Broncos

Playing just his fourth game of the season, Staggs had six tackle breaks, two line breaks and scored a try in each half as the Broncos snatched back Queensland derby bragging rights after going down 19-18 in round nine.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters hit the reset button following the team's round 17 bye and despite a shaky second-half effort against Wests Tigers he has seen enough in the past three weeks to convince him there's better times ahead in 2022.

The Broncos have announced the back-rower from Charleville in western Queensland joins the Broncos on a three-year contract until the end of the 2024 season.

The 27-year-old forward has played 84 NRL games since debuting in 2016 for the Cronulla Sharks.

Similarly at Parramatta, where the search for "the next Peter Sterling" went unfulfilled for three decades until Mitch Moses's coming of age in the past three seasons.

Both members of the Hall of Fame, both four-time premiership winners, Alfie and Sterlo boast CVs that may never be matched, but that hasn't spared their successors from the inevitable comparisons and pining for the good old days.

Milford has been dropped for the second time this year, his axing coming off the back of a 50-6 loss to Manly with fellow former Origin star Corey Oates also dumped to make way for the return of David Mead.

Kelly will partner Tyson Gamble in the halves for Brisbane as Milford again gets the chop, despite the fact he has featured in the club's only two wins in 2021.

Kelly joined the Broncos on a train and trial contract in the offseason after spending six seasons in the English Super League when he left the Titans in 2014.

The Broncos issued a statement on Wednesday saying the club believed up to 10 players who had a steak lunch at Brisbane's Everton Park Hotel did not breach Project Apollo protocols.

The NRL and Queensland Police Service have each launched an investigation into the matter, with police authorities confirming its own enquiries "found no breach of the Chief Health Officer's public health directions".

The NRL's investigation remains ongoing, but acting CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed the Broncos contingent would not be placed in a COVID-19 hold on the advice of biosecurity experts.

Pangai's punishment is the largest issued by the NRL for breaking Project Apollo protocols and comes as Brisbane's board weighs up whether to terminate his contract - worth just under $2 million over three years - over a string of recent incidents.

The Tongan international will be given five business days to respond to the NRL sanctions after he visited a Brisbane barbershop with bikie connections over the weekend.

The giant winger, who is one of the Warriors players that want to return to New Zealand to be with their familties, has scored two tries and run for almost 300 metres to help his side to a come-from-behind 26-16 win over the Brisbane Broncos in Gosford.

Brisbane, in search of their first win since the NRL restart, had led 10-nil after half an hour, with Maumalo dotting down on the stroke of halftime to keep the Warriors in touch.

Having struggled to match their opponents in the middle of the field since the season restarted from the COVID-19 shut down, the return of Pangai Jnr from suspension was expected to boost the Broncos' go-forward.

The Tongan international enforcer had been sidelined for four weeks after he was charged for dangerous contact for a high shot on Justin O'Neill in the Broncos' round one win over the Cowboys. 

Fox Sports reported that the Broncos announced on Wednesday they had agreed to cut Roberts’ contract short after he requested a release on compassionate grounds.

Roberts has signed a contract with the Rabbitohs which runs to the end of 2021.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to Souths and playing under Wayne again,” Roberts said.

“There are some great players at this club and I can’t wait to get into training and getting back on the field.

The stadium erupted five minutes into the match when winger Jonus Pearson flew in to score.

The kick from Jordan Kahu was on the dot sailing through to put the visitors in front.

 An unmarked Wawa Paul came close to putting the Hunters on the board but the pass fell just short of his reach with the ball rolling out over the side line.

Trust Wartovo Puara Jr to produce points.

Close to the line, Enock Maki was hard to stop after a short ball from Puara saw him bump and spin out of a tackle to slam the ball down.