‘What a finish’: Insane Dragons thriller leaves NRL in disbelief

The NRL world has been left with its jaws on the floor after one of the wildest finishes you’ll ever see ended the Dragons’ horror week.

This win meant a lot. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Rugby league has done it again!

After a shocker of a week, the St George Illawarra Dragons have pulled off one of the all-time finishes to defeat the Sydney Roosters 24-22.

Neither side was coming into the match in great form but there was plenty of passion on show as the game went down to the wire.

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The Dragons had been on a six-game slide, against a desperate Roosters having lost the last two in emphatic circumstances.

Adding to the drama was the midweek sacking of Anthony Griffin as Dragons coach.

While the Dragons led 12-0 at halftime, the Roosters hit the lead in the 61st minute through Luke Keary’s second try.

After trading the lead again, with five minutes to go, James Tedesco’s second try appeared to have put the game to bed.

But the Dragons’ final play sealed the win with seconds on the clock.

You think this one meant a lot? Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

After Ben Hunt went the short side on the last-gasp play, putting up a bomb, the ball was batted back by the Dragons, who played some hot potato football, before fullback Tyrell Sloane kicked through for Mathew Feagai to regather a tricky bounce and score.

“Here come the Dragons,” Andrew Voss screamed on Fox League. “Oh my goodness. Who writes these scripts? Rugby league, you beautiful thing.

“Look at the fans now, their prayers have been answered.”

Zac Lomax then slotted the matchwinning points after the siren.

The Dragons faithful went berserk as the under-fire side pulled off one of the wins of the season.

What. a. finish. https://t.co/K7RqHOKIfH

— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) May 19, 2023

I don’t bloody believe it, what a finish!!!Dragons drought has been broken, good on them! 👏🏼

— Josh Mansour (@Josh_Mansour) May 19, 2023

I f@cking love this club. @NRL_Dragons

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) May 19, 2023

Beware the second kick …

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) May 19, 2023

Where do the Roosters go from here? Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

It was just the Dragons’ third win of the year but definitely their best.

Captain and halfback Ben Hunt said he was feeling plenty of emotions after the game.

“It’s a whirlwind of emotions after the week we’ve had and what goes on,” Hunt said. “It’s amazing what can happen when you compete hard for 80 minutes and the boys did that tonight. We got the bounce of the ball there for a change.”

Hunt said it had been a hard week after Anthony Griffin was sacked earlier in the week, adding: “I feel for him”.

For the Roosters, it continues a brutal run of three straight losses after getting wiped off the park by the Panthers last week.

Originally published as ‘What a finish’: Insane Dragons thriller leaves NRL in disbelief