he does and they try to nail him every week so I know he'll be up for it." Walsh copped some heavy attention in last year's Origin series and Blues prop Haas, fresh off playing alongside him on Saturday, said nothing would change if he was recalled. "It's State of Origin, you go after each other," he said. "One hundred per cent, he can do a job for them and he should be there." The Blues muted Queensland in an 18-6 win in Brisbane before the Maroons held off a NSW comeback to win 26-24 in Perth to level the series. "It'll be free flowing, the lungs will be burning and it'll be on," Carrigan said. "Decider footy, well and truly a cracking game." Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has backed up his actions by declaring himself ready to be the next Queensland fullback as coach Billy Slater mulls his options for the State of Origin decider. Kalyn Ponga's foot injury suffered on Friday night has ruled the Newcastle No.1 out of next Wednesday's third game in Sydney. The contenders queued on Saturday, with 2024 custodian Reece Walsh in fine form for Brisbane before Dolphins whiz Tabuai-Fidow scored four times in his 100th NRL game to oust South Sydney. Walsh has battled soreness in his heavily strapped knee to stake his claims in what would be a straight swap with Ponga. But the other option would be to shift Tabuai-Fidow and call in North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi. Tabuai-Fidow has scored 11 tries in nine games for Queensland but played either centre or wing in all of those. Slater will name his squad on Monday, when they will again gather at their Sunshine Coast training base. "To have that No.1 on my back, would be super special for me," Tabuai-Fidow said after his sizzling milestone performance. "You think about the players that have worn that No.1 jersey (before me) and given it all. "It's a bit of chop and change (after playing centre and wing already this series) but I'm comfortable with it; it's my preferred and a good opportunity for me after playing fullback at club-land week in, week out." Walsh has played five Origins, all at fullback, and won the backing of his Broncos teammates after their third-straight win on Saturday. "His knee looked good, he's done the work, ready to go and there's an opportunity," Brisbane and Maroons forward Pat Carrigan said. "He's growing; he's still only 22 or whatever but he's playing tough for us and we're really appreciating what he's doing. "He does what he does and they try to nail him every week so I know he'll be up for it." Walsh copped some heavy attention in last year's Origin series and Blues prop Haas, fresh off playing alongside him on Saturday, said nothing would change if he was recalled. "It's State of Origin, you go after each other," he said. "One hundred per cent, he can do a job for them and he should be there." The Blues muted Queensland in an 18-6 win in Brisbane before the Maroons held off a NSW comeback to win 26-24 in Perth to level the series. "It'll be free flowing, the lungs will be burning and it'll be on," Carrigan said. "Decider footy, well and truly a cracking game."


The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hammer time as Dolphins soar back into NRL top eight
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has delivered a fullback masterclass with a four-try haul in the Dolphins' 50-28 defeat of South Sydney. The No.1 ran amok in his 100th NRL game as the Dolphins reached 50 points for the third time in four games and consigned the Rabbitohs to a fifth straight loss. Halfback Isaiya Katoa had four try assists, while Tabuai-Fidow's display was timely on the day incumbent Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of next Wednesday's State of Origin decider with a foot injury. Tabuai-Fidow played wing in the Maroons' series-levelling victory but, after 11 tries in nine Origin games on the flanks, has done all he can to show coach Billy Slater he's ready to wear the No.1. "I know he'd do a great job," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said of his man potentially wearing the Queensland No.1. "But that wouldn''t have been his motivation tonight; he's just such a genuine guy I think he wasn't really happy with himself last week (in a loss to Newcastle). "I could tell he wanted to make amends for that. Playing 100 games, coming off a loss, playing in front of his family - that's what he'd be concerned about." Victory pushed the Dolphins (8-8) into the top eight but came at a cost, with Kodi Nikorima limping off with an apparent hamstring injury. Cody Walker (hamstring) also failed to finish in his injury comeback, the playmaker's latest soft tissue complaint adding