The wash-up: Broncos 26 Dragons 30
Brisbane’s finals hopes are in tatters after St George Illawarra hung on to win 30-26 to give last year’s grand finalists their sixth consecutive loss.
No team in premiership history has lost that many games in a row and won the title. The Dragons pack mauled and monstered the Broncos in the first half with second-rower Jaydn Su’A, dropped from the Queensland side, playing one of his finest games against his former club at Suncorp Stadium.
The visitors scored three of their four first-half tries in nine minutes to lead 22-6 at the break to stun the crowd of 34,224. Three of those tries followed Brisbane errors.
Winger Christian Tuipulotu scored his first career hat-trick with his first-half double showcasing brute strength and willpower.
With 24 minutes remaining, and trailing 28-6, Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam showcased brute strength to power past fullback Tyrell Sloan to narrow the margin to 16.
In the 63rd minute fullback Tristan Sailor, who had not enjoyed a happy night, found centre Kotoni Staggs with a flick pass and the Brisbane skipper raced 55m to bring the crowd to life.
Dragons No.6 Kyle Flanagan landed a penalty but Sloan was poor on defence to allow bench hooker Blake Mozer to crash over.
Staggs brushed past Sloan to set up a heart-stopping finish.
Brisbane were woeful for the opening three-quarters of the match and have slipped four points out of the top eight. They must now win six of their last seven games to play finals, while the Dragons have moved into eighth position.
The first 50 minutes was all the Red V with the pack dominant. Tuipulotu powered over after a slick ball by Mosese Suli in the seventh minute. Staggs was sin-binned and Suli burst through flimsy defence just before the Broncos star was about to come back on the park.
Tuiplotu crashed past four would-be defenders after a classic No.6 pass by Flanagan.
A bomb by half Jesse Marschke was spilt by Sailor and Su’A swooped to score and give the Dragons their best first half of the year.
AAP