Broncos 22 Raiders 10
BRISBANE - Brisbane warmed up for next weekend's all-Queensland finals blockbuster with a 22-10 victory over Canberra at Suncorp Stadium last night.
Canberra embarrassed Brisbane 56-0 the last time they met but the finals-bound Broncos have not dropped a game since.
The 68-point turnaround by Brisbane completed the NRL's finals jigsaw puzzle and the 35,112 turnout helped set an all-time single season NRL crowd record of more then three million fans.
Brisbane led 8-6 at halftime after a converted try to lock Corey Parker, who also slotted a gift penalty goal for an early 8-0 lead.
The Raiders kept the game alive, halfback Josh McCrone putting Kiwi test forward Bronson Harrison through a hole and then backing up to score himself.
But tries to Sam Thaiday (52nd minute) and young flyer Jharal Yow Yeh in the 58th off a lovely Justin Hodges pass pushed Brisbane out to a handy 16-6 lead.
Parker's second try in the 65th minute, after he broke through two defenders and reached out to plant the ball over the line, handed the Broncos a 22-6 cushion with 15 minutes to play.
McCrone made it a double when he showed exciting speed swooping on a Brisbane handling error and sprinting 40 metres to score.
The Broncos have the momentum heading into their showdown on the Gold Coast, the Titans hammered by Manly at the weekend and having injury clouds over utility specialist Mat Rogers (hamstring) and Luke O'Dwyer (shoulder).
The neighbours have never met in a final but their six clashes have resulted in three wins each.
- AAP
