Match Details
Match Date	22nd Jul, 2005
Opponent	Brisbane
Result	Win 29-22
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (Telstra Stadium)
Crowd	29,112
Referee	Steve Clark

Reigning NRL premiers the Bulldogs have sent a warning to the rest of the competition with a 29-22 victory over this season's ladder leaders the Broncos at the Olympic Stadium.

The victory moves the Dogs from 10th to fourth on the ladder, albeit only until the remainder of the weekend's matches are played.

But it will send a shiver down the spines of the clubs vying for positions in the top eight.

The Dogs have been languishing in the wrong half of the ladder for most of the season, but with players returning from injury and others beginning to find form they are firming as real dark horses to defend the premiership they won last season.

Against Brisbane, they showed great character to recover from an early 10-0 deficit to race past the Broncos, and once they were in front the Dogs would not let Brisbane retake the lead.

The first 16 minutes of the match produced no points, but after that quiet prelude the sides piled on five first half tries.

Brisbane centre Shaun Berrigan began things with his 18th try of the NRL season. Brett Seymour's conversion gave the Broncos a 6-0 lead.

Just a couple of minutes later that lead was out to 10-0 when Berrigan's in-form centre partner Justin Hodges scored.

But the Dogs were not intimidated and Matt Utai, Tony Grimaldi and Jamaal Lolesi added tries - the first two converted by Hazem El Masri for a 16-10 lead.

For the second week in a row Brisbane found themselves behind at half-time despite scoring the game's first two tries.

The Dogs went further ahead in the second half with a converted try to prop Mark O'Meley to lead 22-10.

That was the signal for the Broncos to come back and converted tries to forwards David Stagg and Tonie Carroll - both set up by Darren Lockyer magic - saw the match back in the balance at 22-all with 19 minutes to play.

But a Brent Sherwin try, a conversion by El Masri and a Briath Anasta field goal made the points safe for the Dogs.

Source: www.abc.net.au

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