Broncos charge over fireless Dragons

The Brisbane Broncos have scored an emphatic 32-6 win to keep them atop the NRL ladder, downing the St George Illawarra Dragons in front of 33,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

The first half was all the Broncos after they managed to run out to a 16-0 lead after dominating the Dragons, despite some close calls.

Brisbane opened the scoring after just six minutes when Jordan Kahu had an open line after the Dragons wingers rushed up in defence, a sign that was ominous for the visitors.

The second Broncos try was a repeat of their first after the Red V defence rushed up and left a huge overlap for Lachlan Maranta to score.

Soon after the hosts looked to have scored again but it was pulled back by officials on-field, then the Video Referees for an obstruction - and even if that was cleared, Dale Copley had lost the ball in the process of grounding it.

The Dragons then looked to get over the line twice but were both denied by the men upstairs, first knocked back after the Broncos stripped the ball in the process of scoring, with the play having been called no try by the on-field officials. Soon after, Justin Hunt looked to have stolen a try by just getting hands to the ball before it went dead - and it was the opinion held by referee Jared Maxwell, but replays showed that Hunt had missed the ball completely.

The final points of the first stanza went to Anthony Milford, who had too much agility for the Dragons defence and scored leading to the 16-0 halftime score.

The second half was a repeat of the first, with a double to Ben Hunt helping the Broncos out to a 26-0 lead before Dale Copley had open space out wide to take the score to 32-0.

The final points came to the Dragons who scored through Justin Hunt. He outleapt Jordan Kahu to bag the visitors' only try of the night, and it finished at 32-6.

Next week the Broncos take on the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, while Dragons have the Thursday night game up against the Panthers in Wollongong.

Match Details

Brisbane Broncos 32 St. George Illawarra Dragons 6
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 33480
Halftime Score: Brisbane Broncos 16 St. George Illawarra Dragons 0

BRISBANE BRONCOS (32)
Tries: Jordan Kahu, Lachlan Maranta, Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt (2), Dale Copley
Conversions: Jordan Kahu (0/1), Corey Parker (3/4), Anthony Milford (1/1)

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (6)
Tries: Justin Hunt
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Anthony Milford
2 points - Ben Hunt
1 point - Adam Blair

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

HERE COME THE BRONCOS ON TO SUNCORP

First use of the ball belongs to the Dragons who defend the Southern end of Suncorp Stadium

1: Broncos find the Dragons 40m zone on their first set but a high kick is taken from Mata'utia on his own 10

2: Repeat set for the Dragons - have Mitch Rein weights his kick perfectly forcing Maranta to knock the ball dead

4: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Josh Dugan makes an unforced error.
Widdop kicks blind side but Josh Dugan knocks it on

5: PENALTY BRONCOS - Dragons penalised for being too slow from the Ruck, Broncos now 10m out

6: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Jordan Kahu. Kick to come.
As Blur once sung.... KAHUUUUU - Jordan Kahu scores after the Broncos winger has an open line and he scores in the corner

8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker takes the conversion from wide out on the right sideline and slots it between the posts

9: Ben Hunt sends the kick high and it goes just a fraction too long and Dugan captures it in goal and gets the 20m restart

10: A good set for the Broncos and the Dragons are working it off their 20m line

12: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jordan Kahu makes an unforced error.
Ball goes up high off the kick... Kahu seemingly takes it before losing it on his way down, Dragons attack

13: PENALTY DRAGONS - Last tackle penalty hurts the Broncos with the Dragons getting another set on their line

14: The Dragons last tackle option was poor and that gives the Broncos their get out of jail free card

17: PENALTY DRAGONS - Jared Maxwell penalises Gareth Widdop for being too slow off the ruck

18: PENALTY BRONCOS - Dragons penalised for some stuff better suited at Cronulla with it being described as Rubbish and Remondis know all about that

19: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Lachlan Maranta. Kick to come.
Lachlan Maranta scores an easy try for the Broncos after the Dragons wide defenders again couldn't read the Broncos set piece

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the conversion from the same spot as the last (just across the other side of the field)

22: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Peter Mata'utia makes an unforced error.
Dragons lose the ball 23m out and its the Broncos on attack again

23: Dragons survive again after an obstruction call from the Video Refs which initially came from pocket ref Gavin Morris

27: PENALTY DRAGONS - Broncos penalised for a "flop" and the Dragons get to go up to the Broncos 20m

31: UNFORCED ERROR BRISBANE BRONCOS
Jarrod Wallace makes an unforced error.
First tackle off the 20m restart and Jarrod Wallace loses the ball, Scrum 22m out for the Dragons

32: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Tyson Frizell makes an unforced error.
A 5 man tackle from the Broncos forces the ball loose and they aren't made to pay for that error

37: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Anthony Milford. Kick to come.
Anthony Milford has too much agility for the Dragons big men and he scores for the Broncos close to the break

38: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Jordan Kahu unsuccessful.
Jordan Kahu hits the metal with his conversion attempt and doesn't add the two points

40: Ben Hunt's banana kick is average and Dugan takes it in front of the posts easily

42: Both sides complete their opening sets well...

45: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
Ben Hunt has his scope on the try line and a smart play after a flukish offload from Milford sets the try up

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Anthony Milford successful.
Anthony Milford slots the conversion from close range and expands the lead

48: Sam Thaiday just made a tackle on.... his own teammate

49: Great kick from Ben Hunt traps Dugan on his own line before a relieving penalty deep inside their zone helps the Dragons off the hook

50: Gareth Widdop again puts a horrible last tackle kick in and the Broncos have no pressure in cleaning it up

51: Broncos survive the raid with Nathan Green having his foot on the sideline

53: Maranta watches the ball go dead and the Broncos get a free run out to the 20m

54: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Ben Hunt. Kick to come.
Its a good night for Ben Hunt who gets his second after the Dragons wide defence has no answer for the Broncos play

56: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Corey Parker misses the conversion from outwide

60: Broncos making easy metres after a 20m restart and the Dragons look vulnerable again

61: The pass goes to the touch judge and the Dragons survive

62: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Mike Cooper makes an unforced error.
Mike Cooper loses the ball on halfway and the Broncos will go back on the attack

63: TRY BRISBANE BRONCOS
Scored by Dale Copley. Kick to come.
Cop That says Dale Copley as the Dragons can't defend out wide.... this is getting ugly

65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION BRISBANE BRONCOS
Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Corey Parker slots the conversion from outwide

67: Darius Boyd tried to kick down field for Maranta but its charged down and the Broncos regain the ball

70: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Justin Hunt. Kick to come.
Justin Hunt was denied earlier but now he outjumps Kahu and scores for the Dragons first points

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Gareth Widdop kicks the conversion from out wide

73: Plenty of blood streaming from Dale Copley after a head clash with Matt Gillett

77: Quick penalties for the Dragons and they attack the Broncos line but the defence stands firm

78: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Joel Thompson makes an unforced error.
Joel Thompson loses the ball and its a late call from pocket referee Gavin Morris that brings it up