Live: Broncos enforcer facing suspension after high tackle in derby

Dragons forward Luciano Leilua is on report for a tackle on Melbourne halfback Tyran Wishart.

The initial contact was near the head, as Leilua made contact with his shoulder.

The Dragons enforce may have an issue with the forearm near the head when the players went to ground in the tackle.

The Dragons have been asked some tough questions to start this match.

They survived two sets on their goal line after Clint Gutherson was penalised and wasted the team’s challenge.

The home team has survived two more sets at the line, after centre Valentine Holmes dropped the ball on the second tackle, deep inside their defensive half.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan will be very pleased with the resolve of his team.

Dragons fullback and captain, Clint Gutherson, has wasted his team’s challenge inside 120 seconds.

After dropping a high kick, Gutherson was penalised for tackling Melbourne’s Shawn Blore without the footy.

Gutherson immediately challenges, saying the Storm player knocked-on — but he didn’t.

The home side no longer has a challenge.

The Dragons were able to repel the Storm attack to keep the score 0-0.

Referee Peter Gough blows his whistle and the Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen kicks the ball to begin proceedings.

The Storm will run from left to right on your screen.

There has been consistent rain across Sydney today, and it has kept some fans away from Jubilee Stadium.

It will be wet underfoot this afternoon. A great day to be a forward.

There is an NRL debutant on the bench for St George Illawarra this afternoon.

Dylan Egan, 20, should make his debut this afternoon against Melbourne.

He played every game for the Steelers in the NSW Cup last season, after playing six of them as a teen in 2023.

Go well, Dylan.

The best place to keep across the talking points of the NRL is with ABC Sport.

Wherever you are today, you can stay up to date with the live call, and the live blog.

 The first match of this Saturday’s NRL begins in 20 minutes (3pm AEDT), when the St George Illawarra Dragons host the Melbourne Storm at Jubilee Stadium.

For the Dragons, State of Origin prop David Klemmer will start (number 15), making his club debut. Toby Couchman (number eight) will start from the bench.

For the Storm, Marion Seve (number 19) has been added to the interchange bench, with prop Lazarus Vaalepu now out of the line-up.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson pulls no punches after his sides defeat to Gold Coast left it 1-3 to start the season, while unheralded Bronco Gehamat Shibasaki claims best-on-ground honours against the Dolphins in the latest Battle of Brisbane.

Catch up on all the action from last night, in the link below.

— reporting by AAP

Brisbane and the Dolphins are counting the cost of a fiery derby after Jordan Riki and Tom Gilbert were both charged by the match review committee.

Broncos back-rower Riki was slapped with a grade-two careless high tackle after his shoulder collected the head of Dolphins winger Jack Bostock in the 39th minute of the Battle of Brisbane at Lang Park on Friday night.

Gilbert received the same grading for a similar offence for a shot on Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs in the 54th minute. The Dolphins were on Saturday still mulling over whether to fight the charge after losing 20-12 to a gritty Broncos outfit.

Riki was fortunate to stay on the field after Bostock went off for an HIA, which he passed, while Staggs was able to continue after Gilbert’s hit.

The Broncos will likely not risk a three-week suspension by fighting Riki’s charge. His place in the team for next Saturday night’s home clash with Wests Tigers will likely be taken by bench back-rower Brendan Piakura.

New Zealand international Riki had his best game of the season against the Dolphins where he ran for 150m, made a line break and five tackle busts, along with 33 tackles.

The Broncos have been able to select the same starting pack for the opening four rounds but will now be forced into an adjustment if they elect not to fight the charge.

Piakura has been playing off the bench in the opening four rounds and has had limited minutes.

He did put a cracking shot on Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth in the closing minutes of the derby to remind his former teammate of his wares.

Hello footy fans.

Welcome back to ABC Sport’s live digital coverage of the NRL.

It has been an explosive start to round four, and that is expected to continue with three matches this afternoon:

• St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm 3pm AEDT
• North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders 5:30pm AEDT
• Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs 7:30pm AEDT

As always, you can join the conversation in the comments section, and let us know your thoughts on all things footy.