The Battle of Brisbane ignited in a huge way after Tom Gilbert’s late tackle on Reece Walsh led to a fiery confrontation between the Broncos and the Dolphins.
A breathless first half at the Suncorp Stadium saw both teams exchange both legitimate and disallowed and tries.
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But it was the needle between the two sides which really got the crowd going on Friday night.
Firstly, Grant Anderson was forced off with a knee injury and looks set to be sidelined for a number of weeks after Selwyn Cobbo slipped and took him out with a low tackle in the 23rd minute.
Referee Ashley Klein waved away Broncos claims it was a “cannonball” tackle, but the real concern was for Anderson who was writhing around on the floor in severe distress.
He hobbled off the field and was unable to continue – with Fox League sideline reporter Jake Duke confirming he had suffered a medial knee injury.
Then, just moments later, tempers flared once again when the Dolphins’ Gilbert piled into Broncos man Walsh after the ball had gone.
This led to a momentary brawl as Patrick Carrigan entered the fray to confront Gilbert as Thomas Flegler came storming in for the Dolphins.
Brendan Piakura also joined the altercation as things began to escalate, with Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane saying: “Gilbert all over him! Now it’s on.
“Carrigan the bodyguard, he’s got to contend with Gibert and Flegler, used to be teammates with Reece Walsh and Brendan Piakura.”
Ref Klein was then heard explaining to Gilbert: “You’ve got to wrap him Tom. There’s no genuine attempt to tackle.”
Before Cooper Cronk reacted: “I actually don’t mind this from Tom Gilbert. Reece Walsh was there, Gilbert took the handbrake off and went after the star player.
“Carrigan stands up. This is just lighting the fuse for the battle of Brisbane. Agree with the penalty but I don’t mind that from Tom Gilbert.”
The Broncos went on to win the Battle of Brisbane 26-12, their second successive victory having begun the campaign with back-to-back defeats.
And Walsh produced an eye-catching moment for his side in the closing stages when his try-saving tackle prevented the Dolphins – before the Broncos went up the other end to score themselves.
Kieran Foran said on Fox League: “You got the sense Reece Walsh was on a mission tonight. He threw a beautiful over the top to Karapani but it was a brilliant ball.
“(He was) scheming the whole time, lively. His trysaving tackle at the death there was brilliant.”
