Tate's golden try only highlight
by Chris Cox
Saturday July 31, 2004

When Brent Tate darted up the middle, grubbered ahead, regathered and scored in the 7th minute of golden point time, it not only gave the Broncos a rare victory over the Sharks at Toyota Park, but it also ensured the game would not go down as one of the most boring in the Telstra Premiership for 2004.

Both sides would be ashamed of their performance on a chilly night in Sydney, making a combined total of more than 40 errors. So poor was the handling that on several occasions, the possession changed twice in the space of a few seconds.

Brisbane led 12-0 after 9 minutes, but as they have done on several occasions this season they eased off the accelerator and invited the Sharks back into the contest. Cronulla drew level 23 minutes into the second half when skipper Danny Nutley crashed over after the Broncos' 7th line drop out of the match.

Both sides missed field goal attempts in the final 10 minutes, but despite several opportunities neither side could break the deadlock and golden point extra time was assured.

Again, both sides had opportunities in extra time.  Nathan Merritt missed a field goal attempt early and the Broncos twice had sets in the Sharks' half only to fail to get a drop goal attempt away. 

Shaun Berrigan made a darting run one minute into the second period of extra time to get within 40 metres of the Sharks' line.  Casey McGuire linked with Tate from dummyhalf, the Test centre sprinting up the middle before grubbering ahead and regathering before Matt Hilder could get there to seal victory.

Despite the dramatic ending, the Broncos' celebrations were subdued, a sign they realise they were lucky to win a game they should have had well and truly sealed after 20 minutes.

The Broncos dominated possession in the first 15 minutes of the game but spoiled several opportunities amidst scoring tries with Tonie Carroll and Carl Webb.  Impatience with the football wasn't unique to the men in maroon and white however, with the Sharks equally guilty of throwing the ball away cheaply.

Brisbane now hold a 6-point buffer from 4th placed Penrith, while the Sharks are now two points outside the top 8 and in danger of losing touch with the finalists.

However, the news on the injury front only got worse for the Broncos, with replacement hooker Michael Ryan suffering what looked a serious knee injury, and winger Craig Frawley straining a hamstring.  The Broncos, already missing Stuart Kelly, Michael De Vere and Scott Minto can illafford to lose another outside back.

The Sharks were injury free, however Chris Beattie was placed on report for a spear tackle on Brent Tate early in the second half.