As it happened: Injured Reynolds lifts Broncos; Dolphins, Eels claim first wins

Adam Reynolds inspired the Broncos to their fourth win of the season before sending an injury scare into the Brisbane camp when he came from the field with a hamstring injury.

Reynolds gave the Broncos an unlikely 14-12 lead at halftime with a two-point field goal as the siren sounded after Wests Tigers had dominated the opening stanza.

The veteran playmaker then scored a sensational individual try after chipping and regathering in a blistering start to the second half by the Broncos.

However, he immediately clutched at his hamstring after converting the try and came from the field in the 46th minute.

Reynolds later told Fox League: "It feels alright, just a little bit tight now. I felt a grab, so I'll do all of the necessary stuff after the game, get a scan tomorrow and make sure it is all good, but I am pretty confident I will be there next week".  

The Broncos went on with the job to win 46-24 but Wests Tigers, who were missing Jarome Luai and also lost their halfback Latu Fainu after a headknock, never gave up.

80th min: Walsh kicked a penalty goal after Toa was sinbinned for a professional foul. Broncos 46 Wests Tigers 24 

76th min: Starford Toa scored his second try. Broncos 44 Wests Tigers 24

70th min: Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki scored after Jayden Hunt regathered a Reece Walsh bomb and offloaded near the line. Walsh converted. Broncos 44 Wests Tigers 18

Crowd: 41,011

65th min: The Broncos reported that Reynolds had treatment on his hamstring and was back on the bench but unlikely to return.

61st min: Back-to-back Broncos tries to Arthars and Billy Walters all but ended the contest. Reece Walsh took over the goalkicking duties in the absence of Reynolds. Broncos 28 Tigers 18

52nd min: Tigers interchange prop Sione Fainu showed great footwork for a big man to score and keep the visitor in the game. Koroisau converted. Broncos 26 Tigers 18 

50th min: Wests Tigers also lost their halfback Latu Fainu after he collected the hip of Kotoni Staggs attempting a tackle in the second half. Fainu was deemed a Category 1 HIA and ruled out of the game.

46th min: Reynolds came from the field after grabbing at his hamstring as he kicked the conversion. 

45th min: Reynolds turned back the clock after chipping over the defence and racing through to regather the ball as it bounced up perfectly for him to run away and score. Broncos 26 Tigers 12

42nd min: Hunt ensured the best possible start for the Broncos with an early 40/20 kick and Willison scored his second try from close range before Wests Tigers had a set in possession. Broncos 20 Wests Tigers 12

Halftime summary: Wests Tigers were the better team for most of the opening 40 minutes and scored three tries to two but goalkicking and the boot of Adam Reynolds enabled the Broncos to go to the break in front.

The enthusiasm of the Tigers defence has put the Broncos under pressure, forcing seven first half errors, six penalties and two set re-starts for ruck infringements.

With star playmaker Jarome Luai suspended, Wests Tigers have the youngest halves in the competition against the second oldest in NRL history but Lachlan Galvin and Latu Fainu were far from overawed.

Galvin ran the ball 16 times and Fainu eight, compared to eight runs by Reynolds and five by Ben Hunt, as the Tigers showed they were prepared to chance their arm.

40th min: Reynolds kicked a two point field goal. Wests Tigers 14 Broncos 12

37th min: Xavier Willison managed to reach out and score from close range with his long arms poking through the defence to level the scores after the Adam Reynolds conversion. Broncos 12 Tigers 12.

33rd min: Right centre Starford Toa put the visitors further ahead after the ball was shifted wide through Bula. Doueihi missed the conversion. Tigers 12 Broncos 6 

29th min: Adam Doueihi had to sprint back to stop a long Reece Walsh goal line drop out from going over the dead ball line but a long pass to Terrell May created space for fullback Jahream Bula to slice between the defence before putting Turuva over in the corner. Wests Tigers 8 Broncos 6

28th min: The Tigers forced a goal line drop out after Galvin kicked early in the tackle count and Cobbo was driven back into his own in-goal.

25th min: Ben Hunt appeared destined to score for the 12-man Broncos but a desperate tackle by Sunia Turuva and Galvin caused him to lose the ball over the line.

20th min: Staggs saved a certain try by dislodging the ball in a tackle as  Laulilii dived across the line.

19th min: Broncos forward Brendan Piakura has been sinbinned for a high shot on Wests Tigers prop Terrell May.

15th min: The Tigers have hit back through rookie winger Luke Laulilii, the youngest player in the NRL, after five-eighth Lachlan Galvin placed a perfectly weighted grubber behind Katoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo for the 18-year-old to pounce. Api Koroisau missed the sideline conversion. Broncos 6 Tigers 4 

6th min: Jesse Arthurs opened the scoring after Brisbane's veteran halves pairing combined, with Adam Reynolds passing to Ben Hunt, who grubbered into the in-goal for the Kiwi winger to dive on the ball in-goal. Broncos 6-0

Late Mail

Broncos: Jaiyden Hunt is set for his first NRL game of the year after being named on the bench following Jordan Riki's suspension. The forward's absence will see Brendan Piakura start in the second row. No late changes for the Broncos, with Martin Taupau the 18th man.

