Broncos v Eels: Xavier Coates and John Asiata taken to hospital in bruising night

The Broncos are already counting the cost from Friday night’s eight-point loss to the Eels, with two players carted off to hospital and one more failing to finish the game.

Having scored the first three tries of the game, Brisbane gave up 24 unanswered points in the second half to go home empty handed.

Winger Xavier Coates and utility forward John Asiata were both taken to hospital before full-time, believed to be suffering from neck injuries.

Prop Matt Lodge also looks set for a stint on the sidelines, having strained a hamstring in the first half.

The injuries left the home side with just one player on the bench for the final 20 minutes and the comparatively healthy Parramatta side were able to make the most of their advantage.

Lodge was the first Bronco to go down, getting up gingerly from a hit up less than 20 minutes in, immediately signalling to the bench and taking no further part.

Flying outside back Coates was the next Brisbane player ruled out when he landed awkwardly on his neck and head in the process of scoring his second try.

Put into space by a peach of a pass from Anthony Milford, Coates dived for the line, clashing with Eels fullback Clint Gutherson as he grounded the football.

Check out the try below.

That gave the hosts a 16-0 lead going into the break, a positive start to the Kevin Walters era, but it would prove insufficient as Parramatta found their feet in the second half.

Two quick tries to Reed Mahoney and Gutherson got the Eels within touching distance before Asiata went down following a seemingly innocuous clash with Keegan Hipgrave.

The former Cowboy needed to be taken from the field in a medicab after a long delay, Fox League later reporting he and Coates were separately transported to hospital.

Down by two points less than 10 minutes from full time, Brodie Croft and Jake Turpin looked to have done enough to get the Broncos in front, though the bunker found a knock on from the young hooker.

Junior Paulo then crossed for Parramatta in the dying stages to put the game to bed.

More to come.