Penrith Panthers 12-13 Brisbane Broncos: Kotoni Staggs’ heartwarming gesture for NRL fan
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Kotoni Staggs’ touching gesture for young Broncos fan after Brisbane gave reigning champions Penrith a HUGE shock to win thrilling Round One clash
A young Brisbane Broncos fan had the perfect night after watching her team defeat the reigning Premiers before taking home a pair of Kotoni Staggs socks.
The Broncos put their nightmare run of 2022 behind them to start the new campaign with a bang by beating the Penrith Panthers 13-12 in a confidence-boosting victory at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
Herbie Farnworth scored two tries, the second try contender of the season, before a heroic defensive effort held off the Panthers to secure all four points.
And after the match, Brisbane star Staggs was seen interacting with the crowd before a young fan asked if he could take the socks home.
In a jovial mood, the Tonga international offered a game of rock-paper-scissors for her socks and despite winning the game, the girl was delighted when he took her socks off and handed them over to her.
Kotoni Staggs did a young fan night after the Broncos beat the Panthers on BlueBet
The Tonga international gifted him his socks after a game of rock-paper-scissors
It seemed like it would be an easy equation for the Panthers on Friday when they went ahead after just eight minutes.
However, a brace from England center Herbie Farnworth and a 71st-minute field goal from Adam Reynolds sealed victory for Kevin Walters’ Broncos.
But they didn’t make it easy, the Broncos nearly blowing a seven-point lead in the final five minutes in front of 17,125 fans at BlueBet Stadium.
Hooker Soni Luke stormed in from close range with Nathan Cleary cutting the deficit with the conversion to leave the Panthers a point adrift.
Cleary then went for a two-point field goal, his effort missed and was picked up by fullback Selwyn Cobbo, who then spilled the ball.
Luke appeared to have given his team the win by pounced on the loose ball, but to Cobbo’s relief, replays showed Jarome Luai to be offside in pursuit of the kick.
The Broncos picked up an upset victory over the reigning Premiers in their first round clash.
“It’s a very good win for us, Penrith have been a great team for a long time and everyone is chasing them,” Walters said.
‘It was a tight game and there wasn’t much in it and we won’t get carried away.
‘Defense was one of our things that we wanted to be better at.
“We made some good improvements tonight but overall the effort, particularly on the test line, is the best defense I’ve had since coming back to the club.”