Match Details
Match Date	8th Aug, 2014
Opponent	Brisbane
Result	Loss 10-41
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
Crowd	28,344
Referee	Gerard Sutton Alan Shortall

A month ago, Canterbury and their livewire five-eighth Josh Reynolds could do no wrong.

Now, the Bulldogs are struggling to make the finals and Reynolds’ immediate playing future is in doubt over a double dose of madness in the blue-and-whites’ fourth consecutive defeat – a game he finished in the sin bin.

First, the NSW pivot was reported for lashing out with his foot at Brisbane’s Sam Thaiday while he was on the ground. Then he tripped Bronco Ben Barba. He was reported for both offences as the Bulldogs put together four consecutive losses for the first time since the start of last season.

A high tackle on Alex Glenn three minutes from full-time at Suncorp Stadium prompted the referees to make good on a threat to despatch him to the sin bin, where television cameras captured Reynolds kicking a chair.

The Bulldogs provided both halves, Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, to NSW’S victorious State of Origin campaign. But since that glorious triumph, the men from Belmore have coughed and spluttered their way through a winless month. Brisbane are back in the finals race while the Bulldogs will be fighting to keep their campaign alive against Parramatta on Friday.

Brisbane led 20-6 at the end of a first half that featured a couple of freakish tries. Reynolds’ 13th-minute score was the ultimate broken-play touchdown. Josh Jackson sent a wonky pass to Reynolds, who kicked into the north eastern corner. Tim Lafai tapped the ball back to Reynolds who crossed, the Broncos arguing that Jackson had been inside the 10 pursuing the kick. He was – but played no part in the play.

Broncos prop Josh McGuire was ruled to have lost the ball over the line in the 21st minute but shortly afterwards, Brisbane opened their account.

A dangerous Corey Parker offloaded around the corner to Matt Gillett, whose flick to scorer Dale Copley was eye-catching but close to forward.

On-field officials Gerard Sutton and Alan Shortall appeared to have little idea if Brisbane winger Daniel Vidot snuck over in the corner in the 13th minute but opted for a try.

When video referees Bernard Sutton and Luke Phillips agreed, the Bulldogs erupted. “How can you give that a try?” captain Michael Ennis said. “There’s no evidence at all he got that on the ground.”

Sutton said it had been called a try live and the video officials had not had sufficient evidence to overturn their ruling.

After a positive start, the Bulldogs were facing a fourth consecutive defeat. That outcome was held at bay momentarily when Jackson fought his way over in the 47th minute.

But five minutes after Reynolds was booked for the first time, Brisbane replacement forward Corey Oates crashed over off Gillett’s pass. Then hooker Andrew McCullough added a field goal before further tries to Thaiday and Hunt wrapped up the points.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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