BRISBANE have mounted one of the worst title defences in premiership history but a second half blitz against Canterbury ensured them a winning end to the season.
It was 10 points apiece for the break at Accor Stadium but after halftime Michael Maguire’s side showed glipses of the form that clinched them the 2025 premiership.
Winger Josiah Karapani finished with a try brace in a 34-20 victory, Cameron Ciraldo’s men seemingly still in the sheds when play resumed.
“My goal was to have fun because there’s been a lot of pressure the last few weeks,” Karapani told ABC Radio.
“We wanted to show the fans and everyone watching our capabilities and just our potential as well.
“We get to finish on a high. At least we get to finish with happy faces and that’s probably the most important thing.”
In his final game for Brisbane, Payne Haas had an eventful first half,
First he trampled Bailey Hayward for a fifth-minte try that made the Broncos first on the board.
Then he found himself in the sin bin 10 minutes later for hanging on too long in a tackle.
Hayze Perham had converted the early touchdown and Josiah Karapani added another Brisbane in the 16th minute.
But the Bulldogs hit back – including while Haas was in the sin bin – with scores to Stephen Crichton and Enari Tuala to tie the scores at 10-10 for the break.
The experimental kick-off rule was in force in this game, with the scoring side opting to kick off on several occasions.
Asked if the Broncos would now get a lot of time off, Karapani said: “Knowing our coach, probably not.”
BRISBANE 34 (Karapani 2 Haas Walters Hunt Riki tries Perham 4 goals) beat CANTERBURY 20 (Galvin 2 Tuala Kikau tries Crichton 2 goals) at Accor Stadium
Teams:
CANTERBURY: Connor Tracey; Jacob Kiraz, Matt Burton, Bronson Xerri, Enari Tuala; Stephen Crichton ©, Lachlan Galvin; Max King, Bailey Hayward, Leo Thompson, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon. Res: Jake Turpin, Alec Jones, Harry Hayes, Josh Curran, Jed Reardon, Shaun O’Sullivan.
BRISBANE: Hayze Perham; Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Deain Mariner, Grant Anderson; Ezra Mam, Ben Hunt; Xavier Willison, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Jaiyden Hunt, Jordan Riki, Pat Carrigan ©. Res: Tom Duffy, Va’a Semu, Aublix Tawa, Gehemat Shibasaki, Ben Talty, Cameron Bukowski.
Referee: Grant Atkins.
