What A Mismatch
by
Saturday July 12, 2003

The Brisbane Broncos have tumbled from the premiership lead after being humbled 40-4 by the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.  The Broncos, facetiously labelled the Baby Broncos minus their 10 State of Origin representative, never seriously had a chance in this game and the Bulldogs showed just how much of an impact State of Origin has on Brisbane with a dominant performance.

The Bulldogs led 22-0 at half time, and while the Broncos held on during the first 20 minutes of the second half to trail 22-4, the Bulldog ran riot in the final 15 minutes against a tiring Broncos side reduced to 15-men, running out 40-4 winners, their biggest ever win against the Broncos.

But should the win really count in the record books?  The match itself was no fairer than a preseason trial between an NRL side and a Queensland Cup outfit.  Yet the impact on the premiership race has been profound.  The Broncos have slipped to second with a massive blow to their for and against, while the Bulldogs have virtually been given a free two competition points and a 36-point boost to their for and against, which is now second only to the Roosters.

To their credit, the Bulldogs put away their opposition, which is all they can do, but the impact the NRL's ludicrous scheduling has now had on the Broncos' premiership campaign is tragic at best, criminal at worst.

The Bulldogs, after withstanding early Broncos pressure in which Carl Webb stormed through from half way to all but provide the opening try, leapt to a 12-0 lead thanks to pin point Brent Sherwin grubber kicks. The first sat up beautifully for fullback Luke Patten, while the second was perfectly weighted for himself to chase through.

Sherwin scored his second after 30 minutes when Tony Grimaldi stormed through a yawning gap, extending the lead to 18, which became 22 when Ben Harris dived over for another soft try out wide.

Casey McGuire latched onto a well timed Scott Prince pass midway through the second half but that was the Broncos' only joy, Nigel Vagana answering with an individual intercept try moments later.  Patten scored his second with five minutes to go and Glenn Hall made it a bitter pill for Broncos fans and players alike to swallow when he sliced through after the siren to bring up the 40.

Bulldogs fans and players rejoiced, but deep down even they must've felt hollow beating a side so grossly out of its depth.  That the Baby Broncos beat the Wests Tigers in the corresponding game last season shows how remarkable that really was.

Of the Broncos' young guns, only fullback Tony Duggan really stood up to be counted.  He defused almost everything Sherwin kicked his way and looked dangerous at times in attack.  Scott Minto, Craig Frawley and Corey Parker also represented the youngsters well, while Scott Prince and Carl Webb were the best of the old hands - and both are under 23. Richard Swain was outstanding in defence at hooker.

Brad Meyers continues to baffle fans as to how he secured a four-year deal with yet another butter-fingered display. It's now been two years since he made his Test debut against New Zealand, the match in which Clinton Toopi hit him with a post-tackle forearm that seriously concussed the red headed back  rower.  It seems to have completely concussed his career also.

Andrew Gee, in his seventh game as Broncos captain and his first loss, was disappointing up front as he almost certainly plays his last season in first grade.

Brisbane's hopes were dashed early when five-eighth Brett Seymour limped off with a suspected broken foot, and then early in the second half, boom young forward Sam Thaiday was helped off with what looked a serious ankle injury. With only 15 men to finish the game, the Broncos had no hope.

The Bulldogs were outstanding, despite also being without Origin stars Braith Anasta, Willie Mason, Steve Price and Travis Norton, and hooker Corey Hughes through suspension. Sherwin was the rock that the rest of the team rallied around, with Andrew Ryan, Mark O'Meley, Nigel Vagana and Luke Patten amongst the best.  Dennis Scott, Asotasi and Hall were also strong.

The Broncos now face a tough away assignment against Melbourne four days after the dead rubber State of Origin game.  Hopefully the NRL will spend this offseason contemplating what a poor advertisement for the competition tonight's game was and will work to do what everyone would prefer to see - a club competition suspended for three weeks during State of Origin, as was the case in 2001.