Shane Flanagan praises Dragons after pull off a stunning upset over Melbourne Storm

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has praised his team’s desperation in defence, as they pulled off a historic upset, securing back-to-back wins over the Storm for the first time since 1999.

Shane Flanagan has long dreamt about recreating what he was able to have at the Cronulla Sharks. On Saturday it was on full display. Think defensive grind. An upset against a premiership threat. Oh and throw in the wet conditions too.

Forget the headlines centred around Lachie Ilias in the Dragons last start loss to South Sydney. It was the defensive lapses in the middle of the field which irked coach Shane Flanagan the most where the Rabbitohs crossed for two soft tries which proved the difference.

The Dragons showed desperation in defence to deny the Melbourne Storm and pull off a stunning upset. Picture: Getty Images

With a bye last week the Dragons had two weeks to stew on that performance. They came out at Kogarah and defended with their all restricting the previously unbeaten Melbourne to just eight points. They held them up over the try line multiple times and their desperation and scramble was something which had been lacking in their previous winless start to the season.

They faced adversity too with Jaydn Su’A (neck) suffering nerve damage at training on Thursday but battled on to complete the game. Moses Suli didn’t finish the game with a cramp while Hamish Stewart pick up a facial injury and will go for scans.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan praised his team after they displayed “courage, commitment and attitude”.

Jaydn Su'A impressed for the Dragons, despite suffering nerve damage at training just two days earlier. Picture: NRL Imagery

“We put ourselves under an enormous amount of pressure in the first half, we defended our try line and put turned them away which we haven’t been able to do,” Flanagan said. “We let in too many soft tries (against South Sydney). They were missing their halfback but we are missing players as well. Everyone put their hand up and did their job.”

He found himself on the sideline too after he was unhappy with his team’s start to the second half.

“I was a bit frustrated in the box,” Flanagan said. “When Val Holmes’ kick hit the post and we didn’t get the ball back – I was giving them messages for that to happen.

“There were a few other things. I thought maybe me on the sidelines may give them some motivation. If it does or not I’m not sure but it puts my mind at ease.”

Flanagan revealed the full extent of his team’s tenacity to push through the pain barrier.

“The young boys did an outtsnaining job,’’ Flanagan told Triple M.

“I thought Hamish Stewart, who looks bashed up on the sideline, I think some bad news might be coming there with a facial fracture.

“And he just toughed it out, he didn’t want to come off.

“Dylan Egan, you saw what a player he’s going to be and Sua, well he had a pinched nerve in his neck at training on Friday.

“He probably shouldn’t have played, but wanted to play and showed what determination he has to get the job done.”

DRAGONS PULL OFF UPSET AS BUNKER CONTROVERSY DENIES STORM

—Martin Gabor

Two weeks after their coach was left fuming for their inability to close out a win against the Rabbitohs, the Dragons produced yet another upset in a season of shock results to stun the Storm who will be seething after a controversial Bunker ruling.

Wet and wild conditions in Sydney on Saturday meant there weren’t many people in the house, but the loud and proud Red V faithful could be heard throughout southern Sydney after their side came from behind to register their first win of the season.

The 14-8 result continues a horror year for tipsters who would have been very brave to back the 0-2 Dragons against the reigning minor premiers who hadn’t lost yet.

Storm were left seething after a controversial Bunker ruling denied them a crucial try. Picture: Getty Images

It looked like they’d roll on after having so many chances in attack in the first half, but the Dragons defended their line stoutly, only to concede a try to Ryan Papenhuyzen on the stroke of halftime.

But that was it for the visitors who looked clunky in attack without Jahrome Hughes, with fill-in halfback Tyran Wishart running the ball a lot but lacking the big plays that the Dally M winner normally provides.

It was fitting that a big defensive play ultimately sealed the game, with Jaydn Su’A and Toby Couchman driving Xavier Coates into his in-goal to kill off any chance of a comeback.

“I was really pleased with our goal line ‘D’, but I also don’t want us to do too much of it,” Shane Flanagan said.

“That’s what I expect of Jaydn. I look at him as an Origin back-rower and we treat him as such.

“When you need him for a big run or a tackle that he made today, that’s what Origin players do.”

The Melbourne Storm had a try chalked off by the Bunker after Eli Katoa was adjudged to have knocked on 👀

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BUNKER DRAMA

As poor as the Storm were, they looked set to leave Sydney with the two points when Eliesa Kaota flew through the air to reel in a Cameron Munster kick to score with 15 to go, only for the Bunker to intervene.

A couple of days after Moses Leota was denied what appeared to be a try, the Bunker chimed in with an equally baffling decision, suggesting the edge forward had juggled it into Kyle Flanagan.

Replays didn’t show any angles that proved there was a clear knock-on, but the Storm had no one else to blame after butchering plenty of opportunities.

“I only had the one look at it, but I probably had a bit of a different opinion,” Craig Bellamy said.

“I’ll have to have a look at a couple more angles. There’s not much point complaining because it’s been done and they won’t change it.”

GETTING BETTER

This was one of the lowest games of the season, but Shane Flanagan won’t care after his side found a way to beat the premiership favourites.

The day started terribly with Clint Gutherson burning a challenge in the opening two minutes, while David Klemmer was solid in his club debut.

And while they won, there’s still plenty to work on with their halves failing to take control of the contest.

Lachlan Ilias and Kyle Flanagan didn’t have a run between them in the first half, while the Storm playmakers had 106 metres.

It’s still an area to watch out for in coming weeks considering what their coach did or didn’t say about Ilias after the Souths game.

Just over 6200 fans braved the heavy rain to cheer on their teams. Picture: NRL Imagery

BOO FEST

There were only 6211 fans at the stadium because of heavy rain in the morning and no trains running on the T4 line, but the Dragons faithful made themselves heard with a relentless chorus of boos from start to finish.

The home side conceded the first five penalties and had to wait 31 minutes for their first, which ended up with Valentine Holmes crossing shortly after for the opening try of the afternoon.

Every decision was met with anger from the rowdy crowd in the grandstand, with Holmes missing a penalty attempt that would have tied things up in the second half, before he made amends from close range with 19 minutes to go.

Originally published as Shane Flanagan praises Dragons after pull off a stunning upset over Melbourne Storm