Denver Broncos

Broncos score early, beat Titans in National Rugby League

Published Jul. 8, 2018 4:34 a.m. ET

SYDNEY (AP) Kodi Nikorima scored a try in the second minute and Kotoni Staggs added another in the 19th to help give the Brisbane Broncos an early 14-0 lead on their way to a 34-0 win over the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League on Sunday.

Jamayne Isaako kicked four conversions and three penalty goals for 14 points.

The win left the Broncos in seventh place on a weekend when only four matches were played due to next Wednesday's final State of Origin game. New South Wales has already clinched the series over Queensland with wins in the first two matches.

Canberra kept its top-eight playoff hopes alive with a 32-28 win over Canterbury, while defending champions Melbourne, in third place, beat second-place St. George Illawarra 52-30.

Rookie five-eighth Jarome Luai scored two tries and set up another to lead fourth-place Penrith to a 36-4 win over the New Zealand Warriors.

First-place South Sydney was one of eight teams with the weekend off.