In a round dominated by the comeback, something extraordinary occurred on Saturday night at the 150th NRL match at WIN Stadium.
St George Illawarra gave up a big lead against the Warriors … and weren’t quite able to peg it back. Given what had already transpired during Women In League round, a series of games marked by wild swings in momentum, the Warriors’ 15-14 victory bucked the trend.
When the Warriors opened up a 14-0 lead just before half-time, it looked like the trans-Tasman outfit had built something we had not yet seen in round 10; an insurmountable lead.
The Red V showed there is no such thing, levelling the scores to set up another thrilling finish.
The deadlock was finally broken by Luke Metcalf, arguably the most improved player in the game. The Warriors halfback slotted a field goal with 10 minutes to go. It may not have been as dramatic as the strike of Latrell Mitchell a day earlier, but it proved just as valuable to a side that has climbed into second spot on the ladder.
“Just on a personal note, I feel like I’m starting to string some games together and getting used to having the No.7 on my back,” Metcalf told Fox League. “I’m loving it.”
Luke Metcