Broncos
18
Match Complete
Dragons
48
| 80 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| 79 |  | M. Dufty | ||
| 74 |  | Z. Lomax | ||
| 70 | | Z. Lomax | ||
| 69 | | L. Leilua | ||
| K. Nikorima | | 56 | ||
| D. Boyd | | 53 | ||
| 50 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 48 | | T. Lafai | ||
| 39 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 38 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 36 | | T. Sims | ||
| 34 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 32 | | T. Sims | ||
| 28 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 27 | | L. A. Mau | ||
| 21 | | G. Widdop | ||
| 19 | | T. Sims | ||
| J. Isaako | | 18 | ||
| D. Fifita | | 16 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 15 | ||
| J. Isaako | | 9 | ||
| 4 | | G. Widdop |
| 3 | Tries | 7 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 7 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
After surging into the finals off the back of three-straight wins, the Brisbane Broncos will look to keep their premiership hopes alive in a do-or-die clash with the heavily criticised St George Illawarra Dragons. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10pm (AEST).
There’s no team heading into the finals in better form than the Brisbane Broncos. After comfortable victories over two premiership heavyweights in the Rabbitohs and Roosters, Wayne Bennett’s men put Manly to the sword with a resounding 48-16 win last week.
The victory saw them climb into sixth spot on the ladder to earn a home final this week at Suncorp Stadium, where they have not lost in their last seven finals games.
All that should be holding the Broncos back from progressing through to a semi-final with the Rabbitohs is complacency.
They welcome back hooker Andrew McCullough, with rookie Jake Turpin out of the side. Experienced forward Alex Glenn has succumbed to a calf injury and is replaced in the starting side by David Fifita.
Kotoni Staggs looks likely to come onto the bench as he did last week against Manly.
While recent form lines suggest that the Dragons will be bundled out of the finals, stranger things have happened in 2018. And perhaps having absolutely no expectations suits Paul McGregor’s men, who crumbled during the regular season as they failed to deal with external noise.
The Dragons earned a much-needed 24-14 win over the Knights last week but will need to be far better with the ball in hand if they are to topple a confident Brisbane outfit.
Sunday afternoon’s match sees Ben Hunt return to Suncorp for the first time since leaving the club at the end of last year.
The much-maligned halfback has been the scapegoat of the Dragons’ woes in 2018 but it would be one of the great redemption stories of the year if he is to lead the Red V into the semi-finals.
The pressure on Hunt to deliver won’t be nearly as strong this week, with five-eighth Gareth Widdop named to make a timely return from a shoulder injury sustained in the Dragons’ 40-4 defeat to Parramatta a month ago.
Prediction
While the return of Widdop will see the Dragons improve in attack, it won’t mean too much if their big men can’t stop the bruising Brisbane pack. Look for the Broncos to pull away late and book a trip to Sydney next week to take on the Rabbitohs.
Broncos by 14.
Join The Roar as we take you through one of the tightest races for the premiership in recent history. Tune in from 4:10pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage of Sunday afternoon’s game and don’t forget to leave a comment below as the match unfolds.
