Canterbury have strengthened their NRL top-four problem after a dominant 41-16 victory over an out of types Brisbane Broncos outfit at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Connor Tracey scored a hat-trick as Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo got here ready together with his facet exploiting gaping holes within the Broncos defence all day and will have simply added to their seven tries of the afternoon after a number of blown probabilities to attain.
The defeat – Brisbane’s eleventh of 2024 – successfully ends their season. Brisbane’s finals hopes are in tatters, Kevin Walter’s facet now requiring a 100 per report of their remaining 5 matches to provide themselves a sniff of playoffs, not to mention a return to the Grand Remaining after the demoralising defeat to Penrith within the 2023 decider.
Flashes of brilliance from Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh saved the Broncos within the contest till late within the day however their terrible defence and lack of cohesion in assault – even with star half Adam Reynolds within the line-up – meant they by no means regarded a real likelihood of claiming the 2 competitors factors in entrance a giant residence gallery.
Walters annoyed as Brisbane’s finals hopes hold by a thread
Brisbane followers have waited all season for his or her membership to place collectively a successful run however it simply hasn’t occurred. Final week’s victory over Newcastle might’ve been the win wanted to kickstart a late-season finals push – as a substitute the Broncos’ equation to get again into the finals image is now 5 wins from 5 required, together with a visit north to Queensland Nation Financial institution Stadium and internet hosting Melbourne – a sport that would have minor premiership implications for the Storm.
“We’ve obtained to win however we’ve obtained to get again to enjoying our footy,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters stated when requested concerning the Broncos’ finals probabilities. “We’ll have discussions with the teaching employees and gamers and attempt to plan for that.”
Broncos have zero solutions for Ciraldo masterclass
Bronson Xerri obtained the Bulldogs off to an excellent begin as Canterbury started to throw the ball round and the centre crashed over for the primary four-pointer.
Quickly after it was Connor Tracey’s flip to attain from Toby Sexton’s deft kick behind the Broncos line with Walsh pushed up and away from the motion.
Canterbury have been in once more after Jacob Kiraz produced a second of sheer brilliance to reel in Reed Mahoney’s cross-field kick and provides off a easy move for Jeral Skelton to go in for the Canines’ third strive.
Payne Haas is tackled. (Picture by Albert Perez/Getty Photographs)
Brisbane responded with talisman Walsh scoring their first strive with a set transfer from a scrum after Staggs compelled a Canterbury error deep in Bulldogs territory.
Walsh then executed a wonderful 40-20 however the Broncos couldn’t capitalise with Payne Haas becoming a member of the ahead kickers membership with predictable outcomes.
As a substitute of simply enjoying out their ultimate set of the primary half Ezra Mam kicked for Staggs who ran 65 metres to attain, beating a number of defenders together with Tracey one-on-one to cut back the half-time deficit to only six factors after Brisbane had been effectively outplayed within the opening 40 minutes.
Reserving the momentum after the break was Viliame Kikau, muscling his means over the road from shut vary to stretch his facet’s result in 12 factors within the forty first minute.
Tracey doubled his cash within the 58th minute, the Bulldogs but once more making a line break with ease and the No.1 completed off the transfer to stretch the lead once more.
Kiraz put the consequence out of Brisbane’s attain, making mild work of the defence to attain Canterbury’s sixth strive of the day with the Broncos utterly out of solutions defensively.
After one more line break Tracey accomplished his hat-trick, placing an exclamation level on a formidable Bulldogs win.
Martin Taupau added the Broncos’ third strive within the 76th minute however it was mere comfort earlier than Burton kicked a area purpose.
