2021 NRL Round 13, Dragons 52 Broncos 24 – Report

Craig Cauchi reviews the Dragons clash against the visiting Broncos. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

3 pts – Matt Dufty (Dragons)
2 pts – Ben Hunt (Dragons)
1 pt – Jack Bird (Dragons)

MATCH REPORT

1st Half

The Broncos started their opening sets with high intensity and while they had the early momentum the Dragons forwards were playing with much more aggression than last week. The Broncos worked into great field position from a seven tackle set and Albert Kelly placed a neat kick in behind the defence for David Mead to race through and score. The visitors early lead wasn’t held for too long as the Dragons intensity lifted. A poor defensive decision from Alex Glenn and a miss from Tyson Gamble was all the was needed for Matt Dufty to inject himself into the game. The fullback passed off for Jack Bird, who found the pace to reach the try line. The reward for the Dragons lift in effort led to their second try as Brayden Wiliame brushed off tackles around him to score. After creating the last try, Ben Hunt put the Dragons back on the attack with a 40/20 but the Broncos defence scrambled to hold them out. An error from Ramsey turned the momentum, with the Broncos half Albert Kelly dominating the next two tries for TC Robati to be beneficiary for both. The first try was an overs line and the second saw Kelly take the line on and offload for Robati to slam down for his second. The work was undone off the back of an error from the kick off and the Dragons took advantage with Matt Dufty holding the line up and throwing it for Gerard Beale to run in untouched. The final minute of the half was a horror show for the Broncos as an error allowed the Dragons an opportunity to have an attacking scrum. Norman toed the ball forward off the scrum and despite Broncos fullback Isaako reaching the ball first, he didn’t make a play, allowing Dufty to sneak past and ground the ball seconds before the half time siren.

HALF-TIME: St George Illawarra Dragons 24 Brisbane Broncos 18

2nd Half

Jamayne Isaako started the second half the same way he ended it with an error deep in his own half and it didn’t get any better from there. The Broncos defended two repeat sets back-to-back and at the start of their third, a high shot from TC Robati ended with the young second rower sin binned. It took a few plays for the Dragons to take advantage, with Dufty able to hit the correct option on a back line move, hitting Ramsey who leapt high into the corner. They extended their lead with Matt Dufty taking it deep into the line and sucking in all the defenders for Josh Kerr to score. The game opened up for the Dragons and despite Dufty being given the try assist for the next one, Mikaele Ravalawa did all the work, crashing over out wide despite the defenders trying to push him out. Broncos gave themselves no chances with error after error and former Bronco Ben Hunt was the next to score, taking on the line and beating desperate defenders to cross under the posts. The Broncos finished the Dragons try scoring run with a neat grubber kick from Gamble collected by Jesse Arthars but that was the last points for the vistors. They brought up the half century with a mistimed chip kick from Ben Hunt grabbed by Josh Kerr and passed back to Hunt, who raced away to and passed off for Dufty to cross for his second.

FULL-TIME: St George Illawarra Dragons 52 Brisbane Broncos 24

Injuries

Poasa Faamausili (Dragons) – failed HIA
Kobe Hetherington (Broncos) – ankle

Match Review Committee

TC Robati (Broncos) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1,350 fine, Guilty at Judiciary $1,800 fine.

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