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In Friday night’s match at Jubilee Oval, the Broncos traveling attack will be tested by the Dragons defence, with the competition lead up for grabs.
The Dragons and Broncos both have a +22 point differential, so whoever wins the match will lead the competition – if only for a night or two.
In the last three matches, the Dragons scored an average of 19 points with only 3 scored against them. In all games have only conceded only 58 per cent of the points scored against the Broncos.
Moreover, they have already faced former undefeated competition leader the Knights and held them scoreless.
Meanwhile, the Broncos – if they exclude their first game spanking by Souths – have scored an average of 25-15 in their last five wins.
The Dragons will go into the game full of confidence but they face an equally upbeat Broncos. The key will be who breaks first, with the first 20-30 minutes vital for both teams.
The Dragons have no fear of the Broncos pack, with plenty of more fearsome packs in the NRL such as the Bulldogs, Storm and Cowboys to face.
If the Dragons can hold the Broncos scoreless for the first 20 minutes, then the Broncos will start running out of attacking options and their attack will fall apart just like the Knights, Manly and Bulldogs before them in the last three weeks.
If the Broncos cannot go through the middle or around the outside and their kicks keep getting defused, how will they score points?
Do the Dragons have the firepower to penetrate the Broncos? Much will depend on the form of Benji Marshall and Josh Dugan who have been the Dragons main attacking weapons this year.
With Tyson Frizell possibly out suspended, one of Benji’s best attacking options may not be there. But the Dragons have patience in attack and will just complete their sets and wait for a crack to appear in the Broncos defence.
The Dragons are at close to full strength, with only Jason Nightingale out and Mike Cooper in doubt. The Broncos have a string of injuries, and prop Jarrod Wallace is out suspended.
I expect a close first 30 minutes, but after that it depends who cracks first. I am tipping Dragons by 11.
Dragons: 1 Josh Dugan 2 Etonia Nabuli 3 Euan Aitken 4 Dylan Farrell 5 Peter Mata’utia 6 Gareth Widdop 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Ben Creagh (c) 11 Will Matthews 12 Joel Thompson 13 Trent Merrin. Interchange 14 George Rose 15 Jack de Belin 16 Jake Marketo 17 Heath L’Estrange Coach: Paul McGregor
Broncos: 1 Lachlan Maranta 2 Dale Copley 3 Jack Reed 4 Justin Hodges 5 Daniel Vidot 6 Anthony Milford 7 Ben Hunt 8 Josh McGuire 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Sam Thaiday 11 Alex Glenn 12 Matt Gillett 13 Corey Parker (c) Interchange 14 Corey Oates 15 Mitch Garbutt 16 Mitchell Dodds 17 Kodi Nikorima Coach: Wayne Bennett
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