Round 5
Sydney Roosters 24 l. Brisbane Broncos 28

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Winterstein Stars As Broncos Hang On For Victory
Sat April 11, 2009
Source: www.broncos.com.au

Antonio Winterstein has had a triumphant return to the Sydney Football Stadium with a two-try performance against the Sydney Roosters.

The 20-year-old rookie, who played under-20s for the Roosters last season, scored a scintillating solo try and finished off another as the WOW Brisbane Broncos went to the top of the NRL ladder with a 28-24 victory.

After the match went almost the complete first half without a point being scored, the Broncos extended away in the second 40 minutes to secure the two competition points.

But it was not without a fright as the Roosters scored two tries in the final few minutes, something that displeased coach Ivan Henjak.

Henjak deemed the late collapse 'unacceptable for Broncos players.'

The super individual try to Logan Brothers product Winterstein ? against his old club the Roosters ? gave the Broncos the start they wanted in the second half.

Put clear down the left touchline, Winterstein fended away Mitchell Pearce and then zapped diagonally across filed to beat Sam Perrett and score under the posts.

Corey Parker kicked the goal from in front and the Broncos led 12-0.

Ten minutes into the second half the Broncos were in again after the Roosters turned over the ball.

From the next play the ball went wide to Dave Taylor, the young prop throwing a five-eighth-like double cut-out ball to an unmarked Steve Michaels,

Parker obliged with the goal from near the sideline and it was 18-0.

The Roosters should have scored in the 56th minute when Braith Anasta missed an unmarked Willie Mason on his inside and kicked ahead instead.

But Anasta made up for that on the next attack, falling on a tiny grubber of his own to score the Roosters first try.

Craig Fitzgibbon kicked the conversion and it was 18-6 with 21 minutes remaining.

But Winterstein was doing his best to snuff out the fortunes of his old club, a backline move allowing him to sneak down the wing for his second. Parker missed the goal but it was 22-6 in the 64th minute.

An unusual mistake from Peter Wallace, who knocked on from the kick-off, put the Roosters in position to strike back immediately, with Sam Perrett stepping his way over.

Fitzgibbon slotted again and it was 22-12.

But the Broncos exposed the Roosters' right-side defence again, the same backline move giving Hunt the space to dummy between defenders and force his way over.

Parked banged another goal from the sideline and it was 28-12 with 10 left.

Mitchell Pearce scored a long-range try with five minutes and then Willie Mason ran a strong line to go over and set up the monster finish with two minutes remaining.

Earlier, both sides missed try-scoring opportunities in the first 30 minutes.

Justin Hodges went close but couldn't ground a Karmichael Hunt grubber while Roosters half Mitchell Pearce kicked ahead for himself but didn't handle the regather over the Broncos' line.

Roosters and Queensland forward Nate Myles was placed on report for a dangerous action when his boot struck Corey Parker in the face at the ruck.

It took 36 minutes to break the stalemate and it was Hunt who did it.

Peter Wallace jabbed a short chip over the Roosters' defence and Willie Mason couldn't handle it, Hunt picking up the scraps for a 6-0 lead.

Darren Lockyer had a shot at field goal 20 seconds before the break, but the kick was wonky and the Broncos went into the sheds a converted try in front.

BRISBANE BRONCOS 26 (A Winterstein 2, K Hunt 2, S Michaels tries; C Parker 4 goals) defeated SYDNEY ROOSTERS 22 (W Mason, B Anasta, M Pearce, S Perrett tries: B Anasta 2, C Fitzgibbon 2 goals) at Sydney Football Stadium.
Referees: Gavin Badger and Matt Ceccin.
Crowd: 18,464

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