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Brisbane centre and former Redcliffe junior Kotoni Staggs scored a length-of-the-field try to seal a stunning 18-12 win over the gallant Dolphins in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium crowd in the first derby clash in the Queensland capital in 27 years.
With local pride on the line in the clash dubbed the “Battle of Brisbane”, the NRL new boys suffered a huge blow when halfback Sean O’Sullivan sustained a suspected torn pectoral in the 61st minute but they refused to relent.
The Broncos led 8-0 just after halftime through tries to Jesse Arthars and Selwyn Cobbo, created by the speed and vision of fullback Reece Walsh.
But then Broncos back-rower Kurt Capewell sprinted 45m to score and skipper Adam Reynolds landed the sideline conversion to set up a thrilling conclusion.
The Dolphins had a late chance to win it but Staggs snaffled a Milford grubberkick on his tryline to race away and score a 77th-minute match-sealer.
It was the first Brisbane derby since the Broncos played South Queensland Crushers at the same venue in 1996.
The clash already had narratives you could not script. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett up against the Broncos where he won six titles as a coach and now helmed by Kevin Walters, who won five titles under Bennett.
Before the kick-off another storyline emerged with Milford called up by Bennett to replace the injured No.6 Isaiya Katoa.
Milford became the seventh former Bronco in the Dolphins side.
The crowd of 51,047 was the biggest in history at Suncorp Stadium for a stand-alone club game.
The first half had fire, brimstone, passion and 19 errors. The contact was intense and the players to a man tried perhaps too hard.
Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert, a zealot for his team’s cause, got in Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds’ face when he made a mistake with an intense rant.
Walsh, who came up with a try-saver on Dolphins winger Tesi Niu, has given the Broncos an extra dimension in attack with his blistering speed and passing game
Dolphins utility Kodi Nikorima came off the bench but he was soon ruled out with concussion with blood streaming from a cut above his eye.
It ultimately left the Dolphins with no recognised playmaker other than Milford for the final quarter of the match as the Broncos finished on top.
Well, 2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.
Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …
But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.
So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. By supporting the Guardian from just $2 per month, we will be able to continue our mission to pursue the truth in all corners of the world.
With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.
Happy new year!