The end of Canterbury's season may be the start of a spirited premiership run for Brisbane. As one of the game's premier clubs all but bowed out of the finals race, another put the writing on the board in emphatic terms.
So much for the Broncos and five-day turnarounds. With the Bulldogs fresh from the bye and staring down the barrel of a game Des Hasler conceded they must win to stay alive, Brisbane belted them to the tune of 42-12 at Suncorp StadiumÂ
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Broncos bury Bulldogs
The Broncos claimed a comfortable 30 point win to continue their push for the top four.
Only 24,267 were there on a school night to see it unfold but those that made the trek saw a side building ominously for the final six weeks of competition and beyond. Anthony Milford had a few creaks but he has now returned, while Darius Boyd will be back next round.
So dominant were Brisbane in the second half that between the 53rd and 68th minute, the only touch the Bulldogs had was when Milford kicked the Steeden right into the bread basket of Josh Reynolds.
For all of Brisbane's quality, this would have been a bitterly disappointing night for Hasler, his players and Bulldogs fans. With so much on the line, they huffed a little, puffed a lot, then found themselves roundly outclassed across the field.
Milford was given a breather late and he will only improve after a long injury lay-off. With Boyd to slot back in the number one jersey, the Broncos have every right to be considered the most serious of contenders for another deep finals run.
Things started well enough for the Dogs, who crossed early through Marcelo Montoya for a 6-0 lead. And they were doing good things at both ends of the field, swarming on Matt Gillett after 15 minutes as he looked certain to find the chalk.
He would squeeze the ball out in a final attempt but officials correctly detected a bobble. But there was no doubt about Brisbane's opener seven minutes later, when Andrew McCullough opened the Bulldogs defence with concerning ease.
Newcastle-bound Tautau Moga loomed in support and had too much pace for the chasing Montoya, whose dive fell short as the home side levelled the scores.
The Dogs were doing their utmost to edge ahead but things were started to get scrappy just before the break. That was all the invitation Ben Hunt needed as he summed up broken play from 20m out, dummied, sped through a gap and completed a superb individual try.
More pain was on the way for the visitors as their season began to flatline right before their eyes. Brisbane produced a brilliant interchange of short passes on their right, Hunt and Gillett involved again, to put Jordan Kahu over with the final play of the first half.
There was a query on one of the passes but the try stood and Canterbury were staring down a 16-6 deficit as they trudged off the park. There would be no way back.
No sooner had they resumed and Moga was causing problems. The Dogs were making him look untouchable. He cut them apart on the left but butchered a certain try when he put the blinkers on and failed to look to his right, where Kodi Nikorima was unmarked.
Kahu helped himself to a penalty but the Broncos were leaving more points on the park. Young winger Jonus Pearson was too cute by half when he opted for the one-handed put down in the corner. His heart almost fell out of his chest as it slipped out of his grasp.
Nikorima was quick to make amends, putting Brisbane up 24-6 and snuffing out what little hope the Dogs had of playing finals football. After that, it was a procession, with the Dogs making a beeline for the exit and Brisbane just warming up.
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