logo
Gutherson stars as Dragons fight back to stun Broncos in Brisbane

Gutherson stars as Dragons fight back to stun Broncos in Brisbane

Clint Gutherson produced a magnificent co-captain's performance to inspire a stunning 30-26 comeback win for St George Illawarra over an error-strewn Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
The Dragons, inspired by their fullback, scored two second-half tries when they were down to 12 men to leave them on the cusp of the eight with 10 points.
It was the Broncos' third successive loss, and their fifth in six games, as the pressure mounts on coach Michael Maguire.
'We're a real Jekyll and Hyde team, we show such great stuff and then go the other way,' Maguire said.
The Dragons, who lost rising forward Dylan Egan to a suspected ACL injury in the fourth minute, held on in a frenetic final minutes that would have had fans watching from behind their fingers, having seen their side lose three games already this season by one point, including last week's heartbreaking loss to the Warriors.
'I was saying to myself, 'Surely this can't happen to us again', but there must be some football god out there,' a relieved Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said after the match.
'In the last couple of minutes we just put ourselves under an enormous amount of pressure. It was great spirit – great club spirit and great team spirit – that got us home.'
As for Egan, the coach said: 'First signs are that it looks like [an ACL].'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest
AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest

Herald Sun

timean hour ago

  • Herald Sun

AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Some Victorian clubs are getting cold feet on bids this year for Harley Reid given the vast bounty they would have to give up and his likely astronomical wage. For Reid to move back this year and break his contract he would need to be paid at least $1.8 million a season on a long-term deal. While he has had his moments, he has also had his challenges with up-and-down form for the battling Eagles. Contracted until the end of 2026, those close to him have also given off the feeling that he is easing into Perth life. Richmond and Essendon both have a pair of top-10 picks while Geelong is seen as another suitor for Reid. Reid is rated below average by Champion Data for disposals, clearances and contested possessions but above average for his kicking. The brilliant second-year star had a disrupted pre-season and is certain to emerge as one of the stars of the game. But clubs committing as many as three first round picks would need to be certain he is a generational player to hand him upwards of $10 million in six year deals or longerr STARCEVICH, WORPEL WEIGH UP OFFERS Brisbane defender Brandon Starcevich is keen to remain at the Lions now that he has overcome his concussion battle as the list of restricted free agents shrinks to three. Starcevich, Hawthorn's James Worpel and West Coast's Oscar Allen are the only restricted agents on a day when Collingwood's unrestricted free agent Brayden Maynard locked in a four-year deal. Starcevich's contract talks have been on hold, but now that he is back this weekend in Lions colours he will again get those talks back on track. The WA local had requested a two-year offer from the Lions in a deal that would have given him the option of unrestricted free agency or a move to Tasmania in 2028. But he could end up asking for a longer deal or take up that offer to 2028 after going home in coming weeks to ensure he is keen to be locked in at the Lions. The fact he is a restricted free agent as one of the top nine paid players at Brisbane shows he has been well rewarded for his form. The Herald Sun reported last week that Carlton is certain unrestricted free agent Jack Silvagni will remain at the club as talks near. Silvagni is keen to stay at Carlton and will secure a pay rise after his spectacular year as a key position defender. But those talks will still have to resolve how many years the 27-year-old signs for and the scope of that pay rise. If rivals were clamouring for his services it would be easier to get a huge deal but he is likely to settle for a more modest rise to remain a third-generation Blue. Hawthorn's James Worpel is also considering whether to accept a similar two-year offer that would give him the chance to use Tasmania as leverage or even move south. The Hawks remain confident he will stay but to this stage have not blown him off the park with their offer. Essendon's unrestricted Sam Draper is a long way apart on financial terms with the Dons on a four-year deal but in an ideal world would like to stay if he can play in his preferred position as first ruck. Draper is unrestricted after the Dons completed 2024 deals for players including Jy Caldwell that put him out of the club's top nine players for 2025. SUNS FACE NERVOUS WAIT AS ROWELL WEIGHS UP FUTURE Gold Coast star Matt Rowell has gone away with mates across the mid-season bye before considering his future as the Suns nervously await a decision. They are confident he will soon commence contract talks that would see him likely locked away for two more years to free agency. But given that timeline for talks has been easing back since round 8, there is a real sense of nervousness at Gold Coast. The Suns would want an A grader in return for Rowell if he did decide to leave instead of draft picks, which means a trade would be especially hard to broker. Gold Coast is in the window and so isn't interested in draft picks for yet more kids, but remains bullish he is just concentrating on his own form before committing MCVEE TO STAY A DEMON BUT IN NO RUSH TO SIGN Melbourne's Judd McVee wants to stay at the Demons but isn't yet in a hurry to commit. The West Australia's management met with the Demons last week but the offer is not yet at a stage where he would be keen to sign it. With McVee back from a long-running hamstring injury, Daniel Turner emerging as an intercepting back and Jake Bowey in terrific form, the Demons backline is taking shape. Steven May was in super form in the one-point loss to Collingwood, with Jake Lever easing back from an ankle concern. So the nucleus of the Demons' back six is there for future years, which makes securing 21-year-old McVee so important given he can lock away dangerous smalls and mid-sizers. DOGS EYE NEXT DEALS DESPITE BONT DELAY The Dogs will turn their attention to trying to secure youngsters including Joel Freijah long-term in coming weeks even as they work on a deal for 2025 free agent Marcus Bontempelli. The Dogs are adamant Bontempelli is no chance to leave the club but has just had some life issues including his engagement and the starting of a new cafe to concentrate on. Those talks should kick off in coming weeks. Veterans Liam Jones and Adam Treloar are also out of contract this year. Freijah is out of contract next year along with Ryley Sanders, Harvey Gallagher and Jordan Croft. Freijah is one of footy's rising stars given his emergence as a pacy, explosive midfielder, while Sanders is in no hurry given he is a Tasmanian likely to get a massive multimillion-dollar offer to move south. How footy's greatest salary dump changed trading forever Originally published as AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest

AFL: Levi Ashcroft quickly learning lessons in first season
AFL: Levi Ashcroft quickly learning lessons in first season

The Australian

time3 hours ago

  • The Australian

AFL: Levi Ashcroft quickly learning lessons in first season

Levi Ashcroft's AFL education has included a non-negotiable 'team-first' mantra he must maintain to keep his spot in Brisbane's star-studded team. Previously an elite player at junior and schoolboy levels, Ashcroft, 18, has been on a steep learning curve in his first year of AFL football. 'There are a lot of bigger bodies than what I'd been playing against, playing against 18-year-olds and people at school, so it's definitely bigger bodies and stronger players in this league,' said Ashcroft, who has played in all of the Lions' 13 matches this season. 'The ball definitely moves a lot quicker than what I was used to, but I've found my feet and confident with where it's at now.' The fifth pick in last year's AFL draft has also been happy to shelve any thoughts of individual glory and instead properly buy into the Lions' team ethic under coach Chris Fagan. Levi Ashcroft has made a good start to his AFL career. Picture:'Give yourself to the team is a big thing for 'Fages' and the coaching staff,' Ashcroft said. 'It's just doing everything you possibly can for your mates and for this club. He (Fagan) has been stern on that all year round, and I definitely resonate with that. 'I feel like to stay in this team, you've got to do all that stuff. 'It's not just about your individual performance. That comes as well, but to be doing the team things first, that's the most important thing, and then individually, you can hopefully thrive off that.' Playing alongside his older brother Will at AFL level has also been a 'dream' for Ashcroft. 'We love coming into work every day. It's a dream being able to play football as your job, and do it with him is even more special,' he said. 'It just feels like we're growing up and getting older and enjoying our life as footballers.' Levi Ashcroft (left) says it's a 'dream' playing in the AFL alongside his brother Will. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images The Lions will aim to bounce back from last Friday's five-point away loss to the Adelaide Crows when they host the GWS Giants at the Gabba on Saturday. Brisbane wasted a host of opportunities in the final quarter against Crows, but Ashcroft was confident the Lions would correct that problem this weekend. 'We just need to finish off our work with inside 50s … we're trying to kick more goals from better inside 50 (opportunities),' Ashcroft. 'I feel like some of the time we go inside 50, it's a little bit lower percentage, so we're just trying to get better shots as a team.' Ruckman Oscar McInerney, defender Brandon Starcevich and forward Sam Day all trained on Thursday in their bid to prove they were fit enough to return to action on Saturday after respective back, concussion and hamstring problems. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store