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).
Lee Mathieson
Guest
Lee from Northern Beaches Sydney says Great Away win for those Mighty Broncos!! Fantastic effort boys!!
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DRAGONS - BRONCOS 6 PENALTIES 3 6 SCRUMS 2 29/38 (76%) COMPLETIONS 28/33 (85%) 4 LINE BREAKS 5 261 TACKLES 241 8 MISSED TACKLES 12 10 OFFLOADS 11 9 ERRORS 9
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The Broncos were seemingly always on top in this match. The Dragons had some bright moments, especially in counter attack but let themselves down by rolling the dice too often and giving the Brisbane side easy field position. Errors also cost the home side and a couple of decisions could have gone the other way. All in all the better side won on the night and the Dragons have had a bit of a reality check here.
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FULL TIME THE BRISBANE BRONCOS 36 DEFEATED THE ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 20 My man on the match is Matt Gillett.
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80' NO TRY Williams dropped it DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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80' POSSIBLE TRY DRAGONS Williams gets a consolation with a step between defenders and beats Reed to score DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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78' KNOCK ON BRONCOS DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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76' Barba defuses Morris's chip kick and the Broncos kick it into touch 10m out That's all she wrote. DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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74' The short kick off doesn't work but the Broncos lose it anyway and the Dragons get the result they wanted. It's a long way back from here Dragons fans DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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73' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Parker does his thing DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 36
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Frizell was down in backplay during that play
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71' TRY BRONCOS The Dragons watch and applaud and the Broncos use a flat-to-deep play from Thaiday to Hunt who waltzes over. DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 34
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71' Terrible. Rein pumps the ball into the ocean on the full. The Broncos are going to test the Dragons here DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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70' the Broncos are once again pressing, a bomb is up and comes down with Morris who is filthy with the refs about being tackled in the air. DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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69' Dragons once again on their heels deep in their own territory. DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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68' Williams should maybe put the chip away. A nothing kick sees the Broncos start with decent field position and 2nd tackle on half way DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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67' The Dragons are working it up with enthusiasm. They need to use this momentum. DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL Widdop finally misses the posts DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30
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Quinlan took a kick on his own line, started a 60m movement down field with help from Farrell and Nightingale. Next play the shift to the left sees Beale cross against his old club. Fantastic counter punch. This Quinlan is a special talent.
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65' Fantastic rugby league from the Dragons. TRY DRAGONS DRAGONS – 20 BRONCOS – 30