salt to the Rabbitohs' wounds. The Rabbitohs started brilliantly when Latrell Mitchell sliced through and somehow offloaded for Jack Wighton's try. It was all the Dolphins after that, Jeremy Marshall-King raiding from dummy-half to score, then Katoa exploding through the line and producing a no-look assist for Tabuai-Fidow. The pair combined again in similar fashion, with only a desperate Jamie Humphries tripping up the Dolphins fullback as he pinned his ears back for the line. Herbie Farnworth had more joy, though, finding open space before Katoa floated a pass perfectly for Nikorima to score. Katoa tantalised again with a pinpoint pass that dragged the Rabbitohs' defensive line out of shape, Farnworth's quick offload setting up Jake Averillo. Nikorima limped off but the Dolphins weren't done, Averillo trickling a kick back in-field that was scooped up by Tabuai-Fidow to create a 30-6 halftime lead. The No.1 completed his hat-trick when he picked up another loose ball spilled in a marking contest to seemingly kill the contest with 30 minutes still on the clock. But Walker stepped through to create a try for Tallis Duncan and stop the rot, and the visitors had their tails up when that pair combined again to give the back-rower a double before Walker felt for his leg. Tabuai-Fidow settled it once and for all, stripping Davvy Moale on his own 30-metre line, darting sideways into space, then cruising uninterrupted for a fourth try. Wighton and Moale still had time for four-pointers, while rookie Aublix Tawha was reported and earnt the ire of Mitchell after tackling him before he'd caught a high ball. The Dolphins had the final say, Kurt Donoghoe snatching a Humphries intercept as the Dolphins raised the bat again. "We just lost control of it, totally," Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said. "This season, the challenges have been on our doorstep everyday. "I'm not frustrated by it, not angry by it. "Just accept the reality of it and right now trying to build a team that believes in itself and we're not there yet." Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has delivered a fullback masterclass with a four-try haul in the Dolphins' 50-28 defeat of South Sydney. The No.1 ran amok in his 100th NRL game as the Dolphins reached 50 points for the third time in four games and consigned the Rabbitohs to a fifth straight loss. Halfback Isaiya Katoa had four try assists, while Tabuai-Fidow's display was timely on the day incumbent Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of next Wednesday's State of Origin decider with a foot injury. Tabuai-Fidow played wing in the Maroons' series-levelling victory but, after 11 tries in nine Origin games on the flanks, has done all he can to show coach Billy Slater he's ready to wear the No.1. "I know he'd do a great job," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said of his man potentially wearing the Queensland No.1. "But that wouldn''t have been his motivation tonight; he's just such a genuine guy I think he wasn't really happy with himself last week (in a loss to Newcastle). "I could tell he wanted to make amends for that. Playing 100 games, coming off a loss, playing in front of his family - that's what he'd be concerned about." Victory pushed the Dolphins (8-8) into the top eight but came at a cost, with Kodi Nikorima limping off with an apparent hamstring injury. Cody Walker (hamstring) also failed to finish in his injury comeback, the playmaker's latest soft tissue complaint adding salt to the Rabbitohs' wounds. The Rabbitohs started brilliantly when Latrell Mitchell sliced through and somehow offloaded for Jack Wighton's try. It was all the Dolphins after that, Jeremy Marshall-King raiding from dummy-half to score, then Katoa exploding through the line and producing a no-look assist for Tabuai-Fidow. The pair combined again in similar fashion, with only a desperate Jamie Humphries tripping up the Dolphins fullback as he pinned his ears back for the line. Herbie Farnworth had more joy, though, finding open space before Katoa floated a pass perfectly for Nikorima to score. Katoa tantalised again with a pinpoint pass that dragged the Rabbitohs' defensive line out of shape, Farnworth's quick offload setting up Jake Averillo. Nikorima limped off but the Dolphins weren't done, Averillo trickling a kick back in-field that was scooped up by Tabuai-Fidow to create a 30-6 halftime lead. The No.1 completed his hat-trick when he picked up another loose ball spilled in a marking contest to seemingly kill the contest with 30 minutes still on the clock. But Walker stepped through to create a try for Tallis Duncan and stop the rot, and the visitors