Broncos buck 'Dogs out of Finals

After leading 20-6 at half-time the Bulldogs couldn't manage a single point in the second half as the grand final-bound Broncos piled on six tries to race away 37-20 winners at Aussie Stadium tonight.

The Bulldogs left the field with their tails between their legs after an embarrassing final forty minutes put an end to their 2006 campaign and an end to the career of stalwart Tony Grimaldi.

Grimaldi, along with Roy Asotasi and Nate Myles would have wanted a better send off from the blue-and-whites but the 'Dogs simply couldn't contain a determined Brisbane outfit.

The opening exchanges were what we all expected as both forward packs threw themselves at each other as the war began.

Inside the opening ten minutes it was the Broncos who dealt the first blow of the night after hooker Shaun Berrigan found his way over the line. The video referee had no problems with the obstruction, and with a successful conversion from Darren Lockyer, the Broncos led 6-0 early.

After scoring the opening try for the 'Dogs, five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth picked up an ankle injury and just 16 minutes into the contest was forced to leave the field. He later returned to the sidelines on crutches. Reni Maitua made his way onto the field while young Ben Roberts moved from the centres into the five-eighth role.

Willie Mason launched himself at the Broncos defence, in the 21st minute, before getting an offload away close to the line as Sherwin picked up the scraps to stroll over the tryline. El Masri added the extras from right in front as the 'Dogs led 12-6.

Five minutes later the Bulldogs once again found themselves inside Brisbane territory, attacking out on the right hand side before they were awarded a penalty. The 'Dogs opted for the two points from El Masri and the margin grew to eight with 15 minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

The Bulldogs were clearly getting on top of the Brisbane boys now and it wasn't long before Matt Utai found the line courtesy of a Sherwin cut-out ball. The stocky winger received the pass before trampling Broncos winger Darius Boyd. El Masri nailed the sideline conversion and with just over ten minutes remaining, the Bulldogs led 20-6.

Just five minutes into the second half, Berrigan raced past several defenders before getting rid of Utai and out-pacing Mason to the corner. The video referee was called on once again and had no troubles with the grounding as Corey Parker stepped up and nailed the conversion from out wide, bringing to score to 20-12.

What happened next was simply a coach-killer. With the Bulldogs running the ball out of their own end, a stray pass hit the deck as Chris Armit failed to clean up the scraps.

The Broncos pounced on the opportunity and from the proceeding tackle they found themselves over again, this time thanks to a rampaging Dane Carlaw who simply forced his way over. Parker slotted the conversion once more and the Broncos were within two points with 30 minutes remaining.

The next ten minutes were contested by the forwards once again before some Bronco brilliance out wide saw Tate race down the touchline before offloading inside to young Darius Boyd.

The Broncos had hit the front for the first time since the opening exchanges however Parkers' conversion was unsuccessful as the scoreboard read 22-20 in favour of Brisbane.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs were clearly tiring and the Broncos knew it as they continued to work the ball from side to side.

In the 67th minute captain Lockyer showed great skill to find the line as he exploited the lazy 'Dogs defence. Parker failed to convert once again as the scores remained 26-20.

From the kick-restart, Sherwin was able to regather the ball and there was still hope for the Bulldogs as they went on the attack deep on Broncos territory.

Desperate defence from the Broncos and poor execution from the 'Dogs saw the attacking raid come to a halt with ten minutes remaining. The Broncos managed two late tries to Tate and Parker, and a 78th minute field goal from Lockyer.

After looking so promising early in the match, the Bulldogs season has now ended while the Broncos await the winner of tomorrow night's clash between the Melbourne Storm and the St George-Illawarra Dragons at Telstra Stadium.

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