It’s been six long and painful years, but the Dragons took a huge step to ending their absence from the NRL finals after a second-half blitz against the Dolphins lifted them into the top eight.
Shane Flanagan’s first year in charge of the Red V has so far exceeded expectations – and maybe for the first time all season, the Dragons’ long-suffering fans can whisper about September after a 26-6 win on Sunday.
It wasn’t pretty – and at times downright ugly – but a stunning turnaround after half-time into a strong southerly wind has lifted them above the Sea Eagles, Broncos and Knights to a finals spot.
Missing NSW Origin winger Zac Lomax, the Dragons burst into life after the break with five unanswered tries against a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow-less Dolphins, whose own finals charge has hit turbulence. Wayne Bennett’s side are in sixth and only above the Dragons on points differential, having lost four of their last five games.
Having led 6-2 at the break despite charging into the wind, the Dolphins had no answers after the break as Lomax’s replacement Christian Tuipulotu got in on the act with a try.
The Dolphins’ woes were only compounded when star hooker Jeremy Marshall-King left Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in a moon boot with a foot injury, while St George Illawarra winger Mat Feagai also failed to finish the game.
Jaydn Su’a was a standout for the Dragons.Credit: Getty Images
Dolphins forward Kurt Donoghoe was sin-binned late in the match for a high shot on Francis Molo before Jack de Belin’s late try.
Tougher challenges are ahead for the Dragons: they play competition heavyweights the Roosters, Broncos, Panthers and Storm over the next month, with their last bye sprinkled in. If they lost this game, then there was no thought bearing what might happen over the horizon.
Source Agencies
