Witzer Pre-Season Challenge Rd 2: Broncos, Bulldogs, Dragons notch wins

Full-time: A solid hit-out for the new-look Dragons with Clint Gutherson, Val Holmes and Damien Cook getting some quality minutes in the 18-point win. The Roosters were led up front by Naufahu Whyte (12 runs for 116 metres) while Robert Toia also impressed in the centres.

77 min: Ben Rumble sends a nice pass over the top for winger Mikaele Ravalawa to grab the Dragons' fifth try to put the finishing touches on a 26-8 victory.

71 min: Dragon Dylan Egan is placed on report for a lifting tackle.

63 min: The Dragons extend their lead courtesy of a try to teenager Kade Reed after Nathan Lawson had flown high to pull down a kick and managed to keep his balance get a grubber in for Reed to chase through and score to make it 22-8.

53 min: Slick hands on the right edge finishes with Tyreece Tait crossing in the corner. Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia featured heavily to set the prolific tryscorer Tait on his way. Dragons 18-8.

Half-time: The Dragons head to the sheds with an 18-4 lead with Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook also calling it a night early after getting a solid 30-minute hit-out.

35 min: The Roosters hit back when Sandon Smith puts the ball on a platter with a sweet cut-out pass for Dom Young to score in the corner.

28 min: Another grubber produces another try for the Dragons with Damien Cook's kick rebounding to Kyle Flanagan who lobs a pass over to Sione Finau to touch down in the left corner. Holmes knocks over the conversion to make it 18-0. Holmes then left the field to be put in cotton wool for next week's Charity Shield against the Rabbitohs. 

24 min: Damien Cook makes a great start in his new colours with a try from a Kyle Flanagan grubber. Cook launched his NRL career back in 2013 at the Dragons before heading to the Bulldogs for two seasons and the Rabbitohs for nine before coming back to the Red V in 2025. Holmes lands the extras for a 12-0 lead.

19 min: On the back of a couple of six-again calls the Dragons make the most of the weight of possession when Kyle Flanagan takes the line on from close range and grabs the opening try. New Dragon Val Holmes converts for a 6-0 lead.

Late Mail: The Roosters have brought Salesi Foketi and De La Salle Va'a into the starting side with Hayden Barton going to the bench and Nat Butcher dropping out of the side named on Tuesday. For the Dragons, Jacob Liddle, Tom Eisenhuth, Hame Sele and Lyhkan King-Togia are out of the side named on Tuesday with Connor Muhleisen, Hamish Stewart, Jacob Halangahu and Kade Reed coming in.

 

Bulldogs v Wests Tigers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sunday 5.30pm (AEDT)

Full-time: The Tigers take a late shot at salvaging a draw but the Bulldogs' defence holds firm and Cameron Ciraldo's men get home 20-14. Jack Todd ran for 143 metres from 13 hit-ups while wingers Jonathan Sua and Ratu Rinakama combined for 31 hit-ups and 354 metres.

72 min: Cassius Tia produces a monster 40-20 kick to put the Bulldogs on the attack but Jack Underhill loses the ball in his attempt to plunge over from close range so the Tigers come away.

70 min: Slick hands from Dogs No.7 Joseph O'Neill puts a rampaging Jack Todd into space and he finds Ragarive Wavik who plunges over in the corner but replays show his arm went into touch as he tried to ground the ball.

65 min: The Bulldogs regain the lead through Jonathan Sua, who is enjoying a big afternoon with 120 run metres and four tackle breaks. Cassius Tia converts from wide out for a 20-14 lead.

57 min: Ratu Rinakama makes it a double thanks to a neat tap-on from Cassius Tia as the Bulldogs draw level at 14-14.

55 min: Wests Tigers bench hooker Tristan Hope was placed on report for a hip drop tackle.

46 min: Two tries in the space of three minutes for Faataape, getting over on the right side after Tristan Hope got into dummy half and put his centre into space. Alex Lobb misses the conversion. Wests Tigers 14-10. 

43 min: The Tigers draw level through a try to Solomona Faataape after some nice lead-up work by FaaletinoTavana. 10-10.

39 min: A great moment for Fijian flyer Ratu Rinakama when he crosses in the left hand corner courtesy of a superb tap on from Danny Gabrael to give the Bulldogs a 10-6 lead at the break.

