Dragons come from behind to down North Queensland 22-14 in Wollongong
Paul McGregor and Paul Green are locked in a war of words after a controversial late shot on Michael Morgan helped propel the Dragons to victory over North Queensland.
St George Illawarra returned to the winner’s circle with a 22-14 victory over North Queensland at WIN Stadium.
The game started as a real arm wrestle in the opening forty minutes but an inspired performance from the Dragons’ NSW Blues contingent helped Paul McGregor’s men earn a crucial win.
The two competition points moves the Dragons to one win outside of the top eight, keeping their finals chances well and truly alive.
MORGAN MUTED
Cowboys chief playmaker Michael Morgan was clipped high by Dragons forward Tariq Sims in the 45th and forced off for a HIA. The skipper failed the test, forcing utility forward John Asiata into five-eighth.
It meant the Cowboys had to rely on halfback Jake Clifford and Asiata, two makeshift kickers, to take control of the game, which they struggled to do. Coach Paul Green took exception to the shot and believes not enough is being done to protect small men.
“I thought it was late and high. He’s not feeling very well. He didn’t come back on. They brought it up in the NRL about protecting ball players after they play. They saw it a different way tonight,” Green said.
It lead to a fired-up response from Dragons coach Paul McGregor, who suggested Green should ‘zip it’.
“He [Green] blows up about a fair bit. He had a go at Freddie [Fittler] last week too didn’t he?. He’s got a lot to say… it was looked at, move on, zip his mouth,” McGregor said after the match.
OUT MUSCLED BUT NOT OUT ENTHUSED
Cowboys big man Jason Taumalolo lead the way upfront in Paul Green’s engine room. Taumalolo finished the game with 176 metres.
But he wasn’t alone.
Prop forwards Scott Bolton (122 metres) and Jordan McLean (133 metres) also ran with plenty of intent. Their opposite pack however struggled to make a real dent.
Yet, a powerful stint in the final 20 minutes from Dragons forwards Tyson Frizell and Paul Vaughan helped inspire their side to victory.
Vaughan finished the game with an impressive 160 metres. Tariq Sims was the only other Dragons forward to post more than 100 metres.
McGregor revealed Vaughan had been struggling with illness right before and during the match.
“Paul Vaughan was quite ill before the game, he must of ate something that didn’t go down to well. He was vomited before the game and at halftime. So to do what he did was very pleasing,” McGregor said.
DUFTY’S MIXED BAG
It was a typical rocks and diamonds performance from Matt Dufty. His performance was dotted with as many errors as it was touches of brilliance.
The diminutive outside back looked a little shaken to start the game and dropped his first test under the highball cold.
He seemed to bounce back later in the first half when he crossed over in the corner but he was denied by the video referee after his foot brushed the sideline in the lead-up.
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Then the fullback served up another error and knocked the ball on, turning over possession deep in Dragons territory. The Cowboys made the most of the gifted possession and his opposite number, Scott Drinkwater made the Dragons pay, scoring North Queensland’s second try of the night.
But in true Dufty style he landed the first blow in the second half with a try off a Corey Norman kick to help his side take the lead in the second half.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 22 (E Aitken M Dufty J Host M Ravalawa tries C Norman 3 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 14 (T Opacic 2 S Drinkwater tries J Kahu goal) at WIN Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Liam Kennedy. Crowd: 7,008
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