As it happened: Broncos-bound Pezet lifts Eels to comeback win in high-scoring thriller

Match report: Broncos 32, Eels 40

Parramatta playmaker Jonah Pezet has had a blinder against the club he will join next year, inspiring a sensational 40-32 comeback win over Brisbane.

The defending premiers gave up a 20-6 lead and it was Eels five-eighth Pezet who sealed it with a 79th minute try after setting up an incredible four tries at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

The Broncos’ woes were compounded by captain Adam Reynolds leaving the field in the 76th minute with a rib injury.

It was a crazy match where tries came in waves. Players from both sides made unfathomable mistakes and conjured acts of genius.

A freakish chip and chase by Reece Walsh in the second half to regain the lead for the Broncos was one of them, but it wasn’t the decisive play.

That fell to Pezet, whose last try assist was a crafty grubber that was brilliantly gathered and plonked over the line by Sean Russell for a 34-32 lead.

Pezet then sealed it with a grubber and regather of his own. The 23-year-old will become retirement-bound Reynolds’ successor in 2026 and a worthy one he will be.

The Broncos led 20-6 in the 31st minute and appeared in control but the Eels scored three tries inside five minutes to take a 22-20 lead into halftime.

Pezet laid on two first-half tries. The first with a grubber kick that was fumbled by Payne Haas and swooped upon by Ryley Smith.

The second was courtesy of a sublime Pezet short ball for rampaging second-rower Kelma Tuilagi to score his second try.

It got better for the Eels when Isaiah Iongi sliced through as Brisbane’s left edge defence fell apart with Ezra Mam and Gehamat Shibasaki failing to communicate.

Walsh dropped a sitter after the break and Iongi ran a super line soon after to extend the visitors’ lead.

Mam made amends with a subtle dink of a kick behind the line for Kotoni Staggs to notch his 15th career try double. Defence had become an optional extra at 26-all in the 48th minute.

Reynolds started the game with a real spring in his step with his kicking and passing games on song. The 35-year-old also wound back the clock with two line breaks.

Tries to Walsh, Staggs and Haas early appeared to have the Broncos on track for a big win but Pezet’s Eels had other ideas.

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The Broncos will need to quickly regroup because they face the Storm next Friday night in Melbourne in a grand final rematch. Brisbane have lost their past nine matches against the Storm at AAMI Park. The fitness of Adam Reynolds, who left the field injured five minutes before full-time, will likely be a talking point during the week. Parramatta will play their first home match of the season next Sunday, against St George Illawarra.

79 min: The Broncos fumble a Pezet kick near their line and the man who will join Brisbane next year regains to score the match-winner. And he was understandably ecstatic about it too. Moses converts and Parra win in Brisbane for the second consecutive year. Eels 40-32. Can’t say I saw that coming when the Eels trailed 20-6 late in the first half.

75 min: Reynolds leaves the field with an apparent rib injury after a heavy but legal tackle. Eels 34-32

61 min: A superb driving tackle by winger Deine Mariner forces Iongi to knock on and at the other end of the field Walsh chips and regathers to score his second. Reynolds converts. Broncos 32-28

55 min: A Moses penalty goal gives the Eels the lead again, but Haas is back on the field after a spell on the bench. Big boost for the home side. Eels 28-26

43rd min: Walsh spills the simplest of clearing kicks and the Eels make the Broncos pay again very soon afterwards, with Iongi crossing for his second try. Moses fails to convert from out wide. Eels 26-20

41 min: Broncos kick off to get the second half under way.