From www.smh.com.au
By Greg Prichard
Bulldogs 20 Brisbane 37
CHAMPION five-eighth Darren Lockyer orchestrated a remarkable second-half recovery by Brisbane that saw them overcome a 14-point deficit and win running away over the Bulldogs in tonight's first preliminary final - setting up a grand final clash with the winner of Saturday night's game between Melbourne and St George Illawarra.
It was the third-biggest winning comeback in finals history and Bulldogs fans were left stunned by the manner in which their team folded after leading 20-6 at half-time, as the Broncos scored 31 unanswered points.
The Bulldogs were in shock afterwards, second-rower Willie Mason saying: "You think you're going to win a game ... it's a bit like a bad dream and you get knocked off. There's no-one else to blame but us."
Before they built their big first-half lead, the Bulldogs made a few mistakes and it was off the back of a couple of those that the Broncos got into position to score the opening try of the match, in the ninth minute. But they still needed a clearance from video referee Bill Harrigan and they may have been lucky to get one.
Replays showed Brisbane second-rower Brad Thorn acting as a shepherd as hooker Shaun Berrigan charged over the line. Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten was still able to make a tackle on Berrigan despite initially being inconvenienced by Thorn's presence, but the would-be defender who got blocked altogether was second-rower Andrew Ryan. Still, Harrigan awarded the try.
Lockyer's conversion meant the Broncos were up 6-0, but the Bulldogs grabbed a share of the lead only three minutes later and it was the comeback man - prop Roy Asotasi, returning from a knee injury - who made it happen when he split the defence off a neat ball from prop Mark O'Meley, 25m out from the Brisbane line.
Asotasi found five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth in support and he slid over in a tackle to score. Winger Hazem El Masri converted. Harrigan was called into action again in the 16th minute, when Lockyer made a swerving run close to the opposition line and the defence seemed to open up for him. Lockyer put centre Brent Tate over for a try, but replays showed Brisbane lock Tonie Carroll blocking Holdsworth's attempt to get to Lockyer and Harrigan ruled in favour of the Bulldogs.
Holdsworth injured his ankle when he fell awkwardly as a result of the collision and he went straight to the dressing-room, failing to return.
For the third time Harrigan was used, in the 20th minute, when an around-the-corner pass from Mason as he was about to hit the ground in a tackle was scooped up by halfback Brent Sherwin for a Bulldogs try. Harrigan ruled Mason had not knocked on and awarded the try. Again El Masri converted and six minutes later he kicked a penalty goal.
The Bulldogs had scored 14 straight points and the game was in danger of slipping away from Brisbane. That danger became a red alert in the 28th minute, when Bulldogs winger Matt Utai smashed his way over Broncos winger Darius Boyd to score and El Masri converted, to make it 20-6.
It was crucial that the Broncos survive until half-time so they could get into the dressing-room and regroup and they managed to do that. Then, Brisbane registered a stunning revival at the start of the second half.
Berrigan made a 60m break down the left, shrugging off a Utai tackle and then doing tremendously well to stretch out and score despite a tremendous effort by Mason to get to him. Prop Corey Parker converted to cut the deficit to eight points and then Brisbane second-rower Dane Carlaw crashed over and Parker converted again. The second half was only 10 minutes old and the Broncos were right back in it, trailing 20-18.
It was up to the Bulldogs to find something extra if they were going to stay in front, because it had become patently clear that 20 points wasn't going to be enough to win, and for a few minutes they did lift. But they couldn't score and the Broncos kept coming. Then it happened. Tate made a break down the right and set up a 60th-minute try for Boyd.
Parker missed the conversion attempt, but the Broncos were back in front, 22-20. And they were only going to go further in front. Lockyer scored in the 67th minute and then, when he couldn't find room for a shot at field goal, set up a try for Tate in the 70th. Parker landed the latter conversion and Brisbane were away, leading 32-20. Then Parker scored a late try and the comeback was complete.
In the second half, Broncos prop Petero Civoniceva was placed on report for a high shot on Sonny Bill Williams.
BRISBANE 37 (S Berrigan 2, D Boyd, D Carlaw, D Lockyer, C Parker, B Tate tries; C Parker 3, D Lockyer goals; D Lockyer field goal) bt BULLDOGS 20 (D Holdsworth, B Sherwin, M Utai tries; H El Masri 4 goals) at Aussie Stadium. Referee: P Simpkins. Crowd: 29,511.
