Brisbane’s title defence is all-but gone – and so could Lindsay Collins’ Origin III hopes – after the Broncos crashed to a crushing 24-18 loss to the Roosters on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.

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Queensland enforcer Collins faces a nervous wait to play in the Origin decider on Wednesday week after being reported for a high shot, then suffering concussion in this Suncorp slugfest before 39,826 fans.

But Collins’ drama was matched by that engulfing the Broncos, whose top-four chances were torpedoed after slumping to their seventh consecutive loss to leave their season in tatters.

In wet conditions, the Broncos led 16-12 half-time but the Roosters held their nerve, with 100-game halfback Sam Walker scoring on the hour to break a 16-all deadlock and bury his former club.

The Roosters (10-5) were far from impressive but their Big Three – Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco – stood tall in the championship minutes to remain in the the top four.

By contrast, the bumbling Broncos (5-10) are just about shot. The injury-ravaged premiers look a shadow of the team that charged to the premiership last year and need to win eight of their last nine games to make the playoffs.

MAROONED

It was a worrying night for the Maroons with three Queensland Roosters – Collins, Walker and Robert Toia – all placed on report for acts of varying severity.

Walker’s 11th-minute shoulder charge on Reece Walsh and Toia’s 66th-minute lifting tackle on Josiah Karapani (66th) didn’t appear serious, but Collins could be in some trouble.

The Maroons prop was booked for a 10th-minute high shot on Xavier Willison, who didn’t return, before coming off himself after copping a head knock 15 minutes before half-time.

The Origin decider is 12 days away, meaning Collins wouldn’t be able to train with the Maroons until match eve if he faces an 11-day stand-down – provided he escapes suspension.

BYE BYE BRONCOS

The Broncos now need a miracle to win back-to-back titles. Debutant skipper Payne Haas (174m), Karapani and Grant Anderson tried hard, but Brisbane never possessed any cohesion in attack.

Brisbane’s woes are crystallised by superstar fullback Walsh, who has lost his mojo, struggling to get into the contest as the Roosters turned the screws by playing better wet weather football after the break.

The Red Bull High Flyer Player Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS

DYNAMIC DUFFY

One shining light for the Broncos was Tom Duffy. In the absence of injured halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam, Duffy was Brisbane’s best player.

The 22-year-old scored Brisbane’s first try in the 18th minute charging onto a Brendan Piakura pass, then returned serve, slotting a sublime Allan Langer-style grubber for Piakura to touch down five minutes later for 12-6.

Duffy was equally impressive without the ball, making two trysaving plays, including a superb scything tackle to deny Cherry-Evans inches from the line.

SIXES AND SEVENS

They weren’t quite in top gear but Roosters glamour halves Cherry-Evans and Walker got the job done against Duffy and Ben Hunt.

Cherry-Evans’ 38th-minute pass was awful, hitting the deck on a shift, allowing Broncos centre Anderson to swoop and race 40 metres to give the hosts a crucial 16-12 half-time lead.

But when it mattered, Walker, Queensland Origin’s man of the moment, did enough. He was on hand to score in the 60th minute, before landing the 70th-minute penalty goal which edged the Chooks clear at 24-16.

CHOOK RAFFLE

The jury remains out on the Roosters as a premiership force. There’s no doubt they have the roster, but on this evidence, the Roosters could toss up anything when the sudden-death stakes arrive.

The Chooks were awful in the first half, completing at a paltry 63 per cent and making twice as many errors as the Broncos (nine to four) as their ill-discipline kept Brisbane in the contest.

STAT ATTACK – Fox Sports Lab

Fox Lab Expected Set Points: Roosters 23.3, Broncos 20.91 – a very controlled second half performance from the Roosters, completing 19 of their 21 sets (just 12 from 19 in the first half) and completely dominating field position with 45 tackles to 12 in the attacking half.

Seven straight losses for the Broncos – the longest losing streak by the defending Premiers since Wests in 1953. Only the fourth seven game or worse losing streak for the Broncos in a season.

Back to back wins for the Roosters for their 10th win of the season. Have scored at least 24 points in all 10 wins (lost all five scoring less than 20).

Fourth win trailing at the break this season for the Roosters – third time they have held opponents tryless in doing so.

Broncos likely need to win eight of their nine remaining games to qualify for the finals.

Three straight wins for the Roosters over the Broncos – have won five of the previous six encounters.

Lindsay Collins was placed on report for a high tackle on Xavier Willison early in the first half

Sam Walker was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Reece Walsh in the first half.

Xavier Willison left the field early in the first half following the Collins high tackle and failed his HIA.

Lindsay Collins failed a HIA at half time.

Robert Toia was placed on report for a dangerous tackle mid way through the second half.

Nat Butcher was placed on report for a hip drop tackle late in the second half.

Billy Smith scored the third try double of his career – second against the Broncos in Brisbane.

Fox Lab POTM – Sam Walker scored a try, made two linebreaks, forced two goal line drop outs and kicked four from five conversions in a controlled performance.

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