Webcke scores as Broncos dominate
by Chris Cox
Friday July 09, 2004

The Brisbane Broncos have answered suggestions from Roosters coach Ricky Stuart that St George-Illawarra should be competition favourites with a commanding 28-14 win over the Dragons at WIN Stadium.  

Just two days after the anticlimactic State of Origin decider, 10 players backed up - five for each side - in wet and slippery conditions in Wollongong.  Brisbane led 14-6 at half time and went on with the job in the first 25 minutes of the second half to lead 26-6 before the Dragons scored two late consolation tries.

Queensland and Australian prop, Shane Webcke, put the Broncos in front midway through the first half with his first try since round 26 last season. The world's best front rower put the disappointment of the interstate loss two nights earlier by bouncing off Blues hero Shaun Timmins before charging through three defenders to score.

Winger Craig Frawley scored in the dying minutes of the first half off a neat Karmichael Hunt grubber to take a 14-6 lead into the break.

Fellow winger Stu Kelly left the field soon after half time, suffering a worrying neck injury, falling awkwardly after challenging for a bomb. Kelly felt pins and needles in his arms and will have scans to determine the extent of the damage.

Interchange forward Darren Mapp also had an unfortunate head clash with the ground, but this time it resulted in a penalty and a report against Dragons hooker Mark Riddell for a spear tackle 30 metres out right in front..

Darren Lockyer, kicking for goal in the absence of Michael De Vere, kicked the resulting penalty goal to extend the lead 10 before Frawley scored his second, taking a neat pass from man of the match Neville Costigan to lead 20-6.

Rookie David Stagg, who moved to the wing to replace Kelly after starting in the back row, scored his first try just four minutes later, and it will be memorable. Halfback Casey McGuire chipped ahead with centre Brent Tate winning the race and flicking the ball back to Stagg before stepping into touch. The youngster then crashed over in the tackle of Ben Hornby to score.

Lockyer, a reluctant goalkicker at the best of times, did his best impersonation of De Vere with a beautiful sideline conversion for a 26-6 lead.

The Dragons hit back when Lincoln Withers scrambled over for a try but after Riddell dropped the ensuing kick off and Mathew Head was penalised for a strip, Lockyer put the lead back out to 18 points.

Andrew Frew scored in the final minute to complete the scoring.

It was a magnificent, committed performance from Brisbane although the quality of their effort could easily be overlooked in favour of the Dragons' woeful ball control.  St George-Illawarra turned the ball over 19 times in the match, most of the time in their own half. But Brisbane's forwards got onto a roll early in the game and that momentum stifled anything the Dragons could muster, hampered further by the loss of captain and five-eighth Trent Barrett with a shoulder injury.

Webcke and Petero Civoniceva were outstanding in the front row.  Corey Parker, Carl Webb and Gorden Tallis were equally impressive in the back row, while the pick of the pack was undoubtedly Costigan.  Playing just his 13th first grade game, Costigan started at hooker and contributed to the momentum with crisp service and strong defence.  His pass for Frawley's second try was beautifully crafted.

Darren Lockyer was much improved on his previous two outings, aided by great forward momentum.  Halfback Casey McGuire was excellent inside, while Tate and Shaun Berrigan were a handful out wide.  Frawley continued his outstanding form and has a mortgage on one wing for the Broncos.

The Dragons were never in the hunt and really looked out of sorts. Ben Creagh was good in the back row, while Ben Hornby saved several tries with desperate last ditch play at fullback.

McGuire got the Broncos off to the perfect start when he won the race to a deft Lockyer grubber. 

St George-Illawarra hit back 10 minutes later when Shaun Timmins crashed over from a Mark Riddell pass. Head converted for the Dragons to lead for the only time in the match.