Match Centre

And the Broncos have held on. An absolutely gutsy second half from the Broncos. They were out on their feet for long periods of that half, but managed to keep their composure to win the game.

Brisbane Broncos 18-12

The Broncos have 45 more seconds to hold on for the win.

Brisbane Broncos 18-12

No thoughts of a field goal here from the Broncos - Hunt kicks high, and the Bulldogs knock the ball on. The Broncos will get the scrum feed only metres out from the Bulldogs line.

Brisbane Broncos 18-12

A loose carry by Josh Jackson sees the Broncos knock the ball out, and recover possession. Big play.

Brisbane Broncos 18-12

The Broncos just looking to play simple now - run the clock down, keep possession, and keep the Bulldogs stuck in their own end.

Brisbane Broncos 18-12

We're going the video referee again. Hayne has judged it a no-try, but we'll see what happens. We're checking on a possible obstruction play. It made no effect on the defenders, but it's still against the rules.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Copley makes a break, but is dragged down by Perrett. He then scrambles to his feet for a quick play the ball, and forces a penalty.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

The Bulldogs kick high again - targetting Maranta, but he's more than up to the task. He leaps high and takes the ball neatly.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

The Broncos work the ball out from their own end, looking absolutely spent. They kick deep, trying to give themselves a break, but the next two tackles see the Bulldogs gain almost 40 meters.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

On the last, Ennis lobs the ball back, and forces a sloppy kick. Good pressure from the Broncos - they've survived 4 sets in a row.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Ennis attempts to go himself, but is help up in goal. Two plays later he has another crack, but the exact same result ensues.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Hannant steals the ball in a one-on-one tackle - but then has the ball taken from him not three seconds later.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

And yet another repeat set for the Bulldogs. Reynolds puts a little grubber kick into the corner, and Barba is forced to carry the ball out over the sideline.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Interesting piece of play there. The Bulldogs take it to the middle of the field on the last, and put a bomb up. Noone can take it cleanly, but it's tapped back twice by the Bulldogs, before Finucane is forced to put in a second kick - a grubber that the Broncos can't clean up. The Bulldogs will get a repeat set.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

The Broncos send the ball out to the right off the field, and make a break down the sideline. They bring it back infield, but knock the ball on. Turn over to the Bulldogs.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Pritchard has run over the top of players with every single run tonight. Looking like an absolute beast.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

The Bulldogs get over the Broncos tryline, but lose the ball. The referee rules a knock on, but the Bulldogs are adamant the ball was raked. No matter, the Broncos will get the scrum feed.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Injury update, neither Browne nor Lowrie will be back tonight.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

On the 5th, the Broncos send the ball out to the left, where there looked to be a chance, but the ball is knocked on. Jack Reed just couldn't handle the short pass from Barba.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Tackle 3 - 6 metres out.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

That penalty puts the Broncos on attack 25 metres out from the Bulldogs' line.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Broncos looking tired here now. Williams is penalised for being slow in the play the ball, so that will help them, but they are definitely looking tired.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

Massive hit! Pritchard absolutely hammers Todd Lowrie. Lowrie came in too high to make the tackle, and Pritchard's shoulder hits him in the face and knocks him clean up in the air. Lowrie will be off for one of those concussion assessments we spoke of earlier.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

The Bulldogs kick into the in goal, and chase through hard. Barba is out of position, but manages to swoop across and collect the ball, before being bundled over the dead ball line. Line drop out.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Parker is on the ground - Ennis comes in with a bit of a swinging arm, but it looked like more of a head clash. Play is stopped for a minute, but Parker is ok. Play on.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

On the last, the Bulldogs put a bomb up, but Maranta has no problems with it.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

The Bulldogs get helped out of their own end now - Ennis gets an offload away to Morris, who scrambles to a quick play the ball and milks a penalty for his team.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

And Hayne is right - the Broncos defenders do a good job of holding Glenn up in goal.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Barba gets a pass away to Alex Glenn, and he muscles his way over the tryline. We're going to the video ref, but Hayne thinks it's a no try.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

O'Hanlon penalised now, and Ben Hunt kicks his team downfield. Broncos take the tap 45 metres from the Bulldogs line.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Play back underway, Bulldogs on attack. Josh Reynolds attempts to put a grubber in, but Barba picks it up.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Browne is back on his feet - the new concussion laws will come into effect here - he'll be taken to the dressing sheds and subjected to a full assessment by the medical officer.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

McCullough is on report for that hit, although it was definitely not deliberate, and he showed immediate remorse. Browne is still receiving attention.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Kick is wayyyy to big on the last, going about ten metres past the dead ball line. Mitch Browne takes the tap, but is high on the chin by McCullough. Browne is asleep before he even hits the ground.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

We're underway. Ben Hannant brings the ball back for the first hit up of the second half.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Teams are back on the field for the second half.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Half Time. The score flatters the Bulldogs slightly - they had well less than 50% of the possession, and had no points on the board until the last 5 minutes of the half. The Broncos looked good early, but dropped their bundle slightly towards the end.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

