It’s been a tough year for the Dragons, with the cellar dwellers securing just three wins coming in to Round 15.
Along with the sacking of coach Anthony Griffin and then expected replacement Jason Ryles then turning down the job. as well as losing major sponsor St George Bank as of 2024 during the week, there hasn’t been a lot for fans to cheer about.
But the Red V were able to put smiles on all of their supporters’ faces after their 36-30 victory over the Rabbitohs in front of a packed Netstrata Jubilee crowd on Saturday afternoon.
It was always going to be a tall ask for the Rabbitohs with the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Cam Murray, Cody Walker, Jai Arrow and Tom Burgess sitting on the sideline. Souths made the job even harder for themselves with some poor defence and finishing on the wrong end of a seven to three-penalty count.
“Discipline and poor ball control put us under the pump in the second half,” said Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou. “We didn’t defend our try line letting in a few soft tries.
One of the only sides yet to have the week off, the coach is happy his team finally get a rest.
“There is a bit of fatigue in us now. We’ve got the bye now, we can come back fresh and have that motivation to defend our try line.
“It will be back I’m sure but the bye has come at a good time.”
It was the perfect opportunity for the Dragons to take advantage of the injury-affected opponents and try and jump off the bottom of the ladder.
The Dragons were looking comfortable for most of the match, leading 36-14 with just five minutes to go, but three tries in three minutes to the visitors late in the game gave the home side a scare and set up the chance for a possible golden point game.
“I got pretty nervous towards the end there,” said Ben Hunt after the game his side’s narrow escape.
“We got too comfortable and took our foot off the pedal. You can’t do that against a good side like that.”
The best right-hand side attack in the competition were first on the board, with Richard Kennar crossing out wide for the Bunnies in the ninth minute.
But the Red V hit back after a good amount of possession and then took the lead just a few minutes later after tries to Hunt and Mikaele Ravalawa. The Dragons continued to dominate the game, and some ill-discipline from the visitors saw a penalty goal to Zac Lomax give the Dragons a 12-4 lead close to halftime.
Origin hopeful Keaon Koloamatangi couldn’t believe his luck when an uncontested last tackle bomb landed in his hands, and he stormed over the try line to narrow the gap to 12-8 before the break.
The Dragons extended their lead early in the second half when Jacob Liddle crossed over to score. The Bunnies returned serve shortly after when Cook break through the defensive line and sprinted downfield for Isaiah Tass to score.
Tass turned from hero to villain when gifting the Red V perfect field position after being penalised for a blatant escort, with Jaydn Su’A scoring a try in the next set.
The Dragons kept the momentum going with 12 minutes to go when Michael Molo added his name to the scorecard, with Jaiyden Hunt joining the party soon after to give the Red V a 36-14 lead. The game was turned on its head with just three late tries to the Rabbitohs setting up the late showdown, but the Dragons were able to hold on for the win.
“It was a bit stressful at the end there but I think the positives clearly outweighed the negatives for us tonight, said Dragons interim coach Ryan Carr.
“They worked really hard this week, we played a really good opposition, and we’ve just got to keep building on it, keep getting better and better every week. We played a really good style of footy. We know what we are trying to chase every week and for 99 per cent of the game the boys kept chasing that.”
Following on from the NSW Blues’ Origin loss in Game I along with injuries to a few of their stars, many Rabbitohs players knew Saturday’s game against the Dragons was going to also be a chance to impress the selectors and put forward their bids to be picked for Game II.
Cook was left out of the opening game in place of Api Koroisau and is one of the front runners to get the nod at nine.
Koloamatangi was in the mix for Game I before succumbing to injury, but hasn’t missed a beat since his return and is in line to get the green light this time around. Both were impressive for the Rabbitohs on Saturday and did everything possible to get selected for NSW.
“He was outstanding today, did everything to keep us in the game,” said Demetriou of Cook.
If the selectors are looking for combinations like the ‘Panthers connection’, then Campbell Graham and Cam Murray are up for starting spots. Former Souths halfback Adam Reynolds is in the mix to take over from the injured Nathan Cleary, Cody Walker could be named as his five-eighth with Jarome Luai under pressure to keep his spot.
And with Latrell Mitchell set to be fit for Game II, it could well be the NSW Rabbitohs ready to take on Queensland next Wednesday.
“Origin is such a special arena for the players, and as a coach you want your boys to have that experience,” said Demetriou.
“I think they will represent their state well if they get selected.”
Many league fans argue over where the perfect position for Dragons skipper Ben Hunt is to play. While most of his time is spent wearing the number seven for the Red V while also carrying the team on his back, Hunt then becomes one of the most effective dummy halves in the competition when playing at number nine for the Queensland Origin side.
Before former Dragons coach Anthony Griffin departed the club, he had Hunt play a few club games at hooker in a desperate attempt to spark something in the struggling side. While the talented playmaker is always successful in both roles, he apparently wanted to go back to his position in the halves.
Frontrunner to takeover from Griffin is Sea Eagles assistant Shane Flanagan has reportedly told Hunt he can play halfback next year if he becomes coach.
“I had a small chat with Flanno and it was more about his intentions that he wanted to come in and coach and if he did get the job that he would want me to play halfback,” said Hunt.
And after Saturday’s efforts of one try, and having a hand in two others along with beautifully guiding his team around the park, Hunt made his point clear that number seven is where he wants to be.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
I’m not having a crack at the bunnies GB just making an observation. I did mention their tough start to the season as a possible reason and I’m not righting them off by any means. I find it interesting how you describe the fill in players as duds, maybe the money spent on Jack could have been put to better use to improve their depth. And in regard to the panthers without Cleary I’m not worried at all, he missed five weeks suspended last year, busted his shoulder the year before in origin and they managed ok. If anything, it will freshen him up for the back end of the year. I have complete faith in the back up players to do their bit, and if they do drop a game or two so be it no excuses this end.
RLFan
Roar Rookie
It was probably because Cleary was out and some people considered that they were a double act, but last night Luai showed that he is a class player in his own right.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
His hair makes him easier to tackle
csps
Roar Rookie
Why is Jarome Luai under pressure to keep his Blues spot?
Iron Fist
Roar Rookie
Mate, I'm a Souths fan and I'm objective to admit that Penrith have built their dominance around the most formidable defence ever seen in Rugby League. It's all-team effort, it's all-team attitude, it's a MACHINE! There are rarely any cheap tries against them. Their line speed is fast all-game and it begins with their middles. They repeatedly get off the line and hunt in a pack, and their edges will work together and endlessly scramble to close down shape on the outside. If there is a threat, they solve it together.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Was really happy for your Dragons. Improving it seems , already. Unlucky not to win last week as well. Great for the club to see Kogarah full too.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Just looking at things the way they are. You can say what ifs for any club. If they’re missing other players, it will only be for a week or two. Plus Cleary will be back.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Maybe he just wants a last shot at the elusive premiership medal / ring.... Moylan to Tigers.
danwain
Roar Rookie
Sure, but what if you were missing Yeo, Luai and Edwards also?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You should do. Most media reports had Sorenson heading out of Penrith next season, no doubt about it. Yet he just re-signed with them. The reports about players leaving are sometimes correct . Still you wonder if they are much better than a 50/50 bet?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Penrith seemed to go pretty well without Cleary this week. Even though they lost their best forward Martin . Outlasted the Dragons last week , after the shock of losing Cleary early in that game. Luai showed again that he is indeed a good player. Despite the biased opinions against him , of many on this site . It may be a difficult time ahead for a while, but the signs are good & the effort in attack & defence is still there. That’s with Penrith anyway.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Saw your comment on the live blog and was thoroughly confused about your protest against Liddle’s try. Just watched the highlights to have another look & have no idea what you are on about. He very clearly grounds the ball. Liddle’s no-try/ held up (whatever) however, was a joke. Souths player should’ve been binned for that…hanging about the ruck offside & then actively interfering with Liddle’s lunge towards the line. THAT was ridiculous.
KenW
Roar Rookie
And who just signed a contract extension 6 months ago when Hook was clearly on the chopping block... often where there's smoke there's fire but occasionally it's just a smoke bomb.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Until Hunt puts pen to paper on his plans I'd take all those media reports with a large grain of salt Tez.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Saints are playing a lot better. I don't know whether Carr has put his hand up for the job but as I posted on Friday I'd prefer to see Hornby get the job.
Tez
Roar Rookie
According to a lot of media reports Ben Hunt wants out. How do you equate that with the bloke who comes out every week and plays his heart out?
Bernie
Roar Rookie
yep, any win is a good win now & they need the confidence. i'm getting a bit tired of seeing T.Sloan beaten on the outside though; the guy has speed to burn, doesn't he know how to use the sideline?
Bernie
Roar Rookie
andrew, i'm not sure i can blame the guy posing the question, if he is a journalist that's his job to ask probing questions. i mean, his question got us talking about the answer it prompted. but i'm hoping Flannagan doesn't get the job, too much baggage. perhaps they should keep their powder dry & see how Carr goes, the players certainly look a lot happier.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
On the face of it, yes. The Rabbitohs have conceded 133 points in their last 4 games, averaging 33.25 points conceded per game. In all fairness, though, Souths have been a long way from fielding a full-strength team all year and if the Panthers had 5 players missing of the quality of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow and Tom Burgess they would have struggled as well. Especially with 3 duds at FB and in the halves. Souths have 3 Byes ahead of them and have a pretty easy run to the finals. They will still be the team to beat by the business end of the season. Don't worry about that. You need to worry how the Panthers are going to go without Nathan Cleary for the foreseeable future.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Congrats Dragons fans. A depleted Bunnies outfit didn't really put up a fight like predicted before the game. For all those who are claiming the Rabbitohs are the new NRL Triumvirate team, a 7 - 3 penalty account to the Dragons plus the only tackle restart of the game as well in their favour kills that idea. That and the fact that Jacob Liddle lost the ball during grounding after a tackle restart that came off a Dragons hand and not a Rabbitoh. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the Rabbitohs effort to coast until the last 6 mins before trying to throw the ball around. Hawkins, Kennar, Milne, Thompson, Chee Kam and Taaffe should all be punted at the end of the season. I don't think Blake Taaffe has ever broken a tackle or stepped around a player since playing in the NRL. If he had kicked his 3 missed conversions, the scores would have been tied at the end.