The St George Illawarra Dragons have opened 2018 with a victory against an English powerhouse in Hull FC.
Albert Kelly looked dangerous for Hull FC, however Gareth Widdop matched his speed and skill.
Plenty to work on over the coming weeks for the Dragons, but a good win to start 2018 to build upon.
Final score
St George Illawarra Dragons 24
Hull FC 18
The St George Illawarra Dragons will hope to get their season started in the right way when they meet Hull FC in the second match of the World Club Series. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.
The World Club Series got off to a great start last night from the point of view of Australians at least as the Melbourne Storm took their dominant 2017 form into the World Club Challenge match against the Leeds Rhinos.
The Storm put in one of the best seasons in NRL history last year, culminating in a minor premiership and the premiership itself, won in dominant fashion over the North Queensland Cowboys on the big night.
It as a simillar case of affairs when they came up against the Leeds Rhinos, who just didn’t have any answers for a team boasting some of the best players in the world.
In the end a crushing 38-4 victory told us everything we need to know about where the Melbourne Storm are in the pecking order of world rugby.
Now it’s up to the Dragons to defend Australia’s pride but they’ll also be hoping it can be a sign of good things to come for them in 2018 if they get a win.
They came so achingly close to finals last year – seeming almost certain to make the eight until they dropped a game in the final round and slipped out of Septemeber.
Ironically, that was what lead to North Queensland unexpectedly sneaking in at eighth, and eventually somehow winning their way through to the grand final.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the 2018 World Club Series game between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Hull FC at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
The St George Illawarra Dragons have opened 2018 with a victory against an English powerhouse in Hull FC. Albert Kelly looked dangerous for Hull FC, however Gareth Widdop matched his speed and skill. Plenty to work on over the coming weeks for the Dragons, but a good win to start 2018 to build upon. Dragons: 24 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Full Time Full-time, Dragons with the win over Hull FC 24-18. Dragons: 24 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Conversion Field with the conversion. Dragons up by 6 with three to go. Dragons: 24 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Try Kurt Mann scores for the Dragons. Four minutes to go. Dragons: 22 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
With 15 minutes to go in the game, do you take out your stars with the scores level to prevent injury knowing the importance of Charity Shield to the Dragons next week against South Sydney? Dragons: 18 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Conversion Successful conversion. Scores level at 18 all and the Hull FC fans have come to life. Dragons: 18 Hull FC: 18
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Try Liam Watts with a try for Hull FC. Questions asked of obstruction, however the bunker decision favours the Hull FC faithful. Dragons: 18 Hull FC: 16
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Try Ben Hunt showing promising signs for the Dragons combining with Widdop to set up another try for the Dragons. Nene McDonald has a double in the space of 5 minutes. Widdop unable to convert. Dragons: 18 Hull FC: 12
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Try 46' - Nene McDonald scores, Widdop unable to convert from the sideline. Dragons: 14 Hull FC: 12
Josh
Expert
Folks I'm turning you over to Jacob now who will take it from here and no doubt do a much better job than I have been doing! Take it away, Jacob.
Josh
Expert
40' - Second half underway now.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 12
Josh
Expert
Half Time Well, a pretty good game at half time if I might say so myself. Entertaining stuff with four tries, split evenly. A missed conversion all that is separating these teams.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 12
Josh
Expert
37' - Unfortunately for Jeremy Latimore, one of his teammates has just got his fingers on the ball before he catches it going over for a try, so it's a knock-on instead.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 12
Josh
Expert
34' - Successful conversion, and now Hull are leading the match.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 12
Josh
Expert
33' - Another try from Albert Kelly, and scores are level! He's having a great match so far.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 10
Josh
Expert
27' - Gareth Widdop unable to make a difficult conversion.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 6
Josh
Expert
26' - Jason Nightingale with some great finishing ability to score the Dragons' second try.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 10 Hull FC: 6
Josh
Expert
25' - James Graham off the field and that's probably the end of his night, but will see him at the Charity Shield next week you'd expect.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 6 Hull FC: 6
Josh
Expert
23' - A kick from Ben Hunt nearly sets up Tim Lafai for a second, but he can't get control of it.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 6 Hull FC: 6
Josh
Expert
16' - Gareth Widdop converts, and the scores are level.
St George Illawarra Dragons: 6 Hull FC: 6