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Tonight we are in for a treat as two in-form teams come together to blow the roof off WIN Stadium (too soon?). Join The Roar for live scores and coverage as the Dragons host the Broncos from 8:00pm (AEDT).
The competition front runners the Dragons will face a tough challenge from fellow 2014 surprise packets the Broncos.
People complain about the ‘Friday night Broncos’ syndrome, but who would want to miss this one?
Dragons
It’s not so much a ‘new look’ Dragons side in 2014 as a ‘new feel’. They are playing quick, up-tempo football, relying on a mobile pack led by Tyson Frizell and Trent Merrin.
Behind this forward march, Gareth Widdop has announced himself as a half of undeniable class and newcomer Adam Quinlan has shown the Dragons aren’t missing too much with Dugan on the sidelines.
Brett Morris’s love affair with the tryline hasn’t cooled and meanwhile we’re all waiting for Jason Nightingale to have a bad game.
The Dragons have taken full advantage of what could be seen as a favourable draw to start 2014. They have put points in the bank and another two to add to the collection will be just what Steve Price has in mind.
Broncos
The Broncos will still be filthy about allowing the Roosters to steal a late victory at Lang Park last week and there’s a red and white tackling bag in their sites.
The Brisbane side has added some size to their pack (finally!) with Daniel Vidot taking a lot of hard runs to start sets.
Josh McGuire returns to add further starch and pushes the impressive Martin Kennedy back to the bench. You can bet the Broncos will try to out-muscle the leaner, more mobile Dragons.
Ben Barba is quickly returning to some of his best form, chiming in when it suits him and providing a perfect foil for Ben Hunt, who is coming of age.
Head to Head
There is much history between these proud clubs. Each side has enjoyed long periods of dominance over the other, with Brisbane currently in the ascendency winning eight of the last nine, including the last six in a row.
Also, I will never miss a chance to mention 92, 93, back to back. It’s like poetry when I read it like that.
But I can remember the period not long before this when it was the other way around, exemplified by a winking Jason Ryles pointing at the Suncorp Stadium scoreboard as he and his team marched off to our jeers. This Broncos side doesn’t want to be the one that lets the Dragons get a point back.
I am looking forward to the battle of the halves – Sam Williams v Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop v Josh Hoffman. Only Widdop seemingly has nothing to prove and I would suggest the Dragons have the edge here.
Prediction
The Dragons wins in 2014 have come at expense of some pretty ordinary teams – the Tigers, Warriors and Sharks (although the Tigers might be on the rise too).
By contrast the Broncos have beaten some fancied teams in the Bulldogs and Cowboys, as well as just falling short of the Roosters.
The above means that the Broncos may be more hardened and hungrier to join the Dragons on six points.
However the Dragons don’t lose easily at this venue and with their home crowd urging the Red V on to greater heights at the top of the table, we can expect the players to deliver one of the great matches early in season 2014.
Overall I think the Broncos will have a little too much firepower and desire for the Dragons and will win by four.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:00pm (AEDT).
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