By Riley O’Leary for the Griffith Journal

27 July 2025

The Griffith Dragons have claimed their first win of the 2025 Universities Rugby League Queensland competition, defeating the QUT Trouts 28-18 last Wednesday.

Starting the game strong, the Dragons hit the front in just the fourth minute, through a slick right-side play to take the lead 4-0.

Ten minutes later, a few penalties gave the Trouts some good field position, allowing them to hit back and take the lead 4-6.

An error forced by Izzy Fulton in the 18^th minute gave the Dragons some ascendency, and they were able to hit back minutes later through a Jonathan Ovia try.

A great kick by Kien Selu forced a Trouts error, allowing the Dragons to score minutes later, pushing their lead to 12-6.

With momentum firmly in their favour, the Dragons capitalised off a Taine Morrison line break off kick-off, scoring in the following set. Three tries in the final ten minutes of the half gave the Dragons an 18-6 lead at the break.  

Some great Dragons defence to start the second half kept them ahead of the game. However, QUT crossed in the 55^th minute to make the score 18-12.

With just one try in it, the Dragons defended bravely, repelling QUT from scoring in back-to-back sets on their own line. Eventually, the Dragons were able to use this fight to score their fifth try of the evening, to take their lead to a more comfortable 24-12.

A late QUT try with four minutes to go gave the Dragons a scare, however Fraser O’Neill was able to seal the game with a try right on full time.

Dragons co-captains Devante Ioane and Hayden Mehlert were once again standout performers, as was Mehlert’s halves partner Kien Selu.

In fact, no player could be faulted in the Dragons important win, which will provide a very solid platform for them to use during the remainder of the season.

Speaking post-match, Dragons coach Sione Malaloi was full of praise for his team.

“I think it was an absolutely amazing game from the boys,” he said.

“They showed up with a lot of determination and a lot of grit and passion.

“Full credit to the boys, and my coaching staff and the assistant coach.”

Mr Malaloi believes that it was the work they put in over the break, as well as their performance last week, which set the platform for the Dragons to record this dominant win.

“Going down by two to USC last week and then building from that to be winning tonight is an absolutely wonderful feeling.

“We’re looking to go in that direction again to hopefully get that winning feeling against USC next week.”

Mr Malaloi was also full of praise for his co-captain Devante Ioane, who played long minutes in the middle despite an injury concern in the first half.

“Devante is one of those players where, when you need him, he turns up.

“There’s no off button on him; he’s just on from whistle to whistle.”

Mr Malaloi has set out a simple blueprint for his team to win again next week.

“Probably just the same thing [as this week]… win the middle, go forward, score tries.”

The Dragons next fixture is against the USC Spartans on Wednesday, July 30. The match will be played at the Nathan Fields, kicking off at 7:30pm.