Brisbane Broncos begin Michael Maguire's tenure with 50-14 win over Sydney Roosters in NRL season opener

The Brisbane Broncos' Michael Maguire era has begun in stunning fashion with a 50-14 victory over the Sydney Roosters, who may struggle in 2025 after their off-season exodus.

Having seen a slew of their most influential players, including Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary, depart after 2024 and still awaiting the return of halfback Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith from torn ACLs, the Roosters were also without forwards Spencer Leniu, Nat Butcher and Egan Butcher.

Things got worse for the Tricolours when back rower Victor Radley was concussed in a 13th-minute tackle by friendly fire from captain James Tedesco.

Victor Radley was knocked out by a head clash with teammate James Tedesco. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

By that point, Dom Young had scored the opening try for the Roosters, but it was all Brisbane from that moment on as centre Gehamat Shibasaki touched down barely a minute later.

Hooker Cory Paix, playing his first game since 2023 and starting for the first time since 2020, repaid Maguire's faith with a try before back rower Jack Gosiewski crossed to help Brisbane to a 20-4 half-time lead, although it could have been more had Reece Walsh not bombed a certain try midway through the half.

The rout continued with a stunning triple-kick try to Selwyn Cobbo, which turned out to be the first of three second-half tries to the Broncos winger.

In between his second and third efforts, returning half Ben Hunt scored in his first Broncos game since 2017, while Reece Walsh and Jesse Arthars got on the board as the lead blew out.

Sandon Smith and Young scored late in the game to claw back some respectability for the hosts, but coach Trent Robinson has a lot of work to do after a brutal introduction to 2025.

The Broncos players made a rapid exit from the stadium to return to Brisbane before Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes landfall over the weekend.

Look back at all the action in our live blog below and check out all the stats in our ScoreCentre.

Key Events FULL-TIME: Brisbane Broncos 50 defeat Sydney Roosters 14 1 hours ago 54' TRY: Ben Hunt scores on his Brisbane return 1 hours ago 48' TRY: Cobbo has another as Brisbane pile on the points 2 hours ago Show all key events Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos M By Michael Doyle That is all for the blog tonight M By Michael Doyle The Brisbane Broncos have made an early statement in season 2025, thumping the Sydney Roosters 50-14. That brings to an end the ABC Sport live blog of tonight's NRL action. ABC Sport will return tomorrow to continue live blog coverage of round one. We hope you join us then. Michael Maguire praises effort of Brisbane in his fist match as Broncos coach M By Michael Doyle Michael Maguire has begun his era as coach of the Broncos with a 50-14 win. Maguire was full of praise for his players, but remained quite understated in his press conference. "Really happy for the players. They have put the work in throughout the pre-season," he says. "Fortunately for us, tonight they were able to capitalise on things that they have been practising." Smarts and chaos undo the Roosters, says coach Trent Robinson M By Michael Doyle Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is holding his post-match press conference. His team were belted 50-14 against a very slick Brisbane Broncos. Robinson has praised his players for their effort, but says they did not make smart decisions and they were not alert when the play turned to "chaos", and the Broncos were able to keep the ball alive. "I gave them a big wrap for effort … I thought our smarts were really low," Robinson says. "You get beaten by 50 points, and you're really disappointed, but I thought everyone worked really hard for each other." James Tedesco reflects on a tough night for the Roosters M By Michael Doyle Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco has joined ABC Sport after his side was flogged 50-14 in round one. "It's disappointing, obviously. You don't want to come out here in round one and lose by that much," he says. The Roosters lost a lot of talent over the off-season and they have their doubters in 2025. Those doubts will now be amplified. But the captain says his side, who fielded several young players tonight, just need to stay the course. "It's a disappointing scoreline but I'm proud of our young boys. We're gonna keep building and trusting the process." (ABC Sport: Ralph Tucker) The Roosters become the first team to conceed 50 points in round one since 2009 M By Michael Doyle It's unwanted history for the Sydney Roosters. They have become the first team to concede 50 points in round one since 2009. That year, it was the Roosters who lost to arch-rivals Souths 52-12. The Roosters finished with the wooden spoon that year. Brisbane's biggest win ever against the Sydney Roosters M By Michael Doyle The Brisbane Broncos have recorded their biggest-ever win over the Sydney Roosters, to begin the Michael Maguire era with a massive result 50-14 at the Sydney Football Stadium. Brisbane now board a chartered flight home as Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatens off the coast M By Michael Doyle Brisbane's performance tonight we outstanding. Now the team is getting on a chartered flight home as Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatens of the south-east Queensland coast. The system is expected to make landfall on Saturday over the south-east Queensland coast, while flooding is feared across the region, especially in northern NSW. "We wish everyone in south-east Queensland and Northern NSW the best and stay safe," Brisbane's Ben Hunt tells ABC Sport to end his interview. Hunt buoyed after outstanding return to Brisbane M By Michael Doyle It was a victorious return to Brisbane for Ben Hunt. He was exceptional at five-eight and had a hand in several of Brisbane's nine tries. While Brisbane were able to score at will during periods of that match, Hunt emphasised it will not always be like this in 2025. "Very pleasing win … There were some tough periods in that game. It all came off tonight, but you've got to find that right balance throughout the year," he tells Michael Carayannis on ABC Sport. Cory Paix joins ABC Sport M By Michael Doyle Brisbane hooker Cory Paix has joined ABC Sport after a massive 50-14 win. Paix did not play for the Broncos in 2024, but won the starting job to start this season. He has joined sideline eye Michael Carayannis. "I think certainly we did everything Madge wanted us to do … we've got a pretty decent forward pack … pretty skilful halves and a pretty handy fullback to do all the pretty stuff." (ABC Sport: Ralph Tucker) FULL-TIME: Brisbane Broncos 50 defeat Sydney Roosters 14 M By Michael Doyle The Brisbane Broncos look like they mean business in 2025. They have smashed the Sydney Roosters, in Sydney, 50-14. Brisbane scored nine tries, three to Selwyn Cobbo, while the forward pack ripped the Roosters apart. 76' TRY: Dom Young scores for the Roosters, but he might be lucky M By Michael Doyle Brisbane is down to 12 men, and centre Gehamat Shibasaki has a cramp. So, Brisbane has 11 in the defensive line. Sydney winger Dom Young is over in the corner, and just gets the ball down, as Brisbane's cover defence attempt to send him love the sideline. The Bunker is having a look at this, and it does look like Young's backside may have touched the touchline before he got the ball down. But there is no camera angle that shows that conclusively. Try stands. 74' Brendan Piakura comes onto the field and then sent to the sin bin M By Michael Doyle Brendan Piakura spent 72 minutes on the bench. He finally gets his chance, and he is in the sin bin for a professional foul. Brisbane conceded a penalty and James Tedesco took a quick tap. Piakura, who is next to Tedesco tackles him. Obvious sin bin for ref Gerrard Sutton. Well, there is no need to wash Piakura's jersey. Is Sydney's premiership hopes already over? History says yes M By Michael Doyle I have very, very bad news Roosters fans. No team has ever conceded 50 points in a match and won the premiership that season. 71 TRY: The Broncos bring up the half-century M By Michael Doyle Selwyn Cobbo has a hat-trick, and the Broncos have reached 50 points. It was a simple play through the hands. It was three-on-three, but Cobbo's speed and power allows him to score in the corner. 67' TRY: Jesse Arthars for the Broncos M By Michael Doyle Outstanding from the Broncos. Adam Reynolds puts in a little kick under the posts, and Deine Mariner leaps high and knocks the ball back to interchange player Billy Walters. Walters then throws a bullet pass out to the left wing where Jesse Arthars is able to beat the defence of Dom Young and scores. 65' Brisbane's goal line defence gets a stern test M By Michael Doyle Sydney has enjoyed their best passage of play in this match. A dropped ball from Selwyn Cobbo gave the Roosters the ball inside the Brisbane 20m. The Roosters threatened to score and were helped with three penalties. However, the Broncos scrambled well and kept the Chooks out. 59' TRY: Roosters score through Sandon Smith M By Michael Doyle Sandon Smith has just crashed over for the Roosters for their first try of the second half. Sydney had a short kick-off and got the ball back. A set-restart late in that count gave the Roosters a full set at the Brisbane line. After a few good hit-ups that has Brisbane on the backfoot, a flat pass to Smith leads to the five-eight crashing over the line. 57' TRY: Reece Walsh scores for the Broncos M By Michael Doyle Call it off. This is over. Brisbane go to the left through Reece Walsh from dummy half. Walsh throws the cut-out pass to Jesses Arthurs who streaks down the left wing. Arthurs draws in Roosters fullback James Tedesco, passes back inside to Walsh, and Brisbane have another score. 54' TRY: Ben Hunt scores on his Brisbane return M By Michael Doyle Forget Cobbo's first try, THIS COULD BE THE TRY OF THE YEAR. Ben Hunt has crossed in the left corner, on a play that began 60 metres out on the right wing. The Broncos ran the ball on last to the right. There was an overlap, and Deine Mariner made a break. Mariner comes inside and is tackled, but he gets a wild offload away. Jack Gosiewski taps the ball back, and the Broncos go to the left. There are numbers. The Roosters scramble. Centre Gehamat Shibasaki throws a netball chest-pass to Ben Hunt, who dives and scores in the corner. Show more posts

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