A powerhouse performance from Canterbury centre Jamal Idris has inspired the resurgent Bulldogs to a convincing 36-18 victory over Brisbane in Friday night's NRL clash at ANZ Stadium.
The giant 19-year-old was almost unstoppable as he terrorised the Broncos defence, scoring one try, laying on another with a brilliant flick pass and outshining Test centre Israel Folau all night.
In doing so, Idris may have sent a timely message to representative selectors that he is ready to show his wares on a bigger stage.
Eye poked
The Dogs' victory was all the more impressive because they played virtually the entire second half without centre Josh Morris, who had copped a poke in the eye in the first half, and five-eighth Ben Roberts, who was helped from the field with an ankle injury three minutes after the break.
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Lock David Stagg was also stretchered from the field in the 72nd minute after appearing to suffer a neck injury when tackling Darren Lockyer.
Canterbury led 12-6 at the break but three tries in five minutes, including a seventh in seven games to bench utility Ben Barba, had the home side up 30-6 after 55 minutes.
Winger Bryson Goodwin bagged a double and booted six from seven in front of 17,014 fans as Canterbury beat Brisbane in Sydney for the first time since 2005.
Brisbane's sorry start to the season now has them 2-5.
Broncos comeback
The Broncos mounted a comeback when a bust from in-form Sam Thaiday sent Lockyer over in the 59th minute and a converted ref's call try to Alex Glenn in the 63rd minute made it a 12-point game at 30-18.
But a 67th minute try from Blake Green after an uncharacteristic Lockyer error sealed the deal for the resurgent Dogs.
Earlier, first half tries to Goodwin and Idris sandwiched a four-pointer to Brisbane lock Corey Parker as the Bulldogs regained an early lead two minutes before the break.
Idris was first to a Blake Green grubber in the 38th minute after Brett Kimmorley had put the utility through a hole on the last play with a flick pass.
"I just had a lot of people in my ear about the first couple of weeks of my season and it was always in the back of my head every time I ran out," Idris said of his stunning form.
"I just want to show people that I can be a first grade player and I am a first grade player." Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore was full of praise for his barnstorming youngster.
"He's been great for a couple of weeks now," Moore said.
"I thought he really led the way for us tonight, I thought at times during the game when we needed a bit of a lift he really rolled his sleeves up and was very damaging with the footy in his hands and it just gave us that bit of momentum.
"He showed a bit of leadership tonight to lift the other blokes around him."
Stagg taken to hospital
Stagg was taken to Westmead Hospital for precautionary x-rays after feeling pins and needles in his right arm and shoulder, while Roberts has ankle ligament damage and Morris will have scans to ensure there is no break in his eye socket.
Brisbane debuted new signing Shane Tronc, who only arrived in Australia on Friday morning after he was stranded in the UK by the Icelandic volcano ash. The former Cowboy has joined from Super League side Wakefield.
"I thought we were in the game that first half," Broncos coach Ivan Henjak said.
