Round 3 vs. St George Illawarra Dragons Discussion

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 18 March 2023
Kick Off: 6:35pm (AEST)

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Martin Taupau

18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Xavier Willison 21. Jock Madden 22. Delouise Hoeter

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack Bird

14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr

18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Aaron Woods​

 

[Big Pete]

The Broncos have started 2023 with a bang, but now they find themselves in a hoodoo game. Since leaving the Brisbane Broncos, Dragons half Ben Hunt has yet to lose to his former team and he'll be looking to keep his sides unbeaten start in tact.

The Broncos will go into the game without Corey Oates after the Origin winger broke his jaw against the Cowboys. Oates will miss the next 6-8 weeks with Jesse Arthars getting first crack. Arthars has had an impressive start after returning from the Warriors and he'll be looking to build on that in the week's ahead.

 

[some11]

That opening try was terrible from Cobbo, didn't even know where his opposite was.

Wingers who don't trust their centre to make a 1 on 1 give me the shits.

 

[Big Pete]

That opening try was terrible from Cobbo, didn't even know where his opposite was.

Wingers who don't trust their centre to make a 1 on 1 give me the shits.

I'm struggling to remember the last time the Broncos had a competent right-side defensive winger.

Kahu?

 

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos 40 (Kotoni Staggs 2, Reece Walsh 2, Cory Paix, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam tries; Adam Reynolds 5/7goals; Adam Reynolds 1/1 2-pt field goal) def. St George Illawarra Dragons 18

3-0

The Broncos piled on four late tries to beat a rugged Dragons outfit and keep their unbeaten start alive.

When Jayden Sullivan crossed for the Dragons to make it 6-16, the Broncos were in a world of hurt. When Walters got them in the sheds, he gave them a spray and the team responded by playing a direct high-tempo brand of football which eventually took it's toll on the Dragons.

It eventually created chances out-wide and Reynolds was able to capitilise, taking the ball to the line and holding the pass up for Walsh who ran onto it beautifully. The Broncos had struggled to bring Reece into the game in the first half, but in the second he was once again the most dangerous player on the park.

If there was any competition for that title, it came from Payne Haas who was explosive in the dying stages. If there's been one criticism of Haas' game it's that he's become more and more like a workhorse. An impressive motor and ability to churn out the metres, but not much else. Last night he was breaking tackles, throwing offloads and combining well with his outside men.

It was a frustrating first half for the Broncos. They started well enough to create early opportunities but they lacked patience with the footy and put themselves under pressure with forced passes. Either the Broncos would turn the ball over, or they'd get dominated by the defence and they just appeared clueless close to the line.

One of the issues was that their attack was largely coming through Carrigan. Patty has grown into a quality player, but he was over-calling the ball when the team had momentum. The short ball for Flegler to go after Sullivan was a smart play, but the Broncos inability to capitilise on it really cruelled them in that opening half of the game.

It was the first time the Broncos have scored 40 points since the Wayne Bennett era so they will be full of confidence heading into next week's Battle of Brisbane clash.

The game also saw captain Adam Reynolds kick the first ever 2-pt field goal in club history. At 10 points down, it was a curious option but when scores were all locked up at 18 a piece, it proved a handy option.

 

[some11]

It was the first time the Broncos have scored 40 points since the Wayne Bennett era

That's a crazy stat. I had to look it up to check it

Tbh I care less about piling on points as long as we defend well when it matters.