Brisbane will look to claim a historic three-peat when they face the Sydney Roosters in the NRLW grand final despite one round of the round-robin competition left to play next week.
After the Roosters made it back-to-back victories to open the season with a smash-up of the Warriors on Saturday, the Broncos also stayed undefeated with a dramatic 18-4 win over St George Illawarra.
The round-two results mean both teams, who also clash in a dead-rubber game at ANZ Stadium next week, will meet each other again at ANZ Stadium on October 25.
However the triumph was soured by captain Ali Brigginshaw being put on report for attacking the legs of Dragons halfback Maddie Studdon while in mid-air in the second half.
In an afternoon of carnage at Bankwest Stadium, St George Illawarra also lost star second-rower Kezie Apps (knee) and reigning Dally M medallist Isabelle Kelly (ankle) to suspected serious injuries.
Kelly was chaired from the field after being felled by Brisbane forward Amber Hall, who pulled Kelly’s hair from behind before awkwardly falling on her leg, in the second half.
Broncos centre Jayme Fressard also failed to finish the match due to an ankle issue, forcing the Broncos to play the final seven minutes of the match with 12 players.
However winger Lauren Brown sealed their place in the grand final with a try from close range in the 57th minute.
St George Illawarra will face the Warriors next week in a battle of the wooden spoon.
A wasteful Dragons attack had a number of looks at the Brisbane line early on Saturday, but were turned away on each occasion by a desperate Broncos defence.
Then, when challenged on their own goal line, St George Illawarra could only watch as Julia Robinson and Millie Boyle, who finished off a Brigginshaw line break, gave Brisbane a two-try lead at halftime.
The Dragons breathed life into the contest when Jessica Sergis crashed over early in the second period, only for a devastated Kelly to join Apps on the sidelines.
A chance to set up a grandstand finish also went begging when winger Jaime Chapman dropped the ball over an open line, while wing partner Tiana Penitani was denied by a desperate ankle tap by Meg Ward.