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SYDNEY - Brisbane defied the most unsettling of preparations to continue their recent domination over the Bulldogs with a crucial 19-12 NRL victory at Telstra Stadium on Friday.
The Broncos ran in three tries to two to claim their fourth straight win over the Dogs and jump two
spots to 10th on the table.
Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer, two days after leading Queensland to an Origin series victory over NSW at the same ground, made it an impressive double as he guided a patch-work Broncos from 6-0 behind early to victory on the back of 19 consecutive points.
Queensland centre Justin Hodges turned the game Brisbane's way when he sprinted 65m to score in the 24th minute.
It earned the visitors their first lead of the night, 12-6, with winger Steve Michaels' try five minutes after the break giving the Broncos what proved a matchwinning break.
Corey Parker added a 35m penalty goal 15 minutes from fulltime, before Lockyer cooly slotted a field goal to send Bulldogs' fans heading for the exits early.
Sonny Bill Williams scored a consolation try for the Bulldogs, but it was all too late.
Brisbane had six players backing up from Wednesday's second State of Origin -- compared to two from the Bulldogs.
But more unsettling was the flurry of late changes coach Wayne Bennett was forced to make after Darius Boyd (hamstring) and David Taylor (quadriceps) were ruled out only hours before kickoff.
Replacements John Te Reo and Clifford Manua were both rushed from Brisbane to Sydney this morning to cover for the duo, with Craig Frawley already added after Queensland winger Brent Tate injured his knee against NSW.
Bennett made several positional changes, with Maroons fullback Karmichael Hunt only cleared to play this morning after passing a fitness test on his injured.
Yet despite all the changes and disruptions, the patch-work Broncos held well enough together to claim a vital victory in their premiership defence.
Brisbane have now won their last four games against the Bulldogs dating back to the start of last year.
Included in that run was last year's preliminary final triumph.
The Dogs looked like they could end that streak early when centre Daryl Millard dived over in the corner.
Tonie Carroll, though, levelled in the 18th minute when he barged over -- the try awarded by video referee Graeme West after being referred for a possible obstruction.
Soon after Dogs hooker Corey Hughes burrowed over from dummy-half, only for the try to be denied by the video ref for obstruction.
Hughes was ruled to have illegally used marker Hazem El Masri to push his way over.
Hodges then made it a double blow for the Dogs when he sprinted 65m to score.
A kick from Dogs five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth ricocheted off Darren Lockyer with the ball bouncing perfectly for Hodges, who tip-toed down the sideline before palming off Luke Patten to plant the ball under the posts.
- AAP