St George Illawarra have stumbled into the NRL finals series, surviving an incredible comeback from the Wests Tigers to prevail 32-30 in golden point at ANZ Stadium.
Fullback Josh Dugan slotted a penalty goal from 18 metres out and right in front after the siren for the first half of extra time on Saturday night after referee Matt Cecchin pinged the Tigers’ markers for not being square.
The Dragons led 30-8 with 20 minutes remaining before the Tigers scored four tries in quick succession, including a runaway intercept to winger David Nofoaluma with a minute remaining.
In a frantic golden-point shootout, Benji Marshall and Tigers winger Pat Richards both missed shots at field goal.
In the end, Marshall was the star for the Dragons, helping his side to a first finals appearance since 2011 against his former team.
In what’s likely to be his good friend and Tigers skipper Robbie Farah’s last game for the club, halfback Marshall produced an outstanding display of tactical kicking in the 12-try thriller.
The victory locked in eighth spot for the Dragons to set up an elimination final next week with the fifth-placed side – Cronulla or Melbourne.
Marshall came up with a lovely play in the 47th minute, producing a pin-point grubber kick for winger Jason Nightingale to dive on out wide.
Missing his halves partner Gareth Widdop to injury (quadriceps), Marshall’s passing game was also superb.
Marshall, who won a premiership with Farah and the Tigers in 2005, put centre Euan Aitken over for his second try of the night in the 60th minute with a nice short ball and did the same to send back-rower Tyson Frizell in for the final try of the first half.
The Dragons went to the break leading 20-8 after Luke Brooks sent a scare through the Dragons with an intercept try in the second minute.
The home side hit back with quick tries to Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli and Aitken.
A bright note for the Tigers was departing winger Richards scoring two tries, taking his tally to 17 for the season in his final game for the club before continuing his career overseas along with fellow Tigers stalwart Keith Galloway.
Casper
Guest
Farah has been consistently offside from marker for years, particularly in SOO. I applaud the ref for giving the penalty but, as a neutral, wonder why they missed a genuine shoulder charge by a dragon about 90 seconds prior. Has that rule also gone into the bac pocket in golden point?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
8th is closer to the top than bottom
Charles
Guest
Anyone that coaches league will know there are two parts to the competition. The first is to work on the team so as to prepare them for the final eight, the second is to then compete under pressure in the finals.The finals are pressure extensive where everything is make or break and the team has to work even harder to get there. Many have new players come into a team where combinations need to be made before the finals start. So as usual Barry is spot on with his comments!
The Barry
Roar Guru
It was ridiculous Bob. In the Souths v roosters game there was a play where McInnes spotted the markers offside and ran from dummy half. Both defenders tackled him he lost the ball and the refs waved play on. I posted in the live blog that if that wasn't a penalty we'll never see a penalty for markers not being square again. When was the last time a penalty was given to decide golden point? It was wrong but at least everyone knew where they stood. Is this the new paradigm? Can we expect enforcement of the rules through all golden point games now? Or was this a ref acting independently of his colleagues? Will markers not being square be a penalty next week? Add to that the decision to give the dragons the feed when Nabuli knocked the ball into touch. The disallow of the Passi try against the Cowboys. It's a shambles. If I were a coach I'd be more worried about copping a random refereeing decision than I would being knocked out by the number 8 ranked team...
The Barry
Roar Guru
But everyone knows that you have one bad day and you're out. I still don't get how it is unfair? If you are playing a team that's struggled it's way into the semis - that's an advantage. If you blow it against the 8th ranked team then put simply you're not good enough to win the comp. Nothing to do with what's fair or unfair. For the dragons to win the comp they will have to beat say the storm, Broncos, Roosters and Cowboys in successive weeks, all away from home. If they're good enough to do that they are deserved premiers regardless of where they finished the regular season.
SpongeBob
Guest
Because if you're closer to the bottom then the top, you shouldn't even be involved. Knights beat the Storm, imagine if that knocked them out of the finals series. You have one bad day and now you're out, against a team who 9/10 you'd comfortably beat. Might as well flip a coin given it has nothing to do with who's the better team overall. At least anyone in the top 4 is arguably worthy enough to be a winner. Top 8 is too open to upsets, teams get knocked out who could have challenged the winner. NRL can't do 'minor premiership wins' given the non-equal draw, however it's much fairer then simply making the top 8 with an ordinary season, then winning a few games. In regards to: "the best team wins".
Charles
Guest
Full credit to Paul McGregor for his team getting into the top eight but gee we struggled to get there!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
At least one final will be decided by referee incompetence
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't understand this concept of what's fair or unfair in the semis. After this weekend every team will know what they need to do to get to the GF. I don't see where fairness comes into it. If a team can finish 8th and then beat 4 of the best teams in the comp to win a title - what part of that is unfair? It's never happened yet...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The purpose of the premiership rounds is to qualify for the finals. Whatever happens when the finals start is what it is. If you don't look at it this way, then everything starts to become a complaint about 'fairness'.
SpongeBob
Guest
Just watched the replay. That's about the most on-side chargedown I've seen in the entire season. Ridiculous.
SpongeBob
Guest
Not sure there'll ever be a better example year of why finals should only be top 4. Dragons are closer to last then first. They barely beat the last placed team (and controversially). Rabbitohs are pure cannon fodder at the moment. Hardly deserving of a shot at the GF. Even the worst team can have a good day, not exactly fair for them to be ordinary all season, play 1 good game and knock out a team who have been much better all season.