Bulldogs forwards vow to silence their doubters again in heavyweight showdown with Payne Haas and the Broncos

They’ve been called too small for the past two seasons, but Canterbury’s forwards have the chance to silence their critics once and for all if they can topple Payne Haas and Brisbane’s behemoth pack.

Canterbury’s forwards have heard the same story for the past two seasons that they’re simply not big enough to match it with rival packs.

But the Bulldogs continue to silence their doubters ahead of another massive test against Brisbane’s all-star front row.

The Bulldogs remain unbeaten heading into round eight, with their only loss of 2025 coming in the pre-season against the Broncos where they were soundly beaten.

But pre-season form counts for little two months into the NRL competition, with Max King and Josh Curran leading the way up front, with the pair coming off a demolition job against the Rabbitohs through the middle.

Max King is in the mix for higher honours after a terrific start to the season. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Curran opened the scoring on Good Friday, before King snapped an 80-game drought to grab the second try of the afternoon as Canterbury’s forwards combined for four of their five tries.

King made 223 metres and almost outran the entire South Sydney starting forward pack, while Curran continues to dominate whether he plays on an edge or in the middle.

“Teams say that they’re going to come through our pack, so we take that personally and we see it as a challenge,” Curran said.

“Max has been massive for us this year and it wouldn’t surprise me if he makes the Origin team.

“The form he’s in is unreal. He’s been killing it as the leader of the pack.

“It’s a big challenge for us and we always take it personally when people say they’re going to come through our pack. We want to throw the first punch.”

Canterbury’s next assignment is trying to contain Broncos superstar Payne Haas. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

After wrecking the Rabbitohs last week, the Bulldogs now head north where they’ll take on a Broncos side stinging from a golden point loss in New Zealand.

It’ll be a heavyweight battle up front where Payne Haas (117kg) and Patrick Carrigan (106) have an advantage over King (105) and Curran (104).

The Broncos props have been on fire to start the season, with Haas stamping his authority as one of the great middle forwards of the modern era.

But Curran isn’t shying away from the battle, with the Bulldogs blitzing the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium last year when their speed and ball movement proved too hot to handle for the hosts.

“The Broncos have got a massive pack and they’ve got really good individuals so we’ll have to look at where we need to get better,” he said.

“It’s a big challenge as a forward pack going up against Payne and Patty Carrigan because they’re both rep players.”

Originally published as Bulldogs forwards vow to silence their doubters again in heavyweight showdown with Payne Haas and the Broncos