The Broncos came back from 14 points down to beat the Dolphins 38-28 on the back of masterclasses from Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs in a thrilling Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

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MATCH CENTRE: Broncos vs Dolphins live score

Walsh finished with 170 metres, three linebreak assists, a try assist and a try in an 18-point haul, while Staggs had 117 metres, two linebreaks and a classy double in a thrilling battle against Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the edge.

Isaiya Katoa double pumped to put Tabuai-Fidow over as the Dolphins took an early lead.

The Broncos lost Jack Gosiewski to an AC shoulder injury in a big early blow.

Walsh held up a perfectly timed short ball for a rampaging Staggs to barge over and lock up the scores.

Walsh collected Katoa high to gift the Dolphins a penalty goal and the lead.

Aublix Tawha was then penalised for a lifting tackle allowing Walsh to lock up the scores again with a penalty goal of his own.

Then Jake Averillo burned Gehamat Shibasaki to give the Dolphins the lead.

But Walsh set up Shibasaki for a break before backing up to score and lock up the scores at half-time.

Trai Fuller produced a brilliant long-range try to dummy Walsh and score under the posts to make it 20-14 after the break.

Staggs was penalised and placed on report for a high tackle as the Dolphins made it an eight-point game.

Jeremy Marshall-King then produced a brilliant dart out of dummyhalf as the Dolphins extended their lead to 14 points.

However, Walsh produced a brilliant 40/20 and off the ensuing set Ben Hunt put Deine Mariner over to cut the deficit.

Billy Walters then produced a brilliant kick to put Josiah Karapani over for a contender for try of the year.

Hunt then came up with a pinpoint grubber to put Ben Talty over as the Broncos took back the lead.

Kodi Nikorima was placed on report for a crusher tackle on Walsh allowing the Broncos fullback to take a penalty goal, but he pushed it wide.

Staggs leapt high to catch a Hunt kick and score a double to make it a 10 point game with 10 to play.

The Dolphins threw everything at them in the final minutes, but the Broncos held on to hold their top eight spot and knock the Dolphins out.

WALSH ANSWERS CRITICS IN BEST GAME OF THE SEASON

Reece Walsh has his share of critics, but when he gets it right the Broncos usually win and he was in everything in his best performance of the season.

Walsh finished with 170 metres, a whopping 10 tackle busts, two offloads, three linebreak assists, a try assist and a try to go with seven goals in a superb display.

However, it was Walsh’s 40/20 that sparked their second half comeback from 14 points down as the Broncos scored four unanswered tries to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

With Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam sidelined, Walsh stepped up in the playmaking department and Ben Hunt was also brilliant in the No.7 jersey.

Hunt had three try assists and a linebreak assist as the Broncos showed they might be able to weather the storm until at least Reynolds returns.

FULLER FLIES IN RETURN

The Dolphins pulled a shock switch at the selection table this week, with Kristian Woolf calling up livewire Trai Fuller to play fullback and moving Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow into the centres.

Saturday night was Fuller’s first NRL game of 2025 after spending a year on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

With the Dolphins’ attack humming most of this season, Woolf hasn’t needed to turn to Fuller, but after a 52-point loss last week, a change was made.

While the Dolphins couldn’t match the firepower of the Broncos in a 38-28 loss on Saturday night, Fuller had a decent night at the back.

He set Suncorp Stadium alight to open up the second half, racing away for a 70-metre try, fooling Broncos star Reece Walsh with a dummy.

“It’s incredible to believe he’s only in his 13th NRL game because he has made such a mark on first grade in limited time,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane said.

“It’s an inspired change.”

Fuller finished the game with 184 metres, six tackle busts and a try.

STAGGS SHINES IN EPIC CLASH WITH HAMMER

All the talk going into the contest was around Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shifting to the centres to take on Kotoni Staggs and the pair didn’t disappoint.

Tabuai-Fidow had 93 run metres, four tackle busts, a linebreak and a try to lead the Dolphins to a 28-14 lead midway through the second half.

However, when Staggs turns it on there is no better centre in the game and he was at his rampaging best in the Battle of Brisbane.

Staggs finished with 117 metres, four tackle busts, two linebreaks, two tries and 13 tackles in a complete performance.

When Staggs is in this sort of form no one can stop him and the Broncos followed his lead to seal a crucial comeback win.

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TEAMS

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas

11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt. 18th man: 18. Jesse Arthars

Dolphins: 20. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 3. Jake Averillo 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Aublix Tawha 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Ray Stone 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Josh Kerr 18. Peter Hola. 18th man: 22. James Walsh