What: NRL first round
Who: Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos
Result: Broncos 18-12
When and where: Friday, March 7 at ANZ Stadium
Match rating: 6.5/10
80 MINUTES IN 80 SECONDS:
Both sides looked pretty even early on, the Bulldogs punching holes up the middle while the Broncos preferred to shift the ball to attack down the flanks. The Broncos made the breakthrough when Ben Barba shrugged off a Josh Morris tackle and showed brilliant composure close to the try line, grubbering through for Dale Copley to touchdown in the corner. Daniel Vidot crossed 10 minutes later and a Ben Hunt penalty gave the Broncos a 14-0 lead on the half-hour mark. The Bulldogs forwards were making ground, but they lacked structure in attack and Brisbane had them contained until a Trent Hodkinson cross-field kick was brilliantly gathered in by Josh Morris to make it 14-6 at half-time.
Des Hasler must have given his boys a spray in the changing rooms, as they looked fired up early in the second half. Tony Williams made the most of the increased Bulldogs pressure scoring to decrease the deficit to two. With 25 minutes left the Broncos appeared out on their feet, but they somehow held out. Copley then provided a match-winning break, busting through a couple of measly Bulldogs tackles to take the Broncos out of pressure and deep into opposition territory. Lachlan Maranta crossed in the corner five minutes from time to complete a brilliant 18-12 victory for the underdogs.
WHO KILLED IT? Barba showed glimpses of his undoubted quality, especially in setting up the first Broncos try. He tired in the second half, but still managed to come up with a couple of try saving plays in his own in goal. Copley also had a very good game. The 22-year-old scored the first try and made a brilliant 50m break late in the game that led to the match winner.
WHO STANK IT UP? The Bulldogs in attack. A completion rate of 62% is not good enough, they lacked cohesion and their backs didn't make a line-break all game. Worrying signs for the Bulldogs, who obviously missed the spark of Barba.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? Marty Kennedy is on report for a swinging arm to James Graham's head, and Todd Lowry suffered concussion after mistiming a tackle on a rampaging Frank Pritchard.
WHAT THE...: Manly fans look away now. Daly Cherry-Evans was pictured enjoying the game from the stands. He was supposedly there to see his good mate Barba play, but Broncos fans will be hoping there is more to it as he has been heavily linked to a return to his native Queensland.
LOOK OUT UP AHEAD: The Broncos take on the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium in FNF, while the Bulldogs will look to bounce back against the Sharks at ANZ.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 12
Tries: Morris, Williams
Goals: Hodkinson 2
BRISBANE 18
Tries: Copley, Vidot, Maranta
Goals: Parker 2
Pens: Hunt