Game info
Kick-off: 4:10pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Live, Fox League, Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, 9Now
Betting: Broncos $1.28, Dragons $3.70
Overall record: Played 38; Broncos 23 wins, Dragons 15 wins
Last meeting: Round 1, Dragons 34 defeated Broncos 12 at Jubilee Oval
Record at venue: The Dragons have lost their last 10 games at Suncorp
Referees: Grant Atkins, Chris Sutton
Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Jordan Kahu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Sam Thaiday 17. David Fifita 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Mcguire 14. Patrick Mago 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Korbin Sims 18. Kotoni Staggs
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Zac Lomax 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Leeson Ah Mau 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jeremy Latimore 15. Kurt Mann 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Luciano Leilua
Fraser
Roar Rookie
The Sims Curse in Broncos finals games strikes again. Korbin couldn't have given away more penalties and possession in the back end of the first half, and Tariq decides to have a monster game and carve them up. We can never forget Ashton's dropped ball with a minute to go against the Storm in 2008. Oh well, season over. Not sure what to say. Dragons started with great energy and aggression, which seemed to be a little too much for the young Broncos to handle. Can't really see them improving next year unfortunately.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Keep kicking penalty goals when you have momentum...Langer should be ashamed carrying water for these crop of Broncos. I'm ashamed
game on
Guest
Dragons did great to turn their season around in this game however a pattern has emerged in the team that they have still failed to address which was talked about on one of these forums last season after they were beaten by the dogs in the last game. The dragons grow soft when gaining a 'secure' lead. As soon s they are up by 16-20 points they mentally and emotionally clock off. They lack the ability to persist with their lead and maintain the game plan or pressure cooker with every player across the board staying focused. Today's game was not unique, as it happens every game they have played and gotten a lead for the last three seasons allowing teams to switch momentum and score two or three quick trys. This pattern runs deeper as a reflection of the bigger picture of the season where the team gained a secure competition lead and then clocked off post origin,- losing games they should have won. The best teams, players and leaders get paranoid about their lead at all times and want to protect it at all costs no matter what the situation. Even if up by 30 nil with 2 mins to go they become fearful of unseen possibilities. Rather than keeping a consistent resolve, Dragons seem to relax. You can see the energy change in them which is why their becomes a sudden momentum shift because oppositions sense it and begin to lift their game and start to roll over or through them. By the time they try to fix it it and switch on it can almost be too hard to stop or too late as the opposition has stepped it up and now has control of the game. Dragons won't win a comp unless they change this Its important pattern in their game. Secure lead requires a strong resolve to turn opposition away not complacency
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I think he gets given a much harsher critique by Bronco fans than he deserves.
Jack
Guest
Saints This is how you can play. You ALL did the jersey proud today. I won't single anyone out as its a team game. That was a gutsy victory against the odds. When you play uninhibited you play your best. But also your defence was strong and desperate. Great finals football. Hope Gazz's shoulder can be put back in with minimal damage, nevertheless you now should have belief in yourselves. I have to single out Tariq and Ben. You were sensational.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Not making a guest account out spite... I'm glad to know half the people on here fondly keep me in their memories...
G
Guest
Kenoathucarnt where is he?
Mark
Guest
Have won a more recent premiership. Back in your box.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
They have consistently been a good team always making the finals and playing entertaining football cant say the same for the Dragons...
Pedro the Saint
Roar Rookie
Perfect call CO' - Ken is wearing his ar$e for a hat till the beginning of the 2019 NRL season. . . Flogged the Broncs twice, so apology accepted.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am glad Scotty is happy. He has suffered lately. But that was the most frustrated I have been watching the Broncs for a long time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
"Lack of achievement." When was the Broncos last GF win? '06 was it? Hmm...
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Congrajulations you reached the next stage of the finals I guess this will forever go down in the Dragons history books considering their lack of achievement in recent years... Its amazing how triggered people get on this site.
thomas c
Guest
Bennett would have told the broncs to hold onto the ball, not give away penalties and hit the ball up. All of the first half carnage was on the back of gifted territory. Beyond this, I think the broncs don't seem to show up against teams they think are weaker. I also wonder if not getting a lot of day games means they feel off kilter. Defensively awful. Didn't seem to have a way to get the game to be played on their terms.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Brilliant may have been over the top, I'll cop that but I guess context is important here. Just giving him a wrap for overcoming a tumultuous couple of weeks. He deserves credit.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
What was the score again ha ha
Emcie
Roar Guru
He did his job but I don't know if I'd call his game brilliant. He just seems to get a lot of praise for doing what every other half does and gets given a lot of leeway for poor performances since moving south
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Had a good weekend Chrispy- cheers mate take care.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
I could be wrong twice, might put a buck or two on the Dragons just in case...
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Fabulous win that Scotty.