had their tails up when that pair combined again to give the back-rower a double before Walker felt for his leg. Tabuai-Fidow settled it once and for all, stripping Davvy Moale on his own 30-metre line, darting sideways into space, then cruising uninterrupted for a fourth try. Wighton and Moale still had time for four-pointers, while rookie Aublix Tawha was reported and earnt the ire of Mitchell after tackling him before he'd caught a high ball. The Dolphins had the final say, Kurt Donoghoe snatching a Humphries intercept as the Dolphins raised the bat again. "We just lost control of it, totally," Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said. "This season, the challenges have been on our doorstep everyday. "I'm not frustrated by it, not angry by it. "Just accept the reality of it and right now trying to build a team that believes in itself and we're not there yet." Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has delivered a fullback masterclass with a four-try haul in the Dolphins' 50-28 defeat of South Sydney. The No.1 ran amok in his 100th NRL game as the Dolphins reached 50 points for the third time in four games and consigned the Rabbitohs to a fifth straight loss. Halfback Isaiya Katoa had four try assists, while Tabuai-Fidow's display was timely on the day incumbent Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of next Wednesday's State of Origin decider with a foot injury. Tabuai-Fidow played wing in the Maroons' series-levelling victory but, after 11 tries in nine Origin games on the flanks, has done all he can to show coach Billy Slater he's ready to wear the No.1. "I know he'd do a great job," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said of his man potentially wearing the Queensland No.1. "But that wouldn''t have been his motivation tonight; he's just such a genuine guy I think he wasn't really happy with himself last week (in a loss to Newcastle). "I could tell he wanted to make amends for that. Playing 100 games, coming off a loss, playing in front of his family - that's what he'd be concerned about." Victory pushed the Dolphins (8-8) into the top eight but came at a cost, with Kodi Nikorima limping off with an apparent hamstring injury. Cody Walker (hamstring) also failed to finish in his injury comeback, the playmaker's latest soft tissue complaint adding salt to the Rabbitohs' wounds. The Rabbitohs started brilliantly when Latrell Mitchell sliced through and somehow offloaded for Jack Wighton's try. It was all the Dolphins after that, Jeremy Marshall-King raiding from dummy-half to score, then Katoa exploding through the line and producing a no-look assist for Tabuai-Fidow. The pair combined again in similar fashion, with only a desperate Jamie Humphries tripping up the Dolphins fullback as he pinned his ears back for the line. Herbie Farnworth had more joy, though, finding open space before Katoa floated a pass perfectly for Nikorima to score. Katoa tantalised again with a pinpoint pass that dragged the Rabbitohs' defensive line out of shape, Farnworth's quick offload setting up Jake Averillo. Nikorima limped off but the Dolphins weren't done, Averillo trickling a kick back in-field that was scooped up by Tabuai-Fidow to create a 30-6 halftime lead. The No.1 completed his hat-trick when he picked up another loose ball spilled in a marking contest to seemingly kill the contest with 30 minutes still on the clock. But Walker stepped through to create a try for Tallis Duncan and stop the rot, and the visitors had their tails up when that pair combined again to give the back-rower a double before Walker felt for his leg. Tabuai-Fidow settled it once and for all, stripping Davvy Moale on his own 30-metre line, darting sideways into space, then cruising uninterrupted for a fourth try. Wighton and Moale still had time for four-pointers, while rookie Aublix Tawha was reported and earnt the ire of Mitchell after tackling him before he'd caught a high ball. The Dolphins had the final say, Kurt Donoghoe snatching a Humphries intercept as the Dolphins raised the bat again. "We just lost control of it, totally," Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said. "This season, the challenges have been on our doorstep everyday. "I'm not frustrated by it, not angry by it. "Just accept the reality of it and right now trying to build a team that believes in itself and we're not there yet."


The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Walsh makes Origin case as Broncos pip wounded Warriors
An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer. An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer. An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer.