A final-minute Faythe Manera barge-over proved the difference as the Dragons slumped to a heartbreaking Indigenous Round defeat to the Wests Tigers at Kogarah.
The day was a big one for the side with Hannah Southwell’s milestone 50th game celebration coinciding with the premiership’s Indigenous Round.
The squad pushed the emotions of the week to the side to jump out to an early lead courtesy of back-to-back Jayme Millard tries before a pair of failed kick defusals handed the Wests Tigers an unlikely half-time lead.
Despite enjoying the better of the arm wrestle for much of the afternoon, Nathan Cross’ Dragons kept the door ajar and the Wests Tigers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat just in the nick of time.
Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis (169 run metres from 16 carries) enjoyed her best performance as a Dragon whilst Taliah Fuimaono scored a decisive try and assisted on another.
Match: Dragons v Wests Tigers
Round 6 -
home Team
Dragons
10th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
5th Position
Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
The Wests Tigers lost their Captain’s Challenge less than 10 minutes into the contest in an attempt to overturn a yardage mistake.
The Dragons were able to open the scoring off the back of it with Taliah Fuimaono slipping through on a short side raid and crafting an over-the-top pass to Jayme Millard to dive over in the southeastern corner.
The hosts looked to extend their advantage soon after with Brooke Anderson crafting a kick out of dummy-half which Fuimaono won the race to. Video officials ruled a double knock-on in the lead-up however with the Dragons awarded a scrum feed.
A sweet set of Tahlia O’Brien hands off it put Millard over in the corner for her second as the Dragons’ lead grew out beyond a converted try.
A spilt bomb gifted the visitors a rare opportunity on the attack and they made the Dragons pay with Emily Bass going over in the corner to cut the deficit back to 8-4.
NRLW Match Highlights: Indigenous Round vs. Wests Tigers
The Dragons’ horror end to the half continued with another botched kick defusal handing the Wests Tigers an attacking chance. Losana Lutu found an easy try off the back of it to put the visiting side on top for the first time.
The hosts lost their Captain’s Challenge mid-way through the second stanza as they looked to overturn a knock-on call as they were on the attack.
Fuimaono continued her stellar afternoon soon after again finding joy down the left-hand corridor slicing through and muscling her way through the cover to slam the ball down and put the Red V back on top 12-10.
NRLW Press Conference: Indigenous Round vs. Wests Tigers
