On paper and form, you would have been brave to tip the Canterbury Bulldogs against the Brisbane Broncos.
The Broncos chasing that elusive top four spot and the Bulldogs languishing near the bottom of the ladder.
As the game would pan out, however, it would be the determined and razzle-dazzle Bulldogs play that would come out on top.
With every win crucial as we hit the business end of the season, the Broncos may find themselves four points outside the top four.
The Bulldogs were flying high after their win; their first-back-to-back wins in more than 12 months.
There may yet be drama to come from the game with a Canterbury trainer allegedly approaching refs at half-time questioning their decisions.
“We will look into any comments that were made towards the referee,” an NRL spokesman said.
The Bulldogs raced out to a 14-0 lead as tries to Josh Jackson and Will Hopoate and an additional Rhyse Martin penalty goal gave them the edge.
Remarkably, it was Korbin Sims who kept the Broncos in the contest scoring not once but twice in the space of six minutes.
He very nearly had a third only to be denied by a double movement.
The Bulldogs would then kick away once more, targeting the Broncos left edge with success.
Matt Frawley and Josh Morris in the space of five minutes seemingly put the game to bed, although the Broncos did score two late tries.
The first, Anthony Milford sliced through a gap, raced past Hopoate and scored.
The second, Jamayne Isaako reacted quickest and scooped up a deft Darius Boyd grubber off a scrum play.
Bulldogs coach Dean Pay heaped the praise on captain and leader Josh Jackson post-game.
“He plays some fantastic, tough footy, each and every week for me,” Pay said.
“He keeps turning up, he keeps leading for me and they keep following him.
“His football is starting to go to a different level with his passing game because he’s got it in him.
“I keep promoting that to him – he’s got more footy in him than just running some good lines.
He’s a footballer.”
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was at a loss to explain his side’s inconsistent form.
“I don’t really have any idea,” Bennett said.
“I’m extremely disappointed.
“They had all the enthusiasm and energy and we were lacking in those areas.”
Player of the Game:
3. Josh Jackson
2. Korbin Sims
- Will Hopoate