Brisbane all but extinguished the Dragons' flickering finals hopes with a tough 12-8 win in awful conditions at WIN Stadium on Thursday night.
With suspended trio Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson and Leeson Ah Mau watching on, and the injured Josh Dugan also in the civvies, the Dragons conceded just two tries but, in what has been the story of their season, could only produce a penalty goal in the opening 76 minutes.
More QLD News Videos
- Video duration
- 00:49
Broncos beat Dragons
Broncos beat Dragons
The Brisbane Broncos hold on for a 12-8 win over the Dragons in wet conditions at Wollongong on Thursday night. 7 News
Up Next
Adele Brisbane arrivals: time lapse
- Video duration
- 01:23
- Video duration
- 01:23
Adele Brisbane arrivals: time lapse
Adele Brisbane arrivals: time lapse
A bird's eye view of 60,000 people pouring into the Gabba to watch Adele perform on Saturday night.
Up Next
Bucket list: top ten
- Video duration
- 01:08
- Video duration
- 01:08
Bucket list: top ten
Bucket list: top ten
We countdown the ten most popular life wishes, as determined by the users of an Australian bucket list app.
Up Next
Woman puts hair into meal
- Video duration
- 00:35
- Video duration
- 00:35
Woman puts hair into meal
Woman puts hair into meal
A woman trying to score a free meal in Fortitude Valley is filmed pulling out her own hair and putting it into her pasta dish. 7 News Queensland
Up Next
Man charged over nanny rape
- Video duration
- 00:57
- Video duration
- 00:57
Man charged over nanny rape
Man charged over nanny rape
A 28-year-old man is charged with the rape and assault of a Polish nanny in Petrie in November. Nine News
Up Next
Newman admits 'some dud decisions'
- Video duration
- 00:39
- Video duration
- 00:39
Newman admits 'some dud decisions'
Newman admits 'some dud decisions'
Campbell Newman tells the ABC's 7.30 program the decisions he made while premier were "in the best interests of Queenslanders". September 29, 2015
Up Next
Brisbane CBD prices going up
- Video duration
- 01:23
- Video duration
- 01:23
Brisbane CBD prices going up
Brisbane CBD prices going up
The average apartment price in the Brisbane CBD has risen to $673,000 as the number of new units drops dramatically. Nine News
Up Next
Gabba transforming for Adele
- Video duration
- 02:23
- Video duration
- 02:23
Gabba transforming for Adele
Gabba transforming for Adele
RAW VISION: Stage crew set up for Adele's concerts at the Gabba on Saturday and Sunday nights. 7 News Queensland
Broncos beat Dragons
The Brisbane Broncos hold on for a 12-8 win over the Dragons in wet conditions at Wollongong on Thursday night. 7 News
Gareth Widdop's late try from a Benji Marshall kick gave the Dragons a sniff but they ultimately left their run too late, sinking to their fifth straight loss that leaves them in 12th spot on the ladder with four games remaining.
They remain a mathematical chance of reaching the finals but the possibility exists more on the calculator than in reality ahead of their clash with ladder-leaders Cronulla at Kogarah next week.
The Broncos came into the clash with just two wins from their previous nine games and on a rapid tumble out of the top eight but were boosted by the return of Test reps Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett.
Thaiday in particular shone in the opening exchanges and scored the only four-pointer of the first half when he grounded an Anthony Milford grubber in the Dragons in-goal midway through the opening stanza.Â
Under-fire halves Milford and Ben Hunt also returned to form, playing a measured hand to get their side home in the tough conditions that saw just 5,562 hardy souls brave the rain.
The visitors were on the board after just four minutes when Jake Marketo was penalised for holding back Anthony Milford in pursuit of a Andrew McCullough grubber with Corey Parker slotting the penalty goal for a 2-0 lead.
The Dragons levelled things up in the 14th minute after Corey Oates spilled a Marshall high ball to hand possession back to home side with Widdop making no mistake with a penalty shot right in front of the posts.Â
Thaiday scored in the 24th minute from the boot of Milford with Parker adding the extras for an 8-2 lead and the  Dragons couldn't find an equaliser despite a mountain of possession in the minutes before halftime.
Kurt Mann looked to have scored 12 minutes after the resumption when he won the race to a Gareth Widdop kick but a last ditch effort from Lachlan Maranta forced a mistake that saw the try denied by the bunker.Â
Maranta featured at the other end eight minutes later, scoring in the corner from a Darius Boyd cut-out ball to extend the lead to 12-2 with 18 minutes to play.
Widdop's try four minutes from time set up a grandstand finish but it was too little too late.