Brave Bulldogs surprise Broncos

A stoic defensive performance has seen the Bulldogs hold out Brisbane tonight at Suncorp Stadium, the Belmore-based side running out 18-16 winners in front of over 34,000 fans.

Brisbane looked dominant early, getting on the front foot with a double-bag of tries for makeshift winger Corey Oates. Oates was brough into the starting side for Lachlan Maranta who was left to the bench for this contest. The move paid off for the hosts with Oates' double, the Bulldogs' defence not coping with the barrage down the left. Parker converted one of two attempts at goal after each of the tries to have the Broncos ten points ahead.

Together with an early bunch of penalties, the home side were able to flex their muscle which seemed to be so sorely missing last week after their loss to Manly in Gosford. Eventually though, the Bulldogs, in their typical 'Dogs of War' style, ground their way back into the contest, eventually crossing through Aiden Tolman close to the line. Hodkinson converted

The hosts were able to cling to a four point lead through to halftime, but that's where it really ended. Just a few minutes into the second half, Canterbury rose to the lead with a converted Sam Perrett try, before extending their advantage to 18-10 when Josh Morris got on the end of a long-range piece of play in the 63rd minute.

Canterbury spent the final 17 minutes shutting down the contest with strong defence, stumbling only when Corey Parker crossed with ten to go. The two point lead held true until the final siren - the ladder leading Broncos now falling to a second straight loss, while Canterbury have reignited their faint top four hopes.

There will be concerns going into next weekend for both sides - Brisbane will be sweating on the match review panel findings on Monday after Justin Hodges was cited for a high shot on Brett Morris, while Canterbury's Michael Lichaa went down late in the contest with a leg injury which will be of concern in the 'Dogs run home, especially given the absence of Josh Reynolds through injury.

Next week Hasler's troops are headed to the bayside Central Coast Stadium in Gosford to host the Gold Coast in Sunday football, while back here at Suncorp the Dragons will be the visitors against a Broncos side desperate to get back into the winners circle.

Match Details

Brisbane Broncos 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 34082
Halftime Score: Brisbane Broncos 10 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6

BRISBANE BRONCOS (16)
Tries: Corey Oates (2), Corey Parker
Conversions: Corey Parker (2/3)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Aiden Tolman, Sam Perrett, Josh Morris
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Moses Mbye
2 points - Aiden Tolman
1 point - Darius Boyd

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

It's season-on-the-line stuff for Canterbury at Suncorp tonight, while Brisbane will need a victory here to ensure they maintain their hold on the J.J. Giltinan Shield. All the action kicks off around 7:45pm.

TEAM NEWS: Just some small shuffles in both lineups, Brisbane have promoted Corey Oates to a starting spot on the wing. He replaces Lachlan Maranta in a straight swap with Maranta starting from the bench. Canterbury have lost Greg Eastwood to suspension, which will see Sam Kasiano promoted to lock, and Lloyd Perrett fill the vacancy on the bench. There are no other changes.

FULLTIME in the Holden Cup Under 20's clash tonight, Brisbane have held off Canterbury for a 33-30 win.

We are underway at Suncorp Stadium with the Bulldogs putting boot to ball through Trent Hodkinson.

3: Solid start from both sides.

4: PENALTY - Brisbane with the first chance to attack today after a Bulldogs infringement.

5: Another penalty for Brisbane, this time captain James Graham leaves his hands in the play the ball.

6: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Oates. Kick to come.
The gamble pays off for Wayne! Corey Oates crosses out wide for the Broncos off a long Milford cut-out pass!

7: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Parker is unable to convert from out wide.

9: Another penalty. Brisbane with all the early running.

9: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Corey Parker makes an unforced error.
Parker spills it, a let-off for the 'Dogs.

11: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Alex Glenn makes an unforced error.
Glenn loses it 40m from his own line, great chance coming up for Canterbury here.

13: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Justin Hodges makes an unforced error.
Hodges plays at the ball, Bulldogs will get a scrum.

14: Big Sam Kasiano is crunched in a tackle and loses the pill. Broncos come away with it.

16: A Bulldogs penalty after Josh Morris goes for the try - Justin Hodges and another Broncos eventually tackle him but strip the ball.

17: Still nothing for the blue-and-whites. Hodkinson grubbers and it's taken cleanly by Milford.

18: Big change for Canterbury with Dave Klemmer coming on to replace Sam Kasiano.

19: Hodkinson puts it up, Jordan Kahu takes it safely despite some attention from the 'Dogs chasers.

20: Brisbane get the Bulldogs on the back foot, having to start their set 20m out from their own line, but the visitors get all the way up the park. Final tackle option is poor though, Lafai grubbers and it rolls dead. Broncos 20m restart.

22: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Oates. Kick to come.
Oates is over again out wide! Great ball from Darius Boyd.

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
This time he nails it! Lead is ten.

