The St George Illawarra Dragons have continued their excellent form with a six-point win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
Final score
St George Illawarra Dragons 28
North Queensland Cowboys 22
The St George Illawarra Dragons and North Queensland Cowboys are set to clash once again in a fixture which could already have a significant impact on each sides season. Join The Roar for lives scores on Saturday, from WIN stadium, at 7:30pm AEST.
Six games into the seasons and the Dragons are doing greater than most would have expected.
They enter the match with against very sturdy and well-oiled Cowboys side with four consecutive wins, including an impressive win over an inform Manly side.
The Dragons, despite missing Josh Dugan, scored 35 points past the Eagles and have the best attack in the competition so far.
Gareth Widdopp has been in inspired form so far this season, being the major highlight in a very successful start to the campaign.
The Cowboys however enter this match after a disappointing home loss to their fierce rivals in the Tigers.
The Cowboys looked poor for a large majority of the game, and will be compounded by the injury to Johnathan Thurston late on against Wests.
However, the Cowboys do enter this fixture in a very respectable fifth place with impressive wins over Brisbane and other Queensland rivals the Titans.
In recent fixtures between these two, the Cowboys do have the slight edge, winning 15 out of their last 28 meetings with the Dragons, but surely will miss the creative and ever present JT in their ranks for this clash.
As for players to watch, Gareth Widdop is one who will surely look to add to his good form meanwhile Michael Morgan will look to take greater responsibility in the sides attacking play with Thurston out injured.
Prediction
Despite what both teams are bringing into this match, it should be relatively close. However with the Dragons impressive form and Thurston’s injury to the Cowboys, St George should edge this one.
Dragons by 10.
Join The Roar for lives scores on Saturday, from WIN stadium, at 7:30pm AEST.
joel
Guest
lol, Nene ball clearly bounced off the ground into his hands, and DeBalin pass forward, Scott Bolton lifting his arms from the tackle bemused that the refs miss it, we can all see how the Dragons are winning games, unbelievable in this day and age with bunker replays ….. the refs won that game for the Puffs.
Mike
Guest
Really well played by the Dragons in the first half. Very energetic and enterprising particularly with the broken field play. Lafai, Widdop, Frizell and Nightingale played really well I thought, it will be interesting to see how far the Dragons can go this year.
Rob
Guest
Yes, I agree the kids did a few silly plays, but they have 10 NRL games between them. Asiata and Linnett were running at the side lines and giving the ball to Mosby in a nothing position with the defence coming across all night. The garbage play was started by the Senior players early in the game. Lafai was having a field day with Morgan, O'niell and Feldt. Origin players and Premiership winners? Morgan is running sideways all the time and his attention to detail is shocking for a Rep player. 7 tackle kicks and balls out on the full? Feldt is committing multiple errors every week and is leading the comp in errors. He is dropping the ball in the ruck which is simply unacceptable for a professional footballer. Bellamy wouldn't tolerate it.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Definitely a lot of sympathetic reffing in the 2nd half. Game of two halves.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I thought there were dumb mistakes from the rookies too in Ponga and Mosby. They're playing like they're in the under 20s putting in silly kick and chases that have no chance when the smart option was to take the tackle and play out the set.
Johnybulldog
Guest
Relax n enjoy the win Kenny!
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: ST GEORGE DRAGONS 28-22 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS- Dragons hold on against fast finishing Cowboys The Dragons make it 6 wins from 7 after holding on for a narrow 8-point win over the Cowboys. After dominating the first half, the cowboys responded well to being 28-4 down at half time and almost sealed a miraculous comeback here in Woolongong. The win keeps the dragons on top of the ladder while the Cowboys keep their spot in the 8 The First half was one sided, with the Dragons looking dominant and strong from the first set. St George eventually cracked the cowboys when Macdonald spectacularly scored in the corner after great control of the floor. The Cowboys hit back however after a great grubber found Gala-Mosby who scored in the left hand corner. After that however it was all St George, who dominated an injury ravished Cowboys side. Fafai scored his first before Kurt Mann put the Dragons in a commanding lead in the 26th minute. Widdop continued his great form by converting a penalty before scoring himself to make it 22-4. Lafai grabbed his second just before half time as the Dragons lead the Cowboys 28-4 going into the break. The Second half however was a completely different story. The cowboys looked inspired and came into the half looking to change their fortunes. In the 58th minute Spina scored before Morgan struck again a few minutes later to bring North Queensland back into the game. Scott Bolton scored for the Cowboys to make it interesting but the dragons held on to win by 8 Thanks for tuning into The Roar.
Johnybulldog
Guest
Woo hoo,cheers Scotty enjoy the win mate well done.
Rob
Guest
Rubbish football from the Cowboys. They have the talent but played stupid in the first 40 minutes. Cooper and Linnett are gone. Ben Spina has limited ability but played with a heart and the other boys lifted of the back of him in my opinion. Dumb mistakes by senior players( Morgan, Taumalolo, Feldt x3) in the first half cost them that game and it's been a problem for weeks.
Kenw
Guest
Heart attack material. Am I alone in thinking there was some sympathetic refereeing in the first 10-15 mins of that second half? Cowboys dominated possession off the back of it, got momentum from there and wow, did they find some legs after that. Geez some of those young players, Hess & Ponga especially look like they've got some big futures (not a new observation obviously but certainly shown tonight). Still, Dragons got the points so I'll wait for the heartrate to drop back down and smile for the rest of the weekend.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was an almighty bloody scare. Still, if we can do what we did in that first half moving forward, this is a team that can go a long way this season. 6 from 7 is a brilliant start. JB, got that multi mate. Cheers for the call Sam. Up the Saints!
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
FULL TIME 28=22 COWBOYS The Dragons hang on in a terrific game here in Woolongong Post-Match Analysis to come shortly
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
79TH MIN: Scrum Dragons. Great defence by St George
smn
Guest
i'm going to have a bloody heart attack
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
78TH MIN: Great defence Dragons but the Cowboys have the ball back Still 28-22 Dragons
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
77TH MIN: Goal Line Drop Out Cowboys
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
76TH MIN: Widdop misses the field goal, Cowboys have a 7 tackle set on their 20
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
74TH MIN: Dragons look exhausted, Cowboys on top here.
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
73RD MIN: Dragons defend very well on their goal line. They bring it out on their line
Johnybulldog
Guest
Comon Saints!Ride em home Scotty n Ken