The Bulldogs use the optional 20 metre kick restart, but Maranta is all over it and takes the kick easily.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Only a minute left in the half. The Broncos kick high on the last, but Perrett just takes a simple mark in his in goal area.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

On the last the Bulldogs kick the ball dead. Tackle Zero for the Broncos.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Bulldogs looking buoyed now - a bit of extra spring in the step. Ennis looks to milk a penalty, but the referee just looks at him like he's silly. Looks like the referees are on to his antics.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Bulldogs looking to get some points on the board before half time - they won'e get a better chance than now.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

Tim Browne is given a talking to for rushing in, but the penalty goes against the Broncos, and Kennedy is placed on report.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

Another penalty against the Broncos for a high tackle. A bit of a scuffle now - Ennis tries to talk tough to Martin Kennedy, but Kennedy doesn't want a bar of it - pushing him right in the chin. Players come from everywhere, and Tim Browne looks like he might be in trouble for a third man in.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

The Broncos are penalised for laying on the play-the-ball now. It looked a bit harsh to me - he was attempting to clear the ruck.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

Second man play from the Broncos, attacking the Bulldogs' line. Gillett deftly puts a grubber through, but his outside man can't quite get there.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

Ennis trying to get something started - dashing from dummy half and looking to catch one of his forwards running through. The timing is off though, and Ennis knocks the ball on.

Brisbane Broncos 14-0

Strong defense from the Bulldogs, Copley is almost pulled over the sideline. The Broncos kick across field on the last - a rubbish kick. Jack Reed puts a second kick in, a little grubber, but he's dragged to the ground illegally. The Broncos opt to penalty kick for goal.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

Tony Williams knocks the ball forward midway through the tackle count. The Broncos are let off the hook - and get the scrum feed.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

Stanley attempts the line now - he steps around, and makes two half breaks, before passing off to Ennis. Ennis grubbers in behind, but Lachlan Maranta reads it beautifully and tidies it up.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

Graham offloads on the 3rd, only five metres out from the Broncos line. Ennis passes to Perrett, who jumps as the ball is thrown to him. It looks like he got a hand to it, but the referee rules that it was off his knee. Line drop out.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

The Broncos kick to the right of the field on the last - but they can't clean up. The Bulldogs get the handover 10 metres out, and then get a penalty to help them out.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

As they work it away from their line, the Broncos are piggybacked by a penalty. They kick for touch and are within attacking distance.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

The Bulldogs have a full set on the Broncos' line, but can't break through. Broncos defense is too strong.

Brisbane Broncos 12-0

Possible try - Vidot crashes over in the corner, carrying two defenders with him. We're going to the video referee, but the referee has stated that he thinks it's a try.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

McCullough stretches for the line from dummy half, but is dragged down short.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

And yet again the Bulldogs are penalised. Josh Reynolds this time is pinged for laying in the tackle. Prime attacking position for the Broncos.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

McCullough grubbers into the in-goal. Pritchard attempts to block it but looks to have knocked the ball on. Broncos get the scrum feed.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

Some physical defense in this game so far - seems to be taking its toll on some of the Bulldogs forwards.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

Opposite end of the field, and the Bulldogs kick into the in goal this time. Vidot has his work cut out for him, but manages to make it back into the field of play... just.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

On the last, Hunt grubbers into the in goal area, but it's way too heavy and slides dead. Bulldogs with the optional 20m restart. Tackle 0.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

Broncos only ten metres from the Bulldogs tryline on the second tackle.

Brisbane Broncos 6-0

Hoffman almost scrambles his way to the tryline, breaking a couple of tackles, before the Bulldogs are penalised or slowing down the ruck. Broncos heavy on attack.

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Bulldogs are penalised now - it's Pritchard with a shoulder charge. No arms in that.

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Perrett knocks on now in his own in goal area. The Broncos kick high, just over the try line, and Perrett drops it cold. From the resulting drop out, the Bulldogs kick it 60 metres on the fly.

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On the last the Bulldogs kick back in field, and it's taken neatly by Barba, who jinks his way through the first couple of defenders and makes a half break. A nice first touch.

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Broncos kick early in the tackle count, stabbing it low and hard downfield. Perrett runs it back to the 30 metre line before he's brought down.

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Bulldogs 12 out on the last - they kick high and left, but it's a bit of a nothing kick. A rolling maul starts,with about 8 men involved, but in the end the Broncos come up with the ball.

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We have a penalty already - Hayne penalising Corey Parker for laying in the ruck for too long. Bulldogs start their attacking set on halfway.

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And we have kick off! The Broncos kick deep towards the Bulldogs end to start the game.

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Both teams take the field - the Broncos to a deep boo, and the Bulldogs to a deafening roar and chaos of blue and white flags.

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Just minutes from kick off now. Grass is cut, lines are painted...let's get this game underway.

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Welcome to the first game of Friday Night football for 2014. Tonight the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs host the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium.

Both teams are 1-17 as named this evening. Ben Barba will take the field in his first game for the Broncos, against his old club. The other major headline from the Broncos is their change of captaincy over the off-season - how will that affect Sam Thaiday?

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