NRL 2020: St George Illawarra squeeze out narrow win over Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium
Kotoni Staggs and Tom Dearden grabbed great individual tries but the gallant Broncos fell just short against St George Illawarra and will finish the weekend last if the Bulldogs beat the Warriors on Sunday.
Broncos
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Star Brisbane pivot Anthony Milford suffered a fresh injury scare as the worst season in Broncos history copped another kick in the guts with a crushing 28-24 loss to the Dragons.
Before 7074 fans at Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos slumped to their 12th loss from 13 games and the narrow defeat was compounded by the sight of Milford limping to the sidelines in the 54th minute.
Milford made an early return from a hamstring injury in a bid to lift the Broncos but the $1 million man failed to finish as Brisbane crashed to their sixth consecutive defeat.
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YA KIDDING!
— NRL (@NRL) August 21, 2020
Staggs does it all himself 🔥🔥🔥#NRLBroncosDragons 18-18 after 45 mins.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/pzgFeqfjSX
Unlike some of Brisbane’s recent horror shows, this was a fighting performance. The Broncos kept the Dragons honest all night, but they fell agonisingly short and will finish the weekend last on percentages if the Bulldogs beat the Warriors on Sunday.
Ultimately, the Dragons had more classy executioners when it mattered. They bolted to a 12-0 lead after just six minutes and never trailed as Matt Dufty, Corey Norman and Ben Hunt kept the Red V in the finals hunt.
The Broncos had a sniff when Kotoni Staggs scored a superb 75-metre try to level scores at 18-all in the 44th minute, but a two-try effort from Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa edged the Dragons home.
SUPER STAGGS
Staggs has to be considered for his NSW debut this season. The power-packed centre has been a rare bright spot for the Broncos this season and he ripped the Dragons apart with a 75-metre solo scorcher in the 44th minute.
With the Broncos trailing 18-12, Staggs lit up Suncorp.
He took a pass from Tom Dearden deep inside his own half, gave Euan Aitken a savage don’t argue, shrugged off Adam Clune, raced upfield, then dummied past Matt Dufty to score his eighth try of the season. It was brutally brilliant. Staggs is Origin material.
SLOW JOE
Broncos prop Joe Ofahengaue has gone backwards this season and he needs to lift his game or risk losing his Queensland Origin jumper.
The Broncos went into the clash with a depleted front row, minus Payne Haas and Tom Flegler, leaving Ofahengaue, playing his 101st NRL game, was the side’s most experienced middle player.
Brisbane needed Ofahengaue to muscle up. Instead, he was badly exposed on his tryline, missing Josh Kerr (3rd minute) before Norman slipped past Ofahengaue and Ben Te’o for a 12-0 lead after just six minutes.
For a bloke on $500,000 a season, Ofahengaue isn’t pulling his weight.
MAROON MAGIC
Queensland Origin coach Kevin Walters would have relished the performance of the Dragons’ Maroons duo Norman and Hunt.
Norman scored a solo try and produced a crucial monster kick late in the game to pin Brisbane in their in-goal, while Hunt was busy all night around the rucks and came up with some clever strategic kicks.
PATS ON THE BACK
Pat Carrigan and Tom Dearden were magnificent. The Broncos lock amassed 195 metres and 46 tackles while halfback Dearden displayed great heart all night and deserved his late try. The Broncos need more troops like them.