Broncos stunned by spirited Bulldogs
THE bumbling Broncos have copped a brutal reality check after having their NRL premiership credentials hammered in a 36- 22 embarrassment to the battling Bulldogs last night.
After surging into top four contention in the past month, the Broncos came crashing back down to earth with a woeful performance at ANZ Stadium that raised serious questions about whether Brisbane had the mental strength to challenge for this year’s title.
With only four matches remaining in the regular season, the seventh- placed Broncos are at long odds to make the crucial top four after losing a game they simply should have won.
No team has won the NRL premiership from outside the top four since the league’s creation in 1998 and while this year’s competition is as even as ever, the Broncos have struggled for consistency.
After beating top- eight teams Penrith and Cronulla in recent weeks, the Broncos should have made light work of the cellar- dwelling Bulldogs.
Instead, Brisbane turned up with the energy of a sloth and concentration of a toddler as they committed 11 errors.
Five- eighth Anthony Milford, winger Corey Oates and boom forward Tevita Pangai Jr turned in their worst performances of the season and Jordan Kahu was hooked midway through the second half.
If not for a brilliant brace of tries, which could have easily been a hat- trick, to bench prop Korbin Sims, the score would have looked even more dire for the Broncos.
Brisbane needs one more win to guarantee a top- eight finish and should manage that with games against the Cowboys ( 15th), Rabbitohs ( 2nd), Roosters ( 3rd) and Sea Eagles ( 14th) to come.
But they will have to produce a dramatic turnaround in next Thursday’s derby against North Queensland in Townsville to get back into title contention.