The King delivers as Dragons’ new faces step up against clunky Knights

Moments before kick-off, in a bid to rev up the faithful and celebrate St George Illawarra’s invitation to Vegas, an Elvis impersonator did his thing.

When Elvis left the building, the real “King” strutted onto Nestrata Jubilee Stadium.

Clint Gutherson may only be 11 games into his Dragons stint, but already he has given the Red V a slew of hits and memories. Against a form fullback – Fletcher Sharpe again deputised for Kalyn Ponga, whose ankle pulled up sore after State of Origin – Gutherson again left his mark.

The former Parramatta captain scored a try and led from the front as the Red V climbed into sixth spot on the ladder with a 20-6 win over Newcastle.

“He has been fantastic all year with his leadership and encouragement, he’s been great,” said Dragons coach Shane Flanagan.

The Dragons celebrate Clint Gutherson’s try.Credit: Getty Images

There were many other contributors. Damien Cook, another veteran with a point to prove, showed all his wile and deception with a hand in the first three tries. Jaydn Su’A scored a try but came off with a syndesmosis injury that effectively ended hopes of a call-up for Origin II.

The new faces also played their part. Nathan Lawson, whose background consists of rugby sevens and an Olympic Games, looked at home on debut. The winger ran hard and finished as one of the game’s top metre-eaters.

Then there’s Loko Pasifiki Tonga, a 123kg giant just shy of two metres. When he stormed towards the tryline from close range, only one outcome was possible. Another “King”, Lyhkan King-Togia, has also shown early promise in the halves.

Not that they were up against much. Newcastle scored a solitary try and otherwise never looked likely. The two forwards who combined for that rare highlight, Leo Thompson and Kai Pearce-Paul, are heading for the exit out.

Just over a week ago, coach Adam O’Brien said he had the full support of the board. What he really needs is the support of his players. They appear to suffer from a lack of imagination with the football; it’s hard to believe this was the same side that blew the premiers off Carrington Park in the opening half last week.

“In this battle, we lost to the scheduling and the draw,” O’Brien said of his decision to rest Ponga.

“Someone has to play Friday night, I get that, but then they give us next Thursday as well.

“It would have been three games in eight days. That’s not looking after our players. I had to step in and look after them … Whoever does the draw hasn’t lived it or doesn’t care. I don’t know which one it is … it’s ridiculous.”

This is a side that can’t wait until next year for Dylan Brown. With the June 30 transfer deadline approaching, the decks need to be shuffled to accommodate him early.

And that ends a match that was pretty much decided some time ago, the Dragons earning a comfortable 20-6 win over a Newcastle side that once again looks like a genuine wooden spoon contender – despite last week’s win over Penrith.

The win pushes St George Illawarra up to sixth place on the NRL ladder for now, an excellent result at the halfway point of the season.

Dragons 20 defeat Knights 6

Lovely stuff here from the Dragons, Kyle Flanagan jabbing in a well-weighted grubber for a fast-chasing Valentine Holmes. But replays show Holmes spilled the ball before grounding it, and the try is disallowed.

They’ve left plenty of points on the table tonight but are still going to win this one easily.

With the game gone the Knights are finally throwing the ball around a bit here, reaching the Dragons’ 10-metre line on the last tackle, but that last tackle play ends with a half-hearted Dylan Lucas grubber straight into the legs of a St George Illawarra defender. Kind of sums up their night really.

Dragons 20, Knights 6 with two minutes left

Tyrell Sloan spills the ball over the tryline on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images

We have a Knights try! The visitors break their scoring drought through an unlikely combination, with front-rower Leo Thompson making a weaving run across field to the right, then going to the line and flicking a pass away for second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul to crash over.

It’s almost certainly too little too late for Newcastle, but at least they have something on the board.

Dragons 20, Knights 6 with 10 minutes left

Toby Couchman, back from injury and a late inclusion in the starting side for the Dragons tonight, goes oh-so-close to crashing over for the Dragons’ fourth try of the evening but it stopped by a strong try-saving tackle from Mat Croker.

The hosts then force a dropout, and get a scrum feed when Newcastle’s Fletcher Hunt tries to regain Fletcher Sharpe’s kick but puts it down.

The Dragons go oh-so-close again when a backline shift to the right ends with a diving Tyrell Sloan dropping the ball over the line.

It’s been that kind of night. We’ve had a string of cracking Friday night footy games of late, but this hasn’t been one of them.

Dragons 20, Knights 0 with 12 minutes left

And that might just about do it. An offside penalty against Jayden Brailey – he was out of play in front of a Newcastle play-the-ball, then came back and received an offload – gives St George Illawarra a penalty right in front of the goal-posts and Valentine Holmes slots over the goal for another two points.

If scoring three tries looked unlikely for this Knights outfit, scoring four times looks impossible.

Dragons 20, Knights 0 with 17 minutes left

Dragons half Lyhkan King-Togia.Credit: Getty Images

Now the Knights are starting to make an impact in attack at last. James Schiller makes a break down the right and throws a pass back inside for Dane Gagai, who is grabbed a little early by a Dragons chase. Penalty Knights.

Can they do something this set? Nope. Valentine Holmes produces a crunching tackle on Jack Cogger, popping the ball loose, and it’s a turnover.

Dragons 18, Knights 0 with 20 minutes left