Broncos get up in the wet

The Brisbane Broncos have beaten the Canterbury Bulldogs 36-22 at a rain-soaked ANZ Stadium in front of 7,685 diehard fans.

The fans must have been looking for coffee to help with drowsiness at ANZ today as the match was one of the most uninspiring of the year.

Darren Lockyer will do well to remember his 300th game in the NRL, the match never really getting off the ground with endless dropped ball from both sides as well as a visible lack of intensity.

The Bulldogs started the game well skipping out to a 12 nil lead 16 minutes in but that was where the fun ended for the Dogs. Along with the rain came errors, and lots of them. Brisbane profited from Bulldogs errors to score three tries in what remained of the half to go in to the break up by six, 18-12.

The second half saw the Broncos put the Bulldogs away early on and despite a couple of tries the Bulldogs never look like they had the ammunition to match the cruising Broncos side.

The big news for the Broncos is that star forward Sam Thaiday may be in trouble for a lifting tackle in the 74th minute of the game. It may be looked at by the match review panel, though there shouldn't be too much drama for big Sam.

The Bulldogs, well, they showed some glimpses of form but they still look like a side that is thinking about next season.

Match Details Brisbane Broncos 36 def Canterbury Bulldogs 22 Round 25 - Sunday August 31st, 2008 3:00pm Venue: ANZ Stadium Referee: Jared Maxwell Touch Judges: Peter Kirby, Rod Lawrence Video Referee: Graeme West Half time: Broncos 18-12 Crowd: 7,685

Canterbury Bulldogs 22 Tries: Corey Hughes, Heka Nanai (2), Jarrad Hickey Goals: Hazem El Masri (3/4) Brisbane Broncos 36 Tries: Sam Thaiday (2), Justin Hodges (2), David Stagg, Joel Moon Goals: Corey Parker (6/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match 3 Points: Justin Hodges (Broncos) 2 Points: Matthew Utai (Bulldogs) 1 Point: Darren Lockyer (Broncos)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Good afternoon NRL fans and welcome to League Unlimited for our live coverage of the match up this afternoon between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, where the temperature is 19 degrees.

The Bulldogs (14points, last place) will be looking to salvage something, anything, in their two remaining games for 2008, and who better to do it against than their old rivals Brisbane. That may be the thinking this afternoon for the Dogs,