26: VIDEO REF | Possible Bulldogs try for Josh Morris. On field call is NO TRY.

26: NO TRY. Pritchard knocks on. Broncos ball with a 20m restart.

26: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jack Reed makes an unforced error.
Reed spills the grubber when it looked like he was in the clear. Bulldogs scrum.

27: INJURY | Brett Morris is down. This doesn't look good. Talk of a crusher tackle?

29: ON REPORT - Justin Hodges for a high tackle on Brett Morris. Dogs penalty.

30: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Aiden Tolman. Kick to come.
BOOM! The Bulldogs are over through Aiden Tolman!

31: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Near to the posts Hodkinson has no trouble trimming the margin back to four.

35: Bulldogs penalty has them helped to the Broncos' side of halfway...

37: Frank Pritchard short! Dogs then use the last to do some hot potato but it falls into Darius Boyd's arms off a Josh Jackson kick. Broncos off the hook.

38: Bulldogs with six again with just a couple of minutes to halftime. They're a chance here...

39: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Josh Morris makes an unforced error.
J Moz can't hold onto the Mbye grubber. Broncos scrum.

That's all for the first 40. Brisbane dominated early and have withstood the best part of a 20-minute onslaught from the Bulldogs to lead by four... but it's anyone's game.

43: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
What a start! The Bulldogs go right and Perrett is able to cut through and go in untouched. Poor defence Brisbane.

44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson converts and the Bulldogs lead!

47: A polished showing from the Bulldogs so far has them in front not far after halftime.

51: Penalty Canterbury. Suncorp crowd not happy. Count currently 4-3 to Canterbury.

52: Moses Mbye grubbers through and the 'Dogs force Jordan Kahu in-goal. Drop-out.

53: Second drop-out forced. Bulldogs really turning the screws here. Brisbane tiring.

55: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Lloyd Perrett makes an unforced error.
The younger Perrett can't handle a flat ball close to the line. The pressure counts for nothing.

56: Momentum swinging? Bulldogs concede a penalty. Brisbane have it inside the 'Dogs half.

57: Hodges grubbers it dead, it's a 20m restart for Canterbury.

58: The 'Dogs use the 7-tackle set to go up the other end... and Hodkinson grubbers it... dead. Broncos 20m restart.

60: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Sam Kasiano makes an unforced error.
Now time for the 'Dogs to defend. Kasiano spills a Hunt grubber. Brisbane scrum 10m out!

61: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Anthony Milford makes an unforced error.
Ah, that's not good. Milford spills it first carry. Bulldogs off the hook.

61: INJURY | Time off at the moment with Michael Lichaa down, his knee is in a world of trouble.

62: Brisbane have it for a brief period before being caught in possession on the last. Canterbury work it off their own line.

63: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Morris. Kick to come.
The Dogs are in! The Belmore boys roll up the field and Josh Morris ducks and weaves his way to the tryline!

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Eight point lead now for the Bulldogs!

66: First set from the restart sees Hodkinson dribble it into touch about 10m from Brisbane's line. Great play.

68: INTERCEPT! Perrett plucks a Hodges pass out of the air. Canterbury working it toward and now over halfway.

70: We have a possible shoulder charge here from Sam Kasiano. On replay it's not, but there's still a Broncos penalty anyway for big Sam taking Boyd off the ball.

70: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Corey Parker. Kick to come.
Parker is in! Flimsy defence up the middle and it's game on!

70: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Two points in it with just under ten minutes remaining!

71: Parker with an accolade upon converting his own try - he's now got 1192 points for the Broncos - passing Darren Lockyer's previous club record.

72: VIDEO REFEREE | Possible Broncos TRY to Anthony Milford. On-field call is green lights... we'll await the decision upstairs.

72: It's NO TRY and the Broncos continue to trail. Lachlan Maranta has spilled it. Bulldogs ball.

72: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Justin Hodges makes an unforced error.
Big chance for Canterbury here! Hodges has lost it inside Canterbury's half!

75: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Justin Hodges makes an unforced error.
Oh dear Hodgo. He's made another bungle inside his own half! Canterbury with a chance to wrap the game up again.

76: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Moses Mbye makes an unforced error.
Moses throws a long ball and it's just bungled completely. Brisbane come away with it. AND now a penalty. Brisbane piggyback out of their area.

77: Brisbane put it up and it's a brilliant take from Sam Perrett for the 'Dogs. Just over three to go. This is tense, finals-like footy.

77: Canterbury push it all the way up the other end, now Brisbane will work it back from their own end.

78: Reed runs it on the last and Canterbury will get it from a handover inside the final 90 seconds!

79: Hodkinson finds touch inside Brisbane's half - there are THIRTY SECONDS to go. This could be anything. Hold on to your hats!

80: Game set match! Canterbury hold on for a crucial win! FULLTIME Canterbury 18 Brisbane 16