Rabbitohs ignore gift horse, Broncos' kicking game in need of work, Darius Boyd's sublime touch the difference as a brain explosion spoils strong showing from George Burgess.
Rabbitohs inexplicably ignore field goal shot
They may have felt aggrieved by the match-winning Anthony Milford field goal that appeared to be preceded by a knock-on but South Sydney gave away a golden opportunity to take the game into golden point extra-time by running the ball on the last play of the game.
After Thomas Burgess pushed his way through some tired Brisbane defence and with his team trailing 25-24, Cody Walker took the pass from Robbie Farah at dummy-half 10 metres out from the Broncos' line and sent the ball wide to the left rather than being in position to try and tie the game.
Walker had missed an earlier shot at field goal just to the left of the posts but passing to debutant Cameron Murray who sent it on to George Jennings on the sideline who was bundled into touch was not the right option.
There will undoubtedly be conjecture on a number of decisions made during the game but that decision by Walker was just as costly.
What they would have done to have had a fit Adam Reynolds on the field.
Broncos kicking game a major issue
It doesn't look to come naturally for two halves whose first instinct is most often to run but the Broncos need to somehow find a way to get more out of their kicking game prior to Ben Hunt's return from injury.
The combination of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima is two-from-two to start their union but both wins have come against teams outside the top eight and with very little reliance on their kicking game.
Milford (187 kick metres) took responsibility for the majority of the kicks in general play but outside one grubber that ricocheted into the path of Korbin Sims to score the Broncos No.6 struggled to get much purchase on kicks intended to go deep into South Sydney territory.
Nikorima (124 kick metres) sent his first kick of the night in the 17th minute well over the sideline on the full and while he looked dangerous challenging the Rabbitohs' line, needs to be able to offer a second option to Milford late in the tackle count.
Milford missed a field goal attempt with four minutes to play but made it up for it 90 seconds later with a left-foot snap that proved to be the match-winner.
While they got away with it on Friday night if they can't get it right it will come back to haunt them sooner rather than later.
Boyd torments Rabbitohs' right edge
With Billy Slater pressuring to regain the Kangaroos jersey he last wore in 2014, Darius Boyd showed for the second week in a row why he now owns the mantle as the No.1 custodian currently in the game.
Inspirational last week against the Titans, Boyd's passing on the Broncos sweep plays to the left provided two try-scoring opportunities for winger Corey Oates who completed both in spectacularly acrobatic fashion.
Oates with the acrobatics.
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2017
Boyd with the ball!#NRLSouthsBroncos#NRL pic.twitter.com/5pNkO6x4qV
His positional play is without fault and his composure in the absence of Hunt is proving the difference between narrow wins rather than heart-breaking losses.
Sims scores try that defies the rule book
He looked embarrassed to have had the ball land into his hands but Broncos prop Korbin Sims was only too happy to claim the credit when he scored a first half try that left commentators and fans scratching their heads.
Vision of the @brisbanebroncos Try decision in the 31st minute of #NRLSouthsBroncos.#NRL pic.twitter.com/3p9jz8Wjgz
— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) April 21, 2017
Leading 10-8 and attacking the Rabbitohs line, an Anthony Milford kick ricocheted off John Sutton's left leg and landed in the arms of Korbin Sims who was five metres further downfield who simply turned and fell over the try-line.
Suspecting Sims was 10m away from the ball when it crashed into Sutton's leg, referee Ashley Klein sent the decision to the Bunker as a try which was confirmed by the review officials.
One of those rare cases when it looked like he was offside, smelt like he was offside but turned out that he was onside.
George Burgess brain explosion ruins strong showing
Being a metre offside in a try-scoring opportunity aside, George Burgess was starting to look like the player again who destroyed the Bulldogs in the 2014 Grand Final, right up until he rushed out of the line to drop a shoulder into Anthony Milford after he passed the ball.
After a couple of discipline issues already this season it will almost certainly mean that he receives another charge from the match review committee with the potential for another couple of weeks on the sideline right when his team can ill afford it.
The Burgess boys, Sam, Thomas and George started a game together for the first time in 2017 and the result was a dominant South Sydney start that should have led to a 12-0 early lead to the home side.
After Damien Cook scored first only George being a step in front of the kicker stopped the Rabbitohs scoring a second yet that and his later hit on Milford were the only blots on what was an otherwise encouraging display.
Troubled by injury for much of the 2016 season, George has been guilty of some ill-disciplined outbursts already this season and a short stint in the lower grades but his energy, enthusiasm and powerful carries gave the Rabbitohs a great platform from which to attack.
George finished with 123m, Sam 199 and Thomas 129 but it may be a week or two before the trio get to play together again.
