The Bulldogs Holden Cup side have locked up a top four spot with a 48-32 victory over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
Coach Andy Patmore was forced to make a couple of changes prior to kick-off with winger Dylan Rintoul and front rower Lloyd Perrett being forced out due to injury and Lindon McGrady and David Minute being confirmed as starters.
The first half was very much tit-for-tat with the sides going try for try in the opening 40. The Broncos opened their account in just the fifth minute through back rower Brett Greinke and then ran in their second try in the 18th through Jo Ofahengaue and their third in the 28th minute through five-eighth Kodi Nikorima. All three tries were converted by halfback Duncan Paiaaua.
It was the Bulldogs though who went to the break in front after a Patrick Templeman try on the stroke of half-time broke the deadlock. Tries to Jaelen Feeney, McGrady, Michael Morgan and then Templeman gave the Bulldogs a 24-18 lead with the fullback also converting all four tries.
The Broncos opened the second half with a try but the young pups were able to run in a further four second half tries with the Broncos only able to cross for two giving the Bulldogs a 48-32 victory.
McGrady crossed for a hat-trick of tries with Templeman also adding a further 20 points to his season tally with a try and eight goals.
In the end it was eight tries to six.
BULLDOGS 48 (McGrady 3, Morgan 2, Feeney, Templeman, Graham Tries; Templeman 8 Goals)
Def.
BRONCOS 32 (Greinke, Ofahengaue, Nikorima, Alick, Opacic, Berrell Tries; Paiaaua 4 Goals)
At: Suncorp Stadium
Coach Andy Patmore was forced to make a couple of changes prior to kick-off with winger Dylan Rintoul and front rower Lloyd Perrett being forced out due to injury and Lindon McGrady and David Minute being confirmed as starters.
The first half was very much tit-for-tat with the sides going try for try in the opening 40. The Broncos opened their account in just the fifth minute through back rower Brett Greinke and then ran in their second try in the 18th through Jo Ofahengaue and their third in the 28th minute through five-eighth Kodi Nikorima. All three tries were converted by halfback Duncan Paiaaua.
It was the Bulldogs though who went to the break in front after a Patrick Templeman try on the stroke of half-time broke the deadlock. Tries to Jaelen Feeney, McGrady, Michael Morgan and then Templeman gave the Bulldogs a 24-18 lead with the fullback also converting all four tries.
The Broncos opened the second half with a try but the young pups were able to run in a further four second half tries with the Broncos only able to cross for two giving the Bulldogs a 48-32 victory.
McGrady crossed for a hat-trick of tries with Templeman also adding a further 20 points to his season tally with a try and eight goals.
In the end it was eight tries to six.
BULLDOGS 48 (McGrady 3, Morgan 2, Feeney, Templeman, Graham Tries; Templeman 8 Goals)
Def.
BRONCOS 32 (Greinke, Ofahengaue, Nikorima, Alick, Opacic, Berrell Tries; Paiaaua 4 Goals)
At: Suncorp Stadium