33 min: Heath Mason gets the Tigers on the board when he finishes off a 70-metre special that started with Lachlan Galvin putting Solomona Faataape into space before the centre found Alex Lobb who sent a pinpoint grubber back inside and Mason regathered to score. 6-6.

30 min: Wests Tigers get a chance to square things up but Noah Johannssen comes up with an error before a time violation penalty for taking too long to pack a scrum lets the Bulldogs off the hook.

24 min: The Bulldogs turn defence into attack with Jonathan Sua flying down the right wing before bench forward Jack Todd scores with his first touch of the game to make it 6-0 with Blake Taaffe's conversion.

13 min: Ratu Rinakama comes up with an error on kick return to hand Wests Tigers an opportunity to open the scoring and after Josh Feledy comes up just short they go to the right side and the ball is spilt by Tony Sukkar.

Late Mail: The Bulldogs have brought Fijian winger Ratu Rinakama into the starting side in jersey No.22 with Blake Wilson dropping out. Joseph Teaupa is also out of the squad, replaced by William Afualo. Wests Tigers have made a late change with Kit Laulilii to start at prop in place of David Klemmer, who will miss the match.

Broncos v Titans at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Sunday 3.30pm (AEDT)

Full-time: The Broncos come away with a dominant 50-12 win. Among of host of quality performances Marty Taupau (12 runs for 140 metres) has a day out along with Deine Mariner (8 tackle breaks, 2 line breaks, 2 tries). The Broncos had 57 per cent of possession and racked up 53 tackle breaks to the Titans' 17. A leg injury to Matthew Koellner inside the last 30 seconds take some of the gloss of the victory.

77 min: Josiah Karapani pours into a hole and gets into the in-goal but makes a mess of the put-down and the try is ruled out.

73 min: Titans veteran Ken Maumalo was forced off for a HIA after copping an accidental knee to the head while sliding in to catch a kick.

68 min: Jaylan De Groot slices through from close range to grab the Titans' second try. Tom Weaver converts to make it 50-12.

58 min: Big Ben Te Kura crashes over from close range as the Broncos go out by 44 points with 20 minutes still to play.

54 min: Deine Mariner makes it a double courtesy of some flashy footwork to leave Sam Stephenson clutching at thin air. Madden adds the extra two for a 44-6 lead.

50 min: Delouise Hoeter gets in on the action with some neat footwork to bamboozle the Titans defence as the Broncos rack up the full 15 points on the Pre-Season Challenge table with three bonus points.

46 min: On the back of a powerful burst by Jaiyden Hunt the Broncos post their sixth try of the day through impressive youngster Latrell Siegwalt on the right edge to make it 34-6.

44 min: Deine Mariner flies high to pull down a Jock Madden kick and shrugs off two defenders to score. Madden pushes the conversion wide. Broncos 28-6.

Half-time: On the back of 55 per cent of possession and 22 of 24 completed sets the Broncos take a 24-6 lead into the sheds. The only negative for the Broncos was a shoulder injury to young forward Va'a Semu.

40 min: A grubber by Titans five-eighth AJ Brimson ricochets off Billy Walters into the arms of David Fifita who crosses for Gold Coast's first try.

31 min: Titans hooker Sam Verrills leaves the field for a HIA.

25 min: Titans veteran Kieran Foran is placed on report for high contact on Brendan Piakura and the Broncos grab their fourth try in the next set after Corey Jensen produces a brilliant offload close to the line to put Cory Paix over. Broncos 24-0.

22 min: Brendan Piakura caps a fine opening stint with a try after Hayze Perham launches a bomb which the Titans spill and the back-rower pounces on the scraps to score. Jock Madden converts for a 18-0 lead.

17 min: On the back of Billy Walters earning his team a repeat set with a clever grubber the Broncos race to a 12-0 lead thanks to a sharp try out of dummy half by Cory Paix.

10 min: The Broncos open the scoring through Gehamat Shibasaki after good lead-up work by Billy Walters, who beat a couple of defenders and delivers a great pass to his centre.

2.40pm: The Broncos have made a late switch with Cory Paix to start the game at hooker in No.22 and Tyson Smoothy moving to the interchange. The Titans made one change made on Saturday with Ryan Foran coming in for Ryder Williams. The starting side will run out 1-13 as named by Des Hasler on Tuesday.