Brisbane Broncos send message with victory over Canterbury

THE heat has magnified on Des Hasler after the Brisbane Broncos powered past Canterbury, ending its finals hopes.

Kodi Nikorima of the Broncos is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try.

BRISBANE delivered a seemingly fatal blow to Canterbury’s NRL finals hopes with a slick 42-12 victory at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

It was a must-win for the Bulldogs, who looked in the mood to spring an upset after scoring the opener through Marcelo Montoya just six minutes in.

But they were completely overrun after that point, conceding six consecutive tries as the Broncos ran riot in front of 24,267 supporters.

The Bulldogs were starved of possession in the second half and the only time they touched the ball between the 53rd and 68th minutes was when Josh Reynolds copped an Anthony Milford kick to his stomach.

James Roberts of the Broncos breaks away from the defence.

Making a mockery of suggestions they would struggle to back up from their first five-day turnaround of the year, Brisbane used the first game of the post-Origin period to play themselves back into form.

Des Hasler’s men had no answers to their attacking onslaught, with the defeat leaving them stranded in 13th place, four points adrift from the eight with only six rounds to play.

While Brisbane were sluggish out of the blocks, they well and truly found their range after Newcastle-bound Tautau Moga levelled things up in the 22nd minute, capitalising on a handy break from Andrew McCullough.

They scored twice more — through a terrific Ben Hunt run-and-gun effort five minutes from the break, and then Jordan Kahu on the siren — to go into the sheds 16-6 ahead.

Ben Hunt of the Broncos celebrates.

Then the Broncos took things up a few notches, and the floodgates opened. Kodi Nikorima, Josh McGuire and Roberts each scored tries within a blistering seven-minute stretch from Brisbane.

Roberts’ try was the pick of the bunch, burning through the line and past a lazy Bulldogs defence, before returning to complete his double on right on full-time.

The loss also continues to put pressure on Hasler, as many on social media again calling for the head of the Bulldogs’ boss.

This might be the end for Dessie #nrlbroncosbulldogs

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) July 20, 2017

Des Hasler out. He's had his chance. Sack him tomorrow morning @NRL_Bulldogs. #NRLBroncosBulldogs

— Charbel Coorey (@CharbelC93) July 20, 2017

If Des wasn't in trouble before tonight, this won't have helped his cause. This has been another terrible performance. Dogs are in all sorts

— Brent Read (@brentread_7) July 20, 2017

Surely this is the end of Des Halser's coaching career. Good players have given up. #NRLBroncosBulldogs

— PaulMitry (@pavorka) July 20, 2017

Des' streak of making the finals is dead. Going to be under all sorts of pressure. Knives are being sharpened #nrlbroncosbulldogs

— Steve Zemek (@stevezemek) July 20, 2017

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos send message with victory over Canterbury