Panthers v Broncos preview
82 mins ago | Rhys Sullivan
Brett Morris made a dream comeback from a knee injury, scoring a hat-trick as the Canterbury Bulldogs announced themselves as premiership contenders after they bulldozed the Broncos 40-14, in a match that featured some truly remarkable tries from both sides in front of 15,106 fans at ANZ Stadium tonight.
The 18 Test Australian winger scored 3 of the Bulldogs 7 tries in an outstanding display which has pushed the Dogs to the edge of a Top 4 birth. Half back Moses Mbye was instrumental in the victory having a hand in 4 of the Bulldogs tries, which included 2 powerful tries from mammoth prop Sam Kasiano who ensured he will remain on the highlight reel for weeks to come when he scored a spectacular try just before halftime which changed the momentum of the match. Kasiano took the ball from dummy half and managed to brush away 3 defenders, the giant 130kg Canterbury prop then paused and leapt over the defensive line to stun spectators and fans alike in an extraordinary effort which needs to be seen to be believed.
The spectacular tries didn't end there, with the Bulldogs coming out in the second half to score 5 tries to run away convincing winners 40-14. The win now sees the Bulldogs sit equal on 20 points with the Broncos, Eels, and North Queensland, with the Cowboys having a game in hand on Monday and Parramatta likely to be stripped of 12 competition points for salary cap breaches as early as next week.
Canterbury came into the match, as a side that could be a dark horse come September but poor last tackle options from their halves had been perceived as a major obstacle they have faced so far this season. This looked to continue early when they failed to apply to much pressure on Brisbane in the early stages.
Both sides let the forwards sort themselves out early on with plenty of strong defence and aggressive tackles coming from both sides, with an obvious sentiment still lingering, with 8 players having represented in Wednesday night's State of Origin.
It was Queensland winger Corey Oates who looked like opening the scoring in the 22nd minute when he tried to barge over from dummy half but he was denied by the Video Ref after some desperate Bulldogs defence stopped him from getting the ball down. Three minutes later though, it was that man Oates who did score the first try of the night, when he was delivered a superb ball from Origin teammate Darius Boyd, which gave Oates just enough room to get the ball down despite the effort of opposite number Sam Perrett. Corey Parker missed the conversion from the sideline and Brisbane lead 4-0.
Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds then had a kick on the last charged down by Broncos prop Josh McGuire, which gave them another set of six close to the line. The Bulldogs didn't waste the opportunity, when halfback Moses Mbye fed the ball to an in form Tony Williams who charged over for the Blue and White's first try of the night. Holland added the extras and the Dogs lead 6-4 after 31 minutes.
The Bulldogs behemoth bench made a huge impact with Sam Kasiano and Tony Williams both making strong runs which proved to be a handful for the Brisbane defence. Ben Hunt then put a clever grubber inside to a flying Anthony Milford who was cleaned up off the ball by Bulldogs captain James Graham. With Corey Parker off the field, Milford took the kick from just to the right hand side of the posts 22m out and shanked it. The scores remained 6-4.
Following the miss, James Roberts picked up a spilled ball and looked to be a chance of scoring before he was stopped in a rock solid tackle from fullback Will Hopoate. Bulldogs winger turned centre Curtis Rona then turned defence into attack, which had the crowd on their feet.
It was off the back of this possession that Canterbury got close to the line, when Kasiano swatted away some would be defenders before spectacularly leaping over the same defenders to score an amazing try and putting the Bulldogs ahead 10-4 at the break.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler stressed to his side at halftime the importance of not making any cheap errors and this fell on deaf ears when the blockbusting Tony Williams spilled the ball on just the second tackle. Luckily Canterbury were able to handle a brief Broncos onslaught before Moses Mbye sliced through and found a flying Brett Morris in support and he scored next to the posts. Holland added the extras and Canterbury lead 16-4 early in the second half.
NSW prop David Klemmer then exacted some revenge from Wednesday night's loss when he received a lazy ball which left him flat footed 12m from the line, but the NSW enforcer then steamrolled QLD backrower Matt Gillett and other would be tacklers to stroll over under the posts. Kerrod Holland extended the lead to 22-4 and Canterbury were in command.
Minutes later Canterbury steamrolled their way up the field and Curtis Rona got the ball in some space and the centre must have been inspired by the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James' NBA Championship during the week, when he charged at the opposition, leaped and offloaded one handed to Brett Morris who went over for his second try of the night.
Leading 28-4, Canterbury were looking to put the foot down, but as Moses Mbye looked to put his outside men in for yet another try, Broncos speedster James Roberts took and intercept and then cruised away from the Canterbury cover with ease to give Brisbane a sniff of a comeback narrowing the Bulldogs lead to 18 points with 19 minutes remaining.
In the 69th minute Curtis Rona took his own intercept from his own line and took off downfield before being ankle tapped, he managed to pass to the his speedy half Moses Mbye who turned fullback Darius Boyd inside out, before steadying himself to put Brett Morris over for his hat-trick and an unassailable lead
To their credit, the Broncos didn't pull up stumps, when halfback Ben Hunt again kicked inside for an electric Anthony Milford who collected the ball on his chest and burned Bulldogs fullback Will Hopoate to score a sensational try.
Canterbury then compounded their win, when back up hooker Craig Garvey fired a flat pass to Sam Kasiano who was unstoppable from short range, to end the game with Canterbury running out convincing winners 40-14.
The Bulldogs now set their sights on bitter rivals the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, the scene of their finals exit last season, where they were blown away by the Tricolours in the second half to end their disappointing 2015 campaign. Brisbane will have to pick up the pieces quickly as they now host the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium in what promises to be a classic next Friday night.
-
Venue:
Crowd:
Halftime Score: