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The St George Illawarra Dragons have survived a late scare from the Brisbane Broncos to run out 30-26 winners at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The win sees the Dragons break a seven-game losing streak at the ground while cementing their spot in the competition’s top eight.
On the flip side, the error-riddled performance sees the Broncos languishing having lost six matches in a row.
AS IT HAPPENED: NRL Round 19 Saturday
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Dragons players celebrate a Jaydn Su’A try during their round 19 NRL match against the Brisbane Broncos. Albert Perez via Getty Images
“They were powerful, ferocious and fast tonight,” Cooper Cronk told Fox League.
“The Broncos pulled back but it was too late.”
Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu scored his first career hat-trick while a second half double from Kotoni Staggs nearly carried the Broncos home.
It was the Dragons who got off to the perfect start as Tuipulotu opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he barged over in the corner.
As tensions began to simmer in the middle, the Broncos responded through Billy Walters.
The hooker threw a dummy to draw Tyrell Sloan out of the ruck before burrowing over the tryline.
He gave Sloan a rub on the head for his defensive effort but the joke was soon on Brisbane after Staggs was given his marching orders for grabbing the arm of the Saints’ fullback.
“That looked pretty obvious that one,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.
“He could’ve easily thrown a pass there in desperation.”
Greg Alexander added: “That wasn’t a hard one for the referee”.
As a result, the Dragons were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks which Kyle Flanagan slotted to lock up the scores.
Mikaele Ravalawa was denied following a try-saving tackle from Deine Mariner.
However, this triggered a three-try blitz for the Dragons as Moses Suli and Jaydn Su’A went over, and Tuipulotu brought up a first-half double — all within nine minutes.
Su’a, who was snubbed from Billy Slater’s Queensland Maroons squad for Origin III, bundled up a dropped bomb from Broncos fullback Tristan Sailor before crashing over.
On the ropes at the main break, the Broncos entered the sheds trailing 22-6.
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Picking up where the Dragons left off, Tuipulotu brought up his third try of the evening to kick off the scoring in the second half.
Ezra Mam crashed over from close range to breathe some life into the Broncos before a 60-metre try from Staggs ignited the side’s late comeback.
But another Flanagan penalty goal as a result of a rushing tackle from Staggs soon took the wind out of the Broncos’ sails.
Promising talent Blake Mozer went over for one last roll of the dice as Brisbane reduced their deficit to eight points.
With three minutes left on the clock, Staggs busted over to bring the Broncos within four points but the comeback was left too late.
The last time the Broncos lost six straight matches was during the 2020 season when they finished bottom of the league ladder.
The Dragons dominated despite losing second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner in the warm-up because of back spasms.
