Live: Bulldogs vs Broncos at Homebush
HALF-TIME: It's tied 10-10 at the break
The Bulldogs plays some audacious attacking football to end the half but Jacob Preston's grubber ends up with the Broncos and the whistle is blown.
An entertaining half of football, with both sides showing why they're not in the finals and giving glimpses as to why that frustrates their fans so much.
The Dogs are over to tie it up
The left-side shift is unlocked with Viliame Kikau digging into the line and sending a ball back to Stephen Crichton, who throws a lovely cut-out pass to Enari Tuala to score.
That was a bad read by Grant Anderson, who came too far in from his wing.
Stephen Crichton hooks the sideline conversion, so it's 10-10 with four minutes until half-time.
33' Hayze Perham saves the day
Jacob Preston explodes onto a Lachie Galvin short ball and into open space as he's done so many times before. He comes to fullback Hayze Perham with AJ Jones on his left, tries to draw and pass but Perham shoots the gap and bats it down.
A near certain try goes begging.
31' Ezra Mam throws a shocker
The Broncos make a break through the middle courtesy of another Payne Haas offload to Billy Walters, who unleashes Ezra Mam.
He finds himself in open space with no-one around, so he flings it out to the left, but there's no-one there!
26' Almost a very nasty accident
The bomb goes up and Connor Tracey leaps high to take it as Deine Mariner arrives to corral him.
But Mariner's feet slip out from under him as he arrives and he goes right under Tracey, whose boot collects Mariner's face, but mercifully a proper disaster is averted.
23' Broncos choose to receive
Brisbane isn't involved in the silent protest against the kick-off rule trial as, with Payne Haas still in the bin, the Broncos choose to receive the kick-off.
And they get a piggyback as Jacob Preston is dubiously penalised for a crusher tackle on Ezra Mam.
Lachie Galvin dives in for the Dogs
The Broncos' flimsy left side concedes yet another try as Lachlan Galvin sets sail for the yawning gap between Jaiyden Hunt and Ezra Mam.
The outside men over-read and Galvin coasts through as Hunt fails to close the gap.
19' Bulldogs reject possession
The Bulldogs have the option to receive the kick-off after conceding points under this new rule the NRL is trialling.
But the silent protest is on, it seems, as the Dogs refuse it despite surely wanting every attacking opportunity possible against 12 men.
Everyone hates this rule aside from Peter V'landys it seems.
The Broncos score with 12 men!
Ben Hunt's attempted floater bomb is hooked shallow across field and Jacob Kiraz can't handle as Josiah Karapani leaps through and regathers the bobble.
There's a question of Karapani's actions though. Did he get a hand to it as Kiraz fumbled it?
The try is confirmed! Hayze Perham hooks his conversion and the Broncos lead 10-0 after 18 minutes.
15' Payne Haas is in the sin bin!
From the penthouse to the outhouse for big Haas as he commits the Broncos' third straight ruck infringement while they defend their line and he has to go for 10 minutes.
I'm not sure the first two were the correct calls, but Haas left the referee with not option when he refused to let go of Leo Thompson right under the posts.
Payne Haas says goodbye to the Broncos with a try!
The Broncos get their first good field position as Jacob Kiraz forces a terrible offload and Josiah Karapani comes up with it.
They rumble up the middle, earn a set restart and Payne Haas gets the ball 10 metres out, trampling Bailey Hayward, slipping out of Viliame Kikau's tackle and carrying Connor Tracey and Leo Thompson as he slams the ball down under the posts.
1' Bulldogs kick off
Xavier Willison, the heir apparent to Payne Haas, takes the first hit-up.
And already the Broncos looking disjointed as Billy Walters tries to kick out of dummy half on the fourth and Pat Carrigan gets in his way.
And then Ben Hunt scuffs his bomb to end the set.
Payne Haas leads the Broncos out
The teams are on their way onto the field, starting with the soon-to-be Rabbitoh.
And here come the Bulldogs, led by Stephen Crichton.
Kick-off isn't far away
Who are you picking?
I've got the Bulldogs winning comfortably.
'You're remembered by what you do now': Maguire on motivation for Broncos
There's nothing but pride to play for for both these teams, but that should be plenty, according to Brisbane coach Michael Maguire.
"It's a game you're gonna be remembered by. Your teammates out there know exactly what goes on. You're rememebered by what you do now by your teammates, by your fans and your coaches."
The Broncos have a little extra motivation to send Payne Haas out a winner.
"He's a great man and he's given a lot to the club. The boys have really enjoyed the week together."
And it's another milestone ticked off for Ben Hunt, as he plays his 373rd NRL game to pass Cooper Cronk for outright third.
"He's been a major part of what has gone on in the club. To see Benny come back and lead it's what he does away from the field. They're the things most people don't get to see."
Payne's last ride
After the debacle that was the Adam Reynolds Lang Park farewell, the Broncos are having another crack at it as Souths-bound Payne Haas plays his final game for Brisbane before heading to Redfern for 2027.
It doesn't feel right that such a champion leaves this club in such underwhelming circumstances, but perhaps we'll see one last iconic outing from him in maroon and gold tonight.
LATE MAIL: Who's in and who's out for the Bulldogs and Broncos?
There aren't many changes from the teams named on Tuesday, although for Brisbane, back rower Jack Gosiewski and Blake Mozer drop out for Ben Talty and young hooker Cameron Bukowski.
For the Dogs, Jed Reardon replaces another 2026 debutant, Cooper Toy.
