The Tackle: Coach-killer moments hurting Dragons more than referee calls

Shane Flanagan is right to feel dudded by some rough calls in his side’s loss to the Bulldogs, but that doesn’t excuse the number of areas where the Dragons continue to shoot themselves in the foot. THE TACKLE.

Shane Flanagan is right to feel dudded by two rough calls but St George Illawarra missed class and footy IQ more than the referee’s whistle in Saturday’s narrow loss to Canterbury.

Flanagan was particularly irate at what he called an “outrageous call” against Luciano Leilua for crowding in the ruck with five minutes left on the clock, and the Dragons holding on to a two-point lead.

It was the wrong call, Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz clearly didn’t get to his feet before attempting to play the ball.

The ruck was under the spotlight again this weekend with match officials zeroing in on ‘roll ball’ play the balls.

On Friday night, Roosters centre Billy Smith was pinged for a roll-ball only for Cronulla’s Cameron McInnes to get away with a similar attempt at the handover.

Billy Smith is pinged for a roll-ball

The frustration over the seemingly arbitrary adjudication of the play the ball is understandable.

But Flanagan also called out what appeared to be a knock on into Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan by Viliame Kikau when attempting a flick pass, which was ruled as a set-restart to the Bulldogs – who went on to score the match winner to Bulldogs rookie Jethro Rinakama.

A closer look at Saturday night’s loss – which was the Red V’s fourth loss by two points or less – highlights a number of areas where Flangan’s men continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

Corey Allan forced a Dragons drop out

With about three minutes to go – and still hanging on to a tight two-point lead – what should have been a 20-metre tap restart turned into a drop out after centre Corey Allan lacked the awareness needed to take a high ball in the goal.

Clint Gutherson’s short drop out on the back of Allan’s error was just as poorly executed.

Clint Gutherson doesn't nail this drop out

Sloan’s shaky defence proved costly in the lead-up to the Rinakama try, as he rushed up in defence creating an overlap that Lachlan Galvin spotted and took advantage of.

Ealier in the clash, Jaydn Su’A gave away a penalty for a hand in the ruck, and like what has been the case all season, the Dragons conceded a try on the back of the ill-discipline.

It’s as frustrating for Dragons fans as it is for coach Flanagan, especially when in a game like that on Saturday, the Red V’s effort cannot be questioned.

The Dragons have asked questions of better sides this year like the Bulldogs, Roosters, Raiders, Warriors and Melbourne.

The Dragons face a tough road trip to Townsville this week against a Cowboys outfit looking to redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to the Dolphins.

How they brush aside a contentious loss will be a test of the Dragons’ character.

Originally published as The Tackle: Coach-killer moments hurting Dragons more than referee calls