NRL 2021: Dragons storm home in second half to pip Raiders and move back into top eight

Canberra bombed out yet again in a dire second half, but even that was overshadowed by one of the most bizarre stuff-ups seen in an NRL game.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: Billy Burns of the Dragons celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round 15 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium, on June 19, 2021, in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Canberra rookie Xavier Savage has cruelly had his NRL debut ruined after incorrectly being deployed as an 18th man in Saturday’s 22-20 defeat to St George Illawarra.

Savage thought he had realised his first grade dream when he entered the game at the start of the second half at WIN Stadium after Sebastian Kris was ruled out due to concussion.

However, the 19-year-old was sensationally hauled from the field 12 minutes later after officials recognised that it was an illegal substitution.

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Xavier Savage hugs a family member after being told to leave the field.

Under the league’s hastily introduced 18th man rule, teams can only use an extra man should three players fail a head injury assessment.

The emergency interchange can also occur if a player suffers a match-ending injury caused by foul play, in which the opposing player was either sin-binned or sent off.

Kris was ruled out at halftime after copping a knock from Dragons second-rower Jack Bird minutes before the break, resulting in Bird being put on report.

However Bird was neither binned, nor marched. Nor had two Raiders been concussed.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart took the blame for the error, saying he thought the 18th man could’ve been activated due to any foul play.

“If you want to jump on every error we’ve made, no one would have a job,” he said.

“Fortunately we didn’t win. It saves a few blokes, myself included, the ground manager and me, saves us some skin I suppose. It’s an error. It’s not the last one I make.

“When you want to look at a broader issue. That’s how the rules should be. When you lose a player to foul play, you should be allowed to enact your 18th man.

“But again, it was an error and I apologise.”

Canberra players ran to meet Savage, an electric winger who hails from Cairns, when he handed the league’s interchange official the interchange card and stepped onto the field.

He carried the ball for nine metres off his one run, made a tackle, and missed another before being rushed back off the field, still with a smile on his face.

Give a welcome to our newest Raider, Xavier Savage!#UpTheMilk

— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) June 19, 2021

It is unclear whether the Raiders will be penalised for the screw-up.

“The rules are clear that an 18th man can only be activated if a player is sin-binned or sent off - or a team has three failed HIAs,” an NRL spokesperson said.

“The Raiders incorrectly activated the 18th man at the beginning of the second half.

“The NRL has asked for full reports from the Raiders as well as our staff on duty at the ground to ascertain the circumstances which led to the 18th man being incorrectly activated.”

The bizarre stuff-up overshadowed off a closely-fought contest that also included a memorable from another debutant in Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan.

The promising youngster scored one of three St George Illawarra tries in a dominant final 30 minutes where they turned a 12-point deficit into a thrilling two-point victory.

WIND STADIUM

The Raiders seemed set to make the most of playing with the aid of a fierce southerly, jumping out to a two-try lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The first was when Josh Hodgson jumped out of dummy-half to put Corey Harawira-Naera over for first points, before Elliott Whitehead spun out of a tackle to set up Kris.

So blustery were the conditions that at one stage in the first half, a clean Ben Hunt bomb went forward 10 metres before being blown back behind where he kicked it.

The Dragons eventually got on the board when Billy Burns sliced through on a Hunt short ball, only for Canberra to take an eight-point halftime lead with a penalty goal.

The Raiders appeared set for a win when Joseph Tapine barrelled his way over in the 46th minute, but the maligned Dragons spine of Andrew McCullough, Hunt and Corey Norman combined to steer a comeback.

Tyrell Sloan in action for the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

NO SLOAN DOWN

Gerard Beale started the turnaround when he went across in the 51st minute, before Sloan stepped up with arguably the play of the game.

The youngster, tipped to be the long-term No.1, chipped over the Raiders defence for Norman, before backing up his five-eighth to claim his maiden first-grade try.

A Hunt 40-20 set up the eventual game-winner for Norman, who latched onto a Paul Vaughan offload to consolidate their spot in the top eight.

Hunt finished with two try assists and a game-high five tackle busts.

Sloane, the 19-year-old Dapto product, also bravely put his body on the line to field a kick as the Raiders were pressing to steal the two points late.

“We’re obviously coming off our most disappointing performance against the Bulldogs, and when you’re not right at the top of your game, it’s hard for young guys, particularly in keys positions like that, to bring them in,” Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said.

“I thought he did a really good job. He scored his try and had some really good touches in attack. Terrible night for fullbacks… but I was really happy for him. He’s had a hard road to get here.

“It’s a great night for our club to be able to really dig in and find a way to win there and having a debutant, a home grown player score a try and be part of that.”

DRAGONS 22

Tries: Gerard Beale, Billy Burns, Corey Norman, Tyrell Sloan

Goals: Corey Norman 3/5

RAIDERS 20

Tries: Corey Harawira-Naera, Sebastian Kris, Joseph Tapine

Goals: Sam Williams 4/4

Crowd: 9,239 at WIN Stadium

Referees: Chris Sutton

Originally published as NRL 2021: Dragons storm home in second half to pip Raiders and move back into top eight