By Greg Prichard
Bulldogs 20 Brisbane 37
CHAMPION five-eighth Darren Lockyer orchestrated a remarkable second-half recovery by Brisbane that saw them overcome a 14-point deficit and win running away over the Bulldogs in tonight's first preliminary final - setting up a grand final clash with the winner of Saturday night's game between Melbourne and St George Illawarra.
It was the third-biggest winning comeback in finals history and Bulldogs fans were left stunned by the manner in which their team folded after leading 20-6 at half-time, as the Broncos scored 31 unanswered points.
The Bulldogs were in shock afterwards, second-rower Willie Mason saying: "You think you're going to win a game ... it's a bit like a bad dream and you get knocked off. There's no-one else to blame but us."
Before they built their big first-half lead, the Bulldogs made a few mistakes and it was off the back of a couple of those that the Broncos got into position to score the opening try of the match, in the ninth minute. But they still needed a clearance from video referee Bill Harrigan and they may have been lucky to get one.
Replays showed Brisbane second-rower Brad Thorn acting as a shepherd as hooker Shaun Berrigan charged over the line. Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten was still able to make a tackle on Berrigan despite initially being inconvenienced by Thorn's presence, but the would-be defender who got blocked altogether was second-rower Andrew Ryan. Still, Harrigan awarded the try.
Lockyer's conversion meant the Broncos were up 6-0, but the Bulldogs grabbed a share of the lead only three minutes later and it was the comeback man - prop Roy Asotasi, returning from a knee injury - who made it happen when he split the defence off a neat ball from prop Mark O'Meley, 25m out from the Brisbane line.
Asotasi found five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth in support and he slid over in a tackle to score. Winger Hazem El Masri converted. Harrigan was called into action again in the 16th minute, when Lockyer made a swerving run close to the opposition line and the defence seemed to open up for him. Lockyer put centre Brent Tate over for a try, but replays showed Brisbane lock Tonie Carroll blocking Holdsworth's attempt to get to Lockyer and Harrigan ruled in favour of the Bulldogs.
Holdsworth injured his ankle when he fell awkwardly as a result of the collision and he went straight to the dressing-room, failing to return.
For the third time Harrigan was used, in the 20th minute, when an around-the-corner pass from Mason as he was about to hit the ground in a tackle was scooped up by halfback Brent Sherwin for a Bulldogs try. Harrigan ruled Mason had not knocked on and awarded the try. Again El Masri converted and six minutes later he kicked a penalty goal.
The Bulldogs had scored 14 straight points and the game was in danger of slipping away from Brisbane. That danger became a red alert in the 28th minute, when Bulldogs winger Matt Utai smashed his way over Broncos winger Darius Boyd to score and El Masri converted, to make it 20-6.
It was crucial that the Broncos survive until half-time so they could get into the dressing-room and regroup and they managed to do that. Then, Brisbane registered a stunning revival at the start of the second half.
Berrigan made a 60m break down the left, shrugging off a Utai tackle and then doing tremendously well to stretch out and score despite a tremendous effort by Mason to get to him. Prop Corey Parker converted to cut the deficit to eight points and then Brisbane second-rower Dane Carlaw crashed over and Parker converted again. The second half was only 10 minutes old and the Broncos were right back in it, trailing 20-18.
It was up to the Bulldogs to find something extra if they were going to stay in front, because it had become patently clear that 20 points wasn't going to be enough to win, and for a few minutes they did lift. But they couldn't score and the Broncos kept coming. Then it happened. Tate made a break down the right and set up a 60th-minute try for Boyd.
Parker missed the conversion attempt, but the Broncos were back in front, 22-20. And they were only going to go further in front. Lockyer scored in the 67th minute and then, when he couldn't find room for a shot at field goal, set up a try for Tate in the 70th. Parker landed the latter conversion and Brisbane were away, leading 32-20. Then Parker scored a late try and the comeback was complete.
In the second half, Broncos prop Petero Civoniceva was placed on report for a high shot on Sonny Bill Williams.
BRISBANE 37 (S Berrigan 2, D Boyd, D Carlaw, D Lockyer, C Parker, B Tate tries; C Parker 3, D Lockyer goals; D Lockyer field goal) bt BULLDOGS 20 (D Holdsworth, B Sherwin, M Utai tries; H El Masri 4 goals) at Aussie Stadium. Referee: P Simpkins. Crowd: 29,511.
