Dragons slip to defeat on wet and wild night in Newcastle

Parramatta target Zac Lomax was one of the few shining lights for St George Illawarra on a wet and wild night in Newcastle.

The Dragons lost 30-10, but Lomax scored an excellent try and produced an even better pass for the Red V’s second at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The hosts completed their sets, which proved the difference on a ground that looked more like Merewether Ocean Baths amid the heavy rain.

The best thing to happen to the Knights was what unfolded a few hours earlier down the road with the Sydney Roosters losing a few players to HIAs, and another couple placed on report. The Chooks head to the Hunter next Thursday.

KEY POINTS

Worth a Zac. Zac Lomax did not let his contract dramas upset his preparations in a handy performance. He scored a try, threw a brilliant behind-the-back pass for Ben Hunt to score the Dragons’ second, and did not look out of place when shifted to fullback early in the second half. Do Parramatta sign him as Clint Gutherson’s No.1 successor, rather than a centre?

Zac Lomax had some nice touches for the Dragons.Credit: Getty Images

Knights’ completion. Newcastle’s ball control was excellent in awful conditions. Possession and field position was always going to take on extra importance in the slush. The Knights were patient. St George Illawarra coughed up too much ball and paid the price.

Slippery when wet. Is it time for the NRL to remove all signage in wet conditions? Bradman Best slammed into an electronic advertising board when trying to score a try. Kalyn Ponga also crashed into an advertising sign when given the gentlest of nudges in the back by Jaydn Su’a. PS: good on the 9884 fans who braved the wet.

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Newcastle’s Adam O’Brien: The whole performance was really impressive. To travel back from New Zealand and not get back until Monday night, it’s really four days you’ve got to get yourself up to play in conditions like that, which is hard on the body. They did a remarkable job. I’m really proud of them.

St George Illawarra’s Shane Flanagan: They kicked better, they scored three tries off kicks, last-tackle plays, credit to them, they handled [the conditions] better. He [Tyrell Sloan] is a young kid, he needs to learn it’s a tough game, and you need to put your head where people will put their boots. There will be collision, and that didn’t happen for their first three tries. I needed to make a change, and I’m not afraid to [make change].

Kalyn Ponga has scored a try to seal a Newcastle victory.

Ponga threw a cutout ball for Enari Tuala whose grubber pulled up perfectly for Ponga who slid across the line.

Kalyn Ponga helped seal the Knights’ victory.Credit: Getty Images

The puddles are huge at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Ponga enjoyed that one.

Newcastle lead 30-10 with five mimnutes remaining.

Just under 20 minutes remaining and the Knights are still 24-10 ahead.

Kalyn Ponga forced a Dragons’ dropout after he found himself in open space courtesy of an inside ball from Jack Cogger.

Jack de Belin on the chargeCredit: Getty Images

The Dragons reclaimed the ball from the dropout, only for Zac Lomax to be driven into touch b y four Knights defenders.

If there is no score in the next five minutes, Newcastle will win it.

Zac Lomax and Tyrell Sloan have switched between fullback and wing. It is not the first time they have done it.

But you have to wonder if Lomax does join the Eels next year, does he go as a centre or Clint Gutherson’s fullback replacement?

Dragons centre Jack Bird has crawled over the touchline with what appears to be a serious left knee issue.

Bird was tackled by Jackson Hastings who immediately realised his childhood friend was in trouble.

He tried to get up and walk back to the defensive line, only to turn around and join a trainer to come from the field.

Bradman Best sent a scare through the Newcastle camp when he slammed into one of the fences behind the Dragons’ tryline.

Best steamed on to a Jackson Hastings kick, thought he had planted the ball down before sliding into the advertising board.

It looked ugly and lucky Best was not seriously hurt. It’s a pity he was also denied the try.

Five minutes have gone in the second half.

Newcastle turned away the Dragons a couple of times late in the half to take a 24-10 lead into the break.

The Knights were forced to take a couple of dropouts, but Dragons’ skipper Ben Hunt spilled the ball when he spotted Bradman Best shoot out of the line ready to hit him from the outside.

Wet and wild: Leo Thompson is stopped in the middle of McDonald Jones Stadium.Credit: Getty Images

The home side have done well and completed brilliantly in awful conditions.

The Dragons scored a couple of top-class tries, but turned over the ball too often and in bad field position.

Jack Bird spilled the ball on his own 10m line, and Newcastle made the Dragons pay with a try to Dylan Lucas.

Lucas slid a few metres across the tryline for a simple four-pointer.

Dylan Lucas scores in the Newcastle slush for a try.Credit: Getty Images

That is now 24-10 with five minutes remaining.

And the home side will have a strong breeze at their backs in the second half.

Make that 18-10 to the Knights.

Jack Cogger put through a grubber that sat up perfectly in the bog, and Daniel Saifiti was there to pounce.

The big fella will not get an easier four-pointer.

Cogger’s kick was perfect for the conditions. He put plenty of heat on the kick, and it pulled up perfectly.

How good to those hot showers look at half-time ...

Just like that Newcastle hit back through Enari Tuala.

The Knights were piggy-backed down field on the back of a third penalty inside their own half, and Tuala was able to stroll over in the left corner.

Kalyn Ponga slotted the conversion from out wide.

Newcastle are back in front 12-10 after 25 minutes