The Dragons were able to hold off a fast-finishing Wests Tigers outfit 24-22 at CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in over a year.
A Clint Gutherson knee injury saw Daniel Atkinson deputise at the back and the 25-year-old stepped up assisting on a try and running for a team-high 182 metres from 20 carries.
Atkinson spearheaded a powerful back five performance with Mathew Feagai (153 metres, 11 tackle breaks) and Moses Suli (one try, 127 metres) producing big performances.
The afternoon also proved a special one for Gerringong Lions junior and Dragons Academy graduate Dylan Egan who skippered the side in Gutherson’s absence with Damien Cook spending the first hour of the match on the bench.
Match: Wests Tigers v Dragons
Round 24 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
14th Position
away Team
Dragons
17th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Two early Wests Tigers high shots went unpunished – the second of which seeing Valentine Holmes leave the field for a HIA which he would on to to pass.
The hosts were able to take advantage off the back of it with Sunia Turuva finding space on the end of a makeshift Dragons left edge. Adam Doueihi added the extras from the touchline to make it 6-0.
The Dragons manufactured an answer through Tyrell Sloan with Atkinson throwing a sweet final pass to put his winger over for his 10th try of 2026. With Holmes off the field, Kyle Flanagan stepped up to knock over the conversion and lock things up.
Ryan Couchman left the field for a HIA – which he passed – after he was inadvertently struck by a clearing Jarome Luai kick.
The Dragons hit the front a little over half-hour in with Lyhkan King-Togia sending Hamish Stewart charging through a hole to score.
The Red V struck a key blow prior to the break with Moses Suli bursting through a pair of defenders and outpacing the cover to dive over in what was a superb individual effort. Holmes added the extras from the touchline to make it 18-6.
The Wests Tigers needed to find the first points of the second half and they did with Alex Seyfarth slicing through and handing the ball off to Samuela Fainu to dive over.
The Dragons went agonisingly close to pulling off an end-to-end sequence sparked by a brilliant Mathew Feagai carry only for Holmes’ final pass to Sloan to be ruled forward.
NRL Match Highlights: Round 24 vs. Wests Tigers
The visitors were able to find more success down the left flank an hour in with Holmes showing off some nice hands to send Sloan into space from his own side of half-way. The Dapto product streaked into space and crafted a pinpoint kick inside for a chasing King-Togia to score.
Refusing to go away, the Wests Tigers inched back closer entering the final eight minutes with debutant Solomone Saukuru diving over off an Apisai Koroisau break.
Saukuru’s strong introduction to the NRL continued with the 21-year-old going over for his second with four minutes on the clock to cut the home side’s deficit back to just two.
NRL Press Conference: Round 24 vs. Wests Tigers
