Dragons survive thrilling Tigers comeback

The St George Illawarra Dragons have survived a thrilling second half comeback from the Wests Tigers, eventually coming away 32-30 victors in golden point in front of 17,685 fans at ANZ Stadium tonight.

After some inconsistent form of late, the Dragons would have been a touch worried early when Tigers half Luke Brooks scored a runaway intercept try to give his team an early 4-0 lead in the 3rd minute.

The Tigers failed to consolidate the early advantage though, with an error from fullback James Tedesco turning the ball over to his opposition. His opposite number Josh Dugan would soon make him pay after picking up a loose ball and running across field before isolating Mitchell Moses in the defensive line to charge over in the 7th minute.

From here the Dragons began to assert their dominance with some easy yards resulting in good field position, a trend which would roll out for the remainder of the first half.

It didn't take long for the home team to strike again when Drew Hutchison, who was filling in for the injured Gareth Widdop, chipped across field for his Fijian winger Eto Nabuli to snare a try in the 10th minute. Dugan who took over the goal-kicking duties for the night slotted the extras to extend the lead to six.

Well on top, the Dragons extended their lead with a try to centre Euan Aitken in the 18th minute. After Mitch Rein threw a long looping pass from dummy half, Benji Marshall was sharp in hitting Aitken on the chest at pace with a cut-out ball.

After turning the ball over, the home team gifted the Tigers a rare attacking opportunity and the visitors turned on some champagne Rugby League to send departing winger Pat Richards over in the 27th minute. In a throwback to the eighties, Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods put on the old run-around before some quick hands from Brooks and Tedesco sent their winger over in the corner to reduce the deficit to six.

After dominating most of the first half the Dragons would rightfully have the last say in the opening stanza. On the back of a big charge from cult hero George Rose, Marshall threw a well timed face pass for a charging Tyson Frizell to burst into the clear and score in the 34th minute. Dugan's conversion would send them to the sheds two converted tries clear.

In the absence of halves partner Widdop, man of the match Marshall was more than stepping up to the task tonight and laid on the opening two tries of the second half to Jason Nightingale in the 48th and Euan Aitken, who crossed for a double in the 60th minute.

With twenty minutes on the clock and a commanding 30-8 lead, it looked like the Dragons would coast their way to a confidence boosting victory heading into finals footy. The events that followed would surely have caused Coach Paul McGregor to fall off his chance on more than one occasion though.

Back to back tries to Richards in the 64th and Woods in the 67th minutes gave the visitors a sniff, but the Dragons still looked comfortable enough to hold them at bay as the match drew to a close.

The Tigers weren't going to die wondering though and when Moses made a break down the right to set up Tedesco on his inside in the 77th minute, the grandstand finish became very real.

They looked to have bombed their chance when Keith Galloway threw a wayward offload from the ensuing set of six, gifting the Dragons an opportunity to close the game out. Instead of just controlling possession, they opted for the knockout punch and when Hutchison hit Tigers winger David Nofoaluma on the chest it was shut the gate for a 90 metre intercept try that would send the game into golden point.

After both teams traded field goal attempts, the game was eventually decided by the man with the whistle who ruled Farah not square at marker before charging down a field goal attempt from Hutchison. Dugan made no mistake with the penalty goal from right in front to hand his team the victory.

The Dragons will now await tomorrow's results to find out who they will play in week one of the finals, with the Sharks, Storm and Bulldogs all possibilities in what will be an away game for the Red V.

After another inconsistent season on the field and plenty more politics off it, the Tigers can start planning for Mad Monday and their end of season trips. All eyes will now be on how the Robbie Farah saga plays out and whether he will run out in Tigers colours in 2016.

Match Details

St. George Illawarra Dragons 32 Wests Tigers 30
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 17685
Halftime Score: St. George Illawarra Dragons 20 Wests Tigers 8

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (32)
Tries: Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken (2), Tyson Frizell, Jason Nightingale
Field Goals: Benji Marshall (0/4)
Conversions: Josh Dugan (3/6)
Penalty Goals: Josh Dugan (1/1)

WESTS TIGERS (30)
Tries: Luke Brooks, Pat Richards (2), Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma
Field Goals: Pat Richards (0/3)
Conversions: Pat Richards (3/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Benji Marshall
2 points - Euan Aitken
1 point - Luke Brooks

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Leagueunlimited's coverage of this final round fixture between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers from ANZ Stadium. The Dragons will be desperate to find some winning form heading into the finals next week. Their attack has been largely inconsistent in recent weeks, but more importantly, their brick wall defence that saw them lead the competition earlier in the year seems to have deserted them at a most crucial time. There is also a slight danger of a heavy defeat tonight giving the Manly Sea Eagles an outside chance of snaring 8th spot.

For the Tigers, all eyes will be again on their long serving skipper Robbie Farah who will no doubt be fired up for another stirring performance after another week of off-field headlines. Will he buck against the Coach's game plan and play his natural game again or will he go back to feeding his young halves more ball as has been the blueprint for most of the year? Either way, the Tigers have proven themselves a dangerous attacking force at stages this year.

LATE MAIL DRAGONS - Gareth Widdop has failed to overcome his quad strain and is out, replaced by the promising Drew Hutchison in the halves. Nathan Green also joins the 17, replacing Mark Ioane on the bench.

LATE MAIL TIGERS - Chris Lawrence is out with Dene Halatau joining the run on side, Manaia Cherrington joins the bench.

The Tigers will be wearing purple socks to raise awareness for the purple our world campaign, an initiative to support awareness for pancreatic cancer.

1: Were underway with Tigers getting 1st use of the steeden

3: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Luke Brooks. Kick to come.
A runaway try to the young half who snared an intercept & race away to score

4: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Patty Richards in his last game for the Tigers hooks it just to the left

5: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
James Tedesco makes an unforced error.
Tedesco spills a Woods offload. Dragons scrum 40m out

7: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
After a Marshall grubber ricocheted off the Tigers, the NSW #1 drifted across field and found Moses an easy target to run over

8: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan unsuccessful.
Taking on the kicking duties in the absence of Widdop tonight, Dugan hooks it way left

9: PENALTY Dragons, they will go on the attack on the Tigers 40m

11: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Eto Nabuli. Kick to come.
A left footed chip across field from Hutchison finds the big Fijian who plants it down

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan successful.
Dugan strikes this one much better to add the extras

13: Hutchison kicks to the corner on the last & Tedesco brings it back to his 20

14: Moses sends one high on the last & Dugan returns it 15 out from his line

15: Marshall stabs a grubber into touch 5 out from Tigers line

16: PENALTY Tigers against Hutchison in the play the ball & Marty KAPOW charges into them

17: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
James Tedesco makes an unforced error.
Tedesco looking dangerous loses his grip on the ball

17: PENALTY Dragons, Sironen was offside. They will have it 45m out from Tigers line

19: VIDEO REF possible Dragons try, checking the grounding...

20: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Euan Aitken. Kick to come.
A long looping pass from dummy half finds Benji Marshall who threw a cut-out pass to the centre who had too much strength to hold out

21: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan unsuccessful.
From the opposite side of the field, Dugan has another shocker

22: Hutchison grubbers one into touch 10 out from the Tigers line

23: The Tigers run it on the last initially before Simona chipped one into touch on the full, Handover

24: Rein kicks out of dummy half & the chase is good to force a drop-out

25: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Mitch Rein makes an unforced error.
The pass out of dummy half is called forward, taking the pressure off the Tigers defence

27: Marketo spills it after a solid hit & the Tigers now have a penalty 30 out from Dragons line

29: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Pat Richards. Kick to come.
Champagne Rugby League! A run around play from Woods & Farah started it, quick hands from Brooks & Tedesco sent Richards over in the corner

30: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
He hooks this one left from the sideline

30: Moses sends one up on the last & it bounces off the crossbar & goes dead to give the Dragons a 7 tackle set

31: 6 more Dragons after a Hutchison grubbers is knocked on by Moses

31: Noafaluma attempts an intercept but can't come up with it, Scrum Dragons 10 out...

33: Repeat set after Hutchison again stabs one in-goal

33: Big Goergey Rose shot out of a canon on the kick return!

35: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Tyson Frizell. Kick to come.
A nice face ball from Marshall on the back of Rose's run sends Frizell through to score

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan successful.
Dugan appreciates this one from next to the posts & slots it through

36: A Pat Richards kick-off special finds the turf & bounces dead, line drop out

38: A long ball from Moses finds Nofoaluma under pressure who is bundled into touch by his opposite man, Nabuli

40: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Field goal attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
Marshall attempts the field goal from 35 out but pushes it left

40: And that's oranges...The Dragons have had the majority of the running in this one, making easy metres against a Tigers defence that looks happy enough to wait for them. On the back of the go forward, the Dragons are playing alot more direct in a much improved attacking performance thus far. The Tigers have shown glimpses of their brilliance with the ball in hand, but will need to show a lot more resolve in D to force their way back into this one..

41: Back in action & the Dragons bring it back

41: Marshall chips to the corner & they trap Tedesco just in the field of play

42: Brooks returns serve with a long kick & Nightingale brings it back to his 10. Penalty Dragons, Naiqama with hands on the ball

44: Marshall grubbers & Tedesco is quick to clean it up & dive into the field of play

44: 40/20 WESTS TIGERS
Mitchell Moses kicks a 40/20.
Moses with a gem of a strike!

45: Hutchison with a try-saver around the bootlaces of Halatau

46: Aitken comes down with the catch & a penalty to the Dragons now to ease some pressure

47: Play has stopped for Josh Dugan who is down injured after falling awkwardly in the tackle

47: The quickest healer in Rugby League is up & playing the ball

48: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Jason Nightingale. Kick to come.
After receiving the ball on the left, Benji dances back to the right side before grubbering in behind the line for his winger to pounce

49: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan unsuccessful.
From the touch line he hooks it left

50: Benji kicks on the run & Tedesco snares it above his head on his 20

52: Nofoaluma is taken into touch, Dragons scrum 35 out from their line

53: Handover Tigers 5 out from their line after Ben Creagh loses it trying to offload

53: PENALTY TIGERS, they have it 40 out from their line

54: Another penalty after the ball was stripped from Tedesco, Tigers in the red zone...

54: VIDEO REF possible Tigers try, checking fro obstruction...

54: NO TRY after Sauaso Sue stood in the line to obstruct Frizell

55: Hutchison's bomb is taken by Tedesco who had a foot in-goal to earn his team a 20 tap

56: Aitken again defuses the cross field kick from Moses

57: Robbie Farah has been benched for the time been..

57: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Jack de Belin makes an unforced error.
Looking for a quick play the ball, he comes up with a fumble

58: Richards knocks on a wayward flick pass from Simona. Dragons scrum 30 out from their line

59: A surging run from Aitken...

60: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Euan Aitken. Kick to come.
He started with a good run in the build up & finished it, charging onto a flat ball from Marshall

61: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Josh Dugan successful.
Dugan from the sideline nails one!

64: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Pat Richards. Kick to come.
Richards crosses for his 2nd after a sharp cut-out ball from Brooks

65: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
A rare off night with the boot for Richards, hooking again to the left

66: PENALTY Tigers against Merrin who wasn't square at marker

67: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Aaron Woods. Kick to come.
Woodsy off a short ball from Cherrington...is off the nudie run...officially!

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards from in front adds the extras

70: PENALTY Dragons against Moses for back chat

71: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Field goal attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
Marshall looking to extend to 13 misses

72: Tigers go within inches but Dugan comes up with it for his team

73: Marshall turns them around with a 3rd tackle kick & the trap Tedesco 5 out from his line

74: PENALTY Tigers, they will surge into the Dragons half again

75: Mata'utia comes up with a loose ball after it came free from Tedesco

76: Marshall kicks down field & Richards brings it back to his 30

76: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by James Tedesco. Kick to come.
Moses made a break down the right & draws & passes to put his fullback over

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Grandstand finish as Richards converts!

79: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by David Nofoaluma. Kick to come.
After the Dragons came up with it from the kickoff, Nofoaluma intercepts to run 90!

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
ALL LOCKED UP!

80: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL WESTS TIGERS
Field goal attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards tries one from 45 out but pushes wide

80: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Field goal attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
Benji misses his 3rd field goal of the night & we're headed for golden point!

81: Tigers get 1st use in extra time

82: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL WESTS TIGERS
Field goal attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards hooks it & Dugan brings the ball back & now a penalty to the Dragons

83: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Field goal attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
Benji again misses

84: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL WESTS TIGERS
Field goal attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
He misses to the right...will someone please run the ball!

86: PENALTY Dragons against the Tigers for not being square at marker & full credit to the ref actually blowing a penalty in extra time

85: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Josh Dugan successful.
Dugan from 20 out right in front kicks the penalty for the win