VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Sunday August 31, 3:00pm AEST
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Bulldogs 26-18 Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, round 18, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: No fresh injuries for either side but Bulldogs forward Brad Morrin sits this one out due to a one-match suspension for a careless high tackle.
FORM: The Bulldogs must feel like they're at a really dud party which they can't escape with time passing agonisingly slowly. The Dogs must endure another two weeks of torture before their forgettable season is euthanised. Teams are taking it in turns to beat up on the one-time bully boys of the NRL. This week Brisbane gets a free shot but the Broncos' form hasn't been great either. They eventually got over the top of Gold Coast last week thanks to some Darren Lockyer brilliance in golden point extra time.
WHO'S HOT: Darren Lockyer's value to this Brisbane team was there for all to see against the Titans. With the Broncos' top-four aspirations on the line, 'Captain Cool' kept his head, handling twice in the try that won his side the game in extra time. They are a completely different side when 'Locky' is at the helm.
WE THINK: The Bulldogs' last win was, amazingly, against Brisbane in Brisbane seven rounds ago. Surely they can't do it twice in one season? The Broncos can keep their top-four hopes alive with victory here and that alone should ensure they are up for the match. The scoreline could end very lopsided if Brisbane hits one of its on days. Broncos by 22.
TEAMS:
Bulldogs: 1 Hazem El Masri, 2 Heka Nanai, 3 Jamal Idris, 4 Tim Winitana, 5 Matt Utai, 6 Ben Roberts, 7 Daniel Holdsworth, 8 Jarrad Hickey, 9 Corey Hughes, 10 Chris Armit, 11 Gary Warburton, 12 Andrew Ryan [c], 13 Lee Te Maari.
Interchange: 14 Frank Winterstein, 15 Brad Morrin, 16 Charlie Leaeno, 17 Nick Kouparitsas.
Brisbane: 1. Karmichael Hunt, 2. Darius Boyd, 3. Joel Moon, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Denan Kemp, 6. Darren Lockyer [c], 7. Peter Wallace, 8. Ben Hannant, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. Joel Clinton, 11. Corey Parker, 12. Sam Thaiday, 13. Tonie Carroll.
Interchange: 14. Ashton Sims, 15. Greg Eastwood, 16. Nick Kenny, 17. David Stagg.