Broncos’ ‘cheeky’ Dolphins sledge is pure savagery as NRL’s latest rivalry ignites

The Broncos are nonetheless rugby league’s kings of Brisbane they usually certain are blissful about it.

They emphatically answered the query that’s been buzzing round all week, claiming a 18-12 win over the Dolphins on Friday evening within the first Battle of Brisbane.

The match lived as much as the hype, went all the way down to the wire and was solely actually sealed when Kotoni Staggs ran the size of the sphere to place the Broncos six-points up with a minute remaining.

Watch each sport of each spherical of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

But it was the post-try celebration that had the footy world speaking as Staggs pointed to the bottom and screamed “our f**king home”.

There had been loads of speak of the Dolphins taking on Suncorp Stadium with the brand new addition to the NRL sharing Brisbane’s showpiece venue for seven matches in its inaugural season, in addition to taking part in three video games at its conventional house of Kayo Stadium (previously referred to as Moreton Daily Stadium) in Redcliffe.

It may also take a sport to the Sunshine Coast and its Round 23 conflict in opposition to the Knights to Perth.

After lastly being added because the second crew in Brisbane, regardless of being about 35km out of the town in Redcliffe, the Dolphins have needed to color the city purple because the Broncos had principally had the town to themselves since getting into the competitors in 1988.

But the Broncos weren’t about to let the town go that simply, and after the win, the Broncos confirmed the Dolphins precisely the place they need to go in a hilarious tweet.

“Safe travels back to Phinland,” the Broncos posted, in a pointed reminder that the Dolphins aren’t related to a particular location after opting to be recognized by a generic nickname that represents the southeast Queensland space.

The Broncos have gained six premierships within the membership’s historical past however it’s now been 17 years because the facet final took out the competitors.

The Broncos have among the many most membership numbers within the NRL, having fallen off the highest spot as a consequence of poor performances in current seasons.

But with a shiny new rivalry in opposition to the Dolphins, who’ve develop into the darlings of the NRL to start out the 12 months, it’s certain to take rugby league within the metropolis to a brand new degree.

Especially because the Broncos now transfer to 4-0, a file the facet hasn’t achieved since 2003.

And after a win within the absorbing opening chapter within the Battle of Brisbane rivalry, the Broncos proved they nonetheless personal the town, with Staggs exhibiting the facet is nicely and really again.

Reece Walsh, who had performed the same celebration to Staggs final week in opposition to the Dragons, mentioned it was essential to get the win in opposition to the upstarts.

“You could see Tones at the end, pointing at the ground, the soil, I think it’s a statement to say ‘This stadium’s ours’ and we’re not going to give it up easy,” he mentioned.

While the Broncos might have staked their declare for Brisbane, the Dolphins would have misplaced no followers from a courageous efficiency after dropping Kodi Nikorima to an unsightly head conflict and Sean O’Sullivan to a torn pec.

Broncos legend Sam Thaiday believes it’s doable all 4 Queensland groups may end within the prime eight, which might be a exceptional outcome.