St George Illawarra Dragons score 30-26 upset over Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium

No spirit. No organisation. No commitment. The Broncos have descended into a full-blown form crisis after the Dragons ruthlessly exposed their soft underbelly in front of a stunned Suncorp Stadium.

Michael Maguire’s Broncos have descended into a full-blown form crisis after being out-hustled and out-muscled by the battling Dragons in front of a stunned Suncorp Stadium.

Dragons linchpin and two-try hero Clint Gutherson had one of his finest games in recent times by lifting his team from the brink of despair to an incredible win which finished with the ball being knocked out of Adam Reynolds hands in the final seconds of the game just as he was attempting to conjure a last gasp miracle.

“We’ve lost a few tight ones, some real tight ones and you always think ‘what if, what if’, but we just knew going into thebye next week we were under a bit of pressure and we just needed to win,” Gutherson told Fox League.

“We probably should have iced the game but they got another look. They are hard to win and to be able to win it ... it wasa great win.”

Something seriously is wrong with the Broncos. Don’t be fooled by the closeness of the 30-26 scoreline. Had Ezra Mam not played the Broncos could well have been thrashed by 20.

In crucial moments, they lack spirit. Organisation. Commitment. Everything. They simply have no heart for the arm wrestle which is distressing for their fans know arm wrestling skills win premierships.

Coach Maguire is facing a serious interrogation of his credentials with the side slipping to five wins from 11 games and playing without any sort of threatening drive or cohesion. Are they not playing for him?

Put simply, they were awful.

And this was at home where a passionate crowd were cheering their every positive move.

Brisbane led 12-0 early and had the game at their mercy. They led again midway through the second half before two late tries gave the Dragons a 10 point lead with seven minutes to go.

But the Saints just kept coming.

Clint Gutherson completely outplayed the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I was saying surely this (close loss) can’t happen to us again,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“There must be some sort of football god out there.

“We put ourselves under enormous pressure but showed great team spirit. That got us home.

“With him (Gutherson) and Damien coming to the club, we knew how hard they compete.

“We wanted competitors. They didn’t have to be the best in their positions but we wanted competitors.”

MAM OF THE MOMENT

Jeers then cheers.

That was the lot of controversial Broncos utility Mam who was the Broncos best player

Mam, returning from a nine match ban due to his involvement in a car crash last year, was in everything that mattered for the Broncos in attack.

Mam showed his class in setting up the Broncos first try when he palmed off Kyle Flannigan and deftly unloaded in the tackle to Gehamat Shibasaki who scooted over from close range.

It may have been an undetected forward pass but it was still slick work.

It was such an obvious forward pass that television cameras captured. Some social media sites showed footage of a smiling Ben Hunt in the dug out and interpreted through their lip-reading skills he said the word “forward.’’

Ezra Mam made a stunning return to first grade. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Then he scored one in himself when he took a high, awkward pass from Adam Reynolds which many would dropped and stepped off his right foot to scramble over from 10 metres.

Then Mam shaped up defensively when he hit fullback Clint Gutherson so hard when he was returning a Mam kick the ball was jolted out as if he has just run into an oncoming train.

On another occasion he was looming up after a break and seems destined for his second try but Shibasaki tried a failed chip kick instead of passing.

And, when Brisbane lost the lead midway through the second half, he was the man who woke Brisbane from their slumber with a midfield break that allowed Kotoni Staggs to score in front of boisterous southern terraces.

COBBO ORIGIN WORRY

Selwyn Cobbo is in grave doubt for the first State of Origin after injuring his right wrist in a tackle.

Cobbo was sent to the right wing and Jesse Arthars went to fullback after the wrist was heavily strapped and was replaced midway through the second half after the Dragons his the lead.

Dragons centre Valentine Holmes, while not flawless, showed flashes of his fine running game and will be named in the Queensland State of Origin side on Monday.

TRY OF THE YEAR CONTENDER

For parts of the game the Dragons attack looked limp and disconnected – but suddenly they conjured one of the tries of the year.

The 10-pass masterpiece started with a Gutherson midfield break, swept towards the left hand sideline then, following and extravagant series of passes winger Tyrell Sloan crossed in the corner.

Originally published as St George Illawarra Dragons score 30-26 upset over Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium