After Tina Turner brought the crowd to its feet with a sensational pre-game rendition of the league anthem Simply The Best it was down to business and the Dragons had the worst possible start when prop Jason Stevens suffered a horrific thumb injury in the opening exchanges.
The 20-year-old had enjoyed a fine season for St George and was a key part of their plans to combat Brisbane s powerful pack but it was over in the blink of an eye as Stevens badly dislocated his thumb and left the field in agony.
With Glenn Lazarus, Mark Hohn, Alan Cann and Trevor Gillmeister laying the platform it was only a matter of time before Brisbane s backline clicked into gear and it was Kevin Walters who left Tony Priddle and David Barnhill grasping at thin air to set up Chris Johns for the opening try.