NRL 2016: Dragons defend their way to victory over Panthers at WIN Stadium

ST GEORGE Illawarra sure can defend a score. In a dour contest against the Panthers, the Dragons defence proved the difference at WIN Stadium.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 27: Josh Dugan of the Dragons scores try during the round four NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Penrith Panthers at WIN Stadium on March 27, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

WANT to know the funniest thing about how Josh Dugan ended his centre experiment?

It came, effectively, when he was playing there.

“That last try,’’ St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor grinned, “yeah, Josh actually scored it as a centre”.

While Dragons playmaker Gareth Widdop was the undisputed hero at WIN Stadium yesterday -- producing two crucial kicks in eight minutes to ice Penrith 14-12 -- it was Dugan who, once again, proved the yarn.

The Dragons have defended their way to another win.

First off, the NSW Origin No.1 scored the winning try with four minutes remaining.

A play of even greater significance when you consider the Dragons struggle to find points was so dire that ... well, James Roberts might suggest they’d struggle to score on Oxford Street.

Yet just as importantly, Dugan also performed so strongly in his second game back at fullback, McGregor confirmed afterwards that his famed centre experiment was set to go the way of white torpedo pants.

“Josh’s involvement is best at the back,’’ the coach said. “And he’ll be staying there”.

Apart from running for 170m, the most of any Dragon, Dugan also made six tackle breaks, two offloads and a linbreak.

And as for that try which proved the difference, McGregor continued: “Josh is a big game player.

Josh Dugan scores the match-winning try.

“And in those situations, they don’t shy away from the game, they go to it.”

Yet while the game may have finished it dramatic circumstances, for much of the 80 minutes it seemed St George Illawarra CEO Peter Doust might actually be doing the people of Wollongong a service by taking games away from WIN Stadium.

Apart from taking 53 minutes to find their opening try, to centre Euan Aitken, the Dragons also boasted nine of 10 sets late in the first half, and still failed to cross.

And with eight minutes to go, it appeared that lack of attack had killed them.

Penrith halfback Jamie Soward, with the scores locked at 8-all, getting himself outside opposite Josh McCrone on a run left before sending winger Josh Mansour over in the corner.

Jamie Soward attempts to tackle Mitch Rein.

And, sure, Soward missed the conversion. But given the lack of Dragons attack, it seemed the four-pointer buffer would be enough.

Enter Dugan.

And Widdop.

Who from the ensuing kick off, found touch. And within the next set, threw the long ball for Dugan to score.

The English No.6 then calmly converting from about 20m in from the sideline.

Widdop said he had actually tried to kick off short and high, for winger Jason Nightingale.

However the ball went over the head of former Dragon Trent Merrin and into touch.

“I knew Gypsy was out there and I knew he could leap,’’ Widdop explained.

Tyson Frizell looks to bus through the Panthers defence.

“So I just tried to leave it up there for as long as possible.

“I think Trent Merrin was under it. He left it and thankfully we got the ball back and scored.”

Yet what they lack in attack, the Dragons certainly make up for in defence.

Time and again yesterday the Red V scrambled on their tryline.

“They continually find a way,’’ McGregor agreed.

While there was little for Dragons fans to get excited about in the first half, the game certainly started with controversy when, with only eight minutes gone, Nightingale appeared to score an outstanding solo try -- running 65m after stripping the ball one-on-one from Panthers centre Waqa Blake.

Euan Aitken (left) of the Dragons is congratulated after scoring a try.

The Bunker, however, disagreed. Eventually ruling that as Nightingale stripped the ball, Waga was also reaching out to fend Dragons centre Tim Lafai.

And so, that was it.

For more than a half of footy, the closest either side got to a try.

Indeed, for a long while it seemed like neither side were going to score.

St George Illawarra finally breaking the drought after 53 minutes when Aitken crossed.

Taking an inside ball from halfback Josh McCrone, the nuggety three-quarter brushed off poor attempts from Tyrone Peachey and Jamie Soward to score.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 14 (E Aitken J Dugan tries G Widdop 3 goals) beat PENRITH 12 (P Hiku J Mansour tries J Soward 2 goals) at WIN Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee.

Originally published as NRL 2016: Dragons defend their way to victory over Panthers at WIN Stadium