Wests Tigers: Samuela Fainu has been ruled out of the clash with a leg injury, with Jack Bird shifting from the bench to the starting side in Friday's team update. Tony Sukkar comes on to the bench in jumper No.22, with Heath Mason the 18th man. Centre Adam Doueihi will play despite his late withdrawal due to a groin strain in the warm-up last Sunday. Emerging playmaker Latu Fainu will wear the No.7 jumper after Jarome Luai accepted a one-game suspension, while teenager Luke Laulilii will start on the wing. 

 

Titans v Dolphins at Cbus Super Stadium

Tongan halfback Isaiya Katoa spearheaded the Dolphins to their first win of the season with a five-star performance as they downed the Titans 36-10 at Cbus Super Stadium.

Katoa laid on the final try of the match for winger Jamayne Isaako, who scored 20 points to help the Dolphins climb above four-time premiers Penrith on the NRL ladder ahead of their clash next weekend.

He also ran a team-high 192 metres and continually troubled the Titans defence, while five-eighth Kodi Nikorima also played an influential role and fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow enjoyed his best game of the season.

74th min: A third Isaako penalty goal has all but guaranteed the Dolphins their first win of the season. Dolphins 30 Titans 10.

70th min: Gold Coast fans are daring to dream of a comeback win after five-eighth AJ Brimson grubbered for himself and regathered to score. Campbell converted. Dolphins 28 Titans 10

66th min: Sami finally got the Titans on the board when he scored in the corner but Campbell missed the conversion attempt. Dolphins 28 Titans 4

Crowd: 13,167

64th min: Connelly Lemuelu put the Dolphins further ahead after Nikorima put Kaufusi into a hole and he managed an offload for the former Cowboys backrower. Dolphins 28-0

60th min: Plath scored his third try of the season after cleaning up the crumbs from a spilled Kodi Nikorima kick by Fermor, which was tapped back by winger Jack Bostock. Isaako converted to bring up the Dolphins' 500th point since joining the NRL in 2023. Dolphins 22-0

54th min: Rookie Titans fullback Jaylan De Groot thought he had scored his first NRL try only for it to be disallowed after Klese Haase was deemed to have obstructed Stone from attempting a tackle.

53rd min: Dolphins forward Max Plath was placed on report for a late tackle on Titans halfback Jayden Campbell after he kicked. 

Halftime summary: The Dolphins are well in control against a Titans team who don't look a patch on the one who beat the Roosters last weekend. Offloads are an area where the Dolphins appear to be troubling the Titans with Daniel Saifiti, Isaiya Katoa, Jeremy Marshall-King and Josh Kerr each producing two offloads. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has run 139 metres at fullback for the Titans 

40th min: Isaako narrowly missed with a long-range field goal attempt on halftime.

36th min: Isaako kicked a second penalty goal after Fa'asuamaleaui knocked the ball from the grasp of Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa as he got up to play the ball following a darting run near the Titans line. Dolphins 16-0

31st min: Dolphins interchange forward Ray Stone has been sent to the sin-bin for a high shot on Titans second-rower Beau Fermor. 

25th min: Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti charged over for a try off dummy half Jeremy Marshall-King after Titans winger Tony Francis turned the ball over with a knock-on in the play-the-ball. Isaako converted. Dolphins 14-0

20th min: The Titans have burned their captain's challenge after winger Philip Sami was tackled in-goal and conceded a penalty for Brian Kelly being offside from the drop out. Isaako kicked a penalty goal. Dolphins 8-0

10th min: The Dolphins have been throwing the ball around to try to take advantage of the one-man overlap and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored his first try of the season from long range. Dolphins centre Jake Averillo drifted across field and turned Tabuai-Fidow back inside for a 60-metre run to the tryline. Jamayne Isaako kicked his 400th NRL goal. Dolphins 6-0

2nd min: Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has been sent to the sinbin after a high tackle on Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi.

Late Mail

Titans: Late changes for Des Hasler with David Fifita to start the game with Beau Fermor shifting to the centres and Phil Sami to the wing in the absence of Jojo Fifita (corked thigh). Youngster Arama Hau comes on the bench in place of Jacob Alick-Wiencke who has been omitted. 

Dolphins: Mark Nicholls comes into the starting side, Felise Kaufusi goes to lock and Connelly Lemuelu to the bench in his return from a fractured eye socket. Josh Kerr has been added to the bench in jersey No.19 with Kenny Bromwich dropping out.

Eels v Dragons at CommBank Stadium

Full-time: A stunning performance by Zac Lomax against his former club with 20 runs for 188 metres, five goals and the match-winning field goal. Young fullback Isaiah Iongi also starred with 200 run metres while Clint Gutherson bagged a double and 157 run metres for the Dragons. Dylan Brown stood tall for the Eels with 164 run metres, 1 line break, 1 try assist and 3 tackle breaks.

84 min: Lachlan Ilias kicks out on the full for the Dragons and Zac Lomax nails a sweetly struck field goal from 25 metres out to hand the Eels their first win of the season with a 23-22 golden point thriller. 

82 min: An ankle tap by Moses Suli brings Sean Russell down just as the Eels winger looked to set sail for the tryline.

Full-time: The deadlock can't be broken and we head to golden point for the first time in 2025.

79 min: Val Holmes launches a long range shot of his own but misses and the Eels come away.

79 min: The Eels take a long range shot at field goal through Zac Lomax but he is well wide and it remains 22-22.

75 min: Zac Lomax nails a 43-metre penalty goal to tie the scores up at 22-22. Dragons lock Jack de Belin was penalised and put on report for a dangerous tackle, giving Lomax the shot.

72 min: An ambitious long pass from Isaiah Iongi to Sean Russell goes astray and the Dragons go on the attack with Tyrell Sloan getting over in the corner but the bunker rules his foot went into touch and the try is denied. 22-20

67 min: A great cover tackle by Isaiah Iongi on Clint Gutherson denies the Dragons skipper a third try but the Red V earn a repeat set with a grubber and the Eels put the line dropout out on the full to hand Val Holmes an easy two point. Dragons 22-20.

61 min: A good hit by Ryley Smith on Val Holmes forces a mistake and the Eels come up with another try after Christian Tuipulotu makes a mess of a Dean Hawkins bomb and Kitione Kautoga picks up the scraps to score. Zac Lomax's conversion levels the scores at 20-20.

57 min: The Eels hit back through fullback Isaiah Iongi who shows great speed to slice through from 10 metres out. Zac Lomax converts. 20-14.

45 min: Dean Hawkins (high contact) and Will Penisini (hip drop) are both spoken to by the referee after a tackle on Luciano Leilua. The Dragons go on the attack and Clint Gutherson burrows over from dummy half to complete the 19th double of his career. Val Holmes converts to make it 20-8.

43 min: The Dragons get an early chance to extend their lead but Clint Gutherson's last pass goes astray and rolls into touch.

Half-time: Eels prop Junior Paulo racked up 97 metres from 10 runs to top the metres made chart in a tight opening 40 minutes. The Eels came up with four line breaks to the Dragons' two but could only muster the one try. Both sides came up with five errors.

40 min: The Eels launch a late raid down the right and Kitione Kautoga kicks back inside with Lachlan Ilias back in cover to clean it up.

35 min: A sweep to the left puts Christian Tuipulotu over in the corner for the Dragons' second try and Val Holmes converts for a 14-8 lead.

33 min: Val Holmes cleans up a kick in the corner and the Dragons get a relieving penalty when  Kitione Kautoga is penalised for a second effort to drag him into touch.

25 min: A time violation penalty against the Dragons for failing to pack a scrum gives the Eels a full set inside the Red Zone and Josh Addo-Carr crosses in the corner after some nice lead-up by Isaiah Iongi. A superb sideline conversion from Zac Lomax locks it up at 8-8.

23 min: An escort penalty against Shaun Lane hands Val Holmes a shot at goal and he bangs it over for an 8-2 Dragons lead.

17 min: A great moment for Clint Gutherson in his first game against his former club when he takes a pass from Val Holmes and gets through three tackles on a 15-metre run to the tryline. Holmes converts for a 6-2 lead.

12 min: A penalty against Clint Gutherson for a ball strip gives the Eels great field position and they get a six-again call but a forward pass brings the movement unstuck.

10 min: The Dragons throw away their captain's challenge after Christian Tuipulotu was ruled to have knocked on and they unsuccessfully challenged the call.

7 min: The Eels grab an early lead through a Zac Lomax penalty after the Dragons are pinged for a strip right in front of the posts. Eels 2-0.

2 min: The Dragons go on the attack early on the back of a penalty but Christian Tuipulotu comes up just short in the left corner as the Eels scramble well.

The last word

Eels coach Jason Ryles: "I see a lot of fight and a lot of effort from our players. We've been learning every week, it's just one of those things that's going to take a little bit of time. I can certainly see some green shoots."

"We're not making it about him versus them [for Zac Lomax]. At the end of the day it's just another game of footy. He just has to do what he does well for us and that's carry the ball and contest the kicks."

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan: "The week was enjoyable. Playing the Storm to get your first win wasn't easy but we exposed our DNA a little bit, showed some resilience in defence. Good teams have to be able to defend their errors and that's what they did."

Late Mail

A late change with Charlie Guymer to start the game at hooker in jersey No.19 with Ryley Smith going to the bench and Dan Keir dropping out. Dylan Walker is set for his first game in the blue and gold after joining the Eels last week.

The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes.

The Numbers Game

• The Eels have scored 118 points in their last three games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have lost four of their past five games at CommBank Stadium.
• Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in six games against the Dragons.
• Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson has scored four tries in his last two games at CommBank Stadium.