There wasn’t a bad player for the home team but leading the way were Kobe Hetherington (137 metres run from 15 runs and 37 tackles), Kotoni Staggs (two tries, 134 metres run, three line breaks), and Tesi Niu (Try, 145 metres run, try assist, two line break assists, five tackle busts).

Winger Delouise Hoester (two tries and 137 metres run) and debutant backrower Zac Hosking (143 metres run from 17 runs, four tackle breaks, 28 tackles) were also outstanding.

It was a Broncos side missing nine of its first-choice players due to Origin duties and injury – Kurt Capewell, Selwyn Cobbo, Pat Carrigan, Corey Oates and Tom Flegler all with the Maroons, while injuries ruled out Payne Haas (shoulders), Te Maire Martin (ribs), Corey Jensen (calf) and Herbie Farnworth (biceps).

There were fireworks from the start as Dragons forward Tariq Sims was sinbinned in the third minute for a late and high shot on Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds - and the home team capitalised when they shifted the ball left for Brenko Lee to offload despite the attention of three tacklers to Delouise Hoeter who  drove over low to score his first NRL try and a 4-0 lead.

Reynolds was hit late and high again soon after by Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough who was put on report as the Broncos continued to pile the pressure on the Dragon defence without being able to finish off a host of chances.

The visitors hit back in the 16th minute when they got a piggyback downfield off the back of a Broncos penalty and Cody Ramsey sliced through on the left edge and sped away to score. Zac Lomax converted from the touchline to give his side a 6-4 lead.