Jack Walker reviews the Dragons’ big win Sunday night over Manly. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 8th | Try Joel Thompson (Manly Warringah) | Manly Warringah 4-0 |
| 27th | Try Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons) | Scores tied 4-4 |
| 29th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 6-4 |
| 31st | Try Matthew Duffy (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 10-4 |
| 53rd | Jorge Taufua (Manly Warringah) – SIN BIN | ย St George Illawarra 10-4 |
| 54th | Penalty Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 12-4 |
| 59th | Try Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 16-4 |
| 61st | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 18-4 |
| 72nd | Try Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 22-4 |
| 76th | Try Corey Norman (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 26-4 |
| 77th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 28-4 |
| 79th | Try Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 32-4 |
| 80th | Goal Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra) | St George Illawarra 34-4 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
The two sides shared rotten form going into the match, both losing their last two matches.
Manly were unlucky to lose to Newcastle last time out, and made the better start in this one when Joel Thompson beat the exposed Dragons defence to cross for the opening score of the game with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
This, however, was as good as it got for the visitors in the first half as two quickfire tries turned the tables in the hosts’ favour.
First, Josh Kerr went in to score the equalising try after 27 minutes and, just four minutes later, Matthew Duffy ran 70 metres (after a Zac Lomax intercept), extending his side’s lead to six at the break.
2nd Half
The game turned in the 53rd minute when Manly’s Jorge Taufua was sin binned for taking out Matthew Dufty, who was chasing his own kick. Lomax kicked the penalty goal, stretching the lead to 12-4.
Five minutes later, Mikaele Ravalawa scored through a nice little flick pass from Lomax for an 18-4 lead with under 20 minutes left.
The Dragons took 10 minutes score their next try, with Lomax pocketing another intercept and running 55 metres to score. It was a night out for Lomax, with five goals from seven attempts.
With four minutes left and the game secure, Corey Norman and Euan Aitken scored to send Kogarah crowd home happy.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
The Dragons were leading 10-4 early in the second half when Matthew Dufty broke clear and put in a kick, hoping to regather and score. Before he could do that, he was wiped out by Jorge Taufua. While it stopped a possible try, it was a professional foul and Taufua was binned for 10 minutes. The Dragons took advantage of the extra man, with Lomax slotting the penalty goal before a converted try to Mikaele Ravalawa five minutes later gave the Dragons an unassailable 18-4 lead.
SQUADS
St George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Euan Aitken 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Adam Clune 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Ben Hunt 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Cameron McInnes. Interchange: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Josh Kerr 16. Tyrell Fuimaono 17. Jackson Ford.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: 19. Brendan Elliotย 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 1. Reuben Garrick 14. Cade Cust 7. Daly Cherry-Evansย 17. Morgan Boyleย 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 6. Lachlan Croker 8. Taniela Paseka 15. Jack Gosiewski 16. Sean Keppie.
