Lachlan Jeffery reviews the Dragons win over a disappointing Titans at WIN Stadium
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
St George Illawarra Dragons 46
Tries: Tautau Moga 3 (16, 65, 69), Talatau Amone 2 (4, 56), Jack Bird 2 (41, 78), Mat Feagai (23), Jayden Sullivan (28)
Goals: Zac Lomax 5 (18, 24, 30, 66, 79)
Gold Coast Titans 26
Tries: AJ Brimson (9), David Fifita (33), Beau Fermor (49), Jojo Fifita (60)
Goals: Tanah Boyd 5 (10, 34, 40, 50, 62)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesThe St George Illawarra Dragons have returned to the NRL winner’s circle with a 46-26 victory over the Gold Coast Titans despite being reduced to 12 men for the final 17 minutes.
With the game in the balance at 30-26, Francis Molo was marched for a high tackle, however the Dragons overcame the setback to score 16 unanswered points and record the win.
On a perfect Wollongong afternoon, it was the Dragons who opened the scoring after Junior Amone pounced on a loose ball inside four minutes.
The Titans took the lead in the tenth minute when they made a break down the left, and AJ Brimson supported on the inside to score under the posts, with the conversion making it 6-4.
The Dragons hit back seven minutes later when Tautau Moga muscled to the line and put the ball on the line.
Moga thought he had another one just three minutes later, however the try was revoked after the Bunker revealed his knee narrowly went out as he touched down.
A linebreak by Cody Ramsey down the left side shortly after allowed Moga’s wing partner Mat Feagai to score instead.
The Dragons had their fourth try on the half-hour mark as the returning Jayden Sullivan sold a dummy and crossed from dummy-half.
The Titans advanced downfield off the back of a penalty to get back into attacking position in their next set. David Fifita brushed through the Dragons defence with ease to score near the posts.
A penalty goal to Tanah Boyd after the half-time siren cut the Dragons lead to 22-14 at the break.
The Dragons easily made their way downfield in the opening set of the second half, with Jack Bird running a perfect line to score within 60 seconds of the resumption.
After the setback, the Titans started to get back into the game through some strong play and Dragons errors. Jojo Fifita threw Feagai into touch to earn the Titans field position, before Beau Fermor crossed for an extraordinary try to cut the deficit to six.
The Dragons extended their lead again not long when Talatau Amone sliced through off the back of a scrum.
Gold Coast again hit back shortly after when Jojo Fifita scored from a Dragons short drop out.
Molo’s dismissal came on the first tackle following the try, however it seemed to spur the Dragons on as Moga added another two tries within the next seven minutes, before Bird scored his second in the dying minutes to wrap up the 20-point win.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Jack Bird (Dragons), 2 pts – Tautau Moga (Dragons), 1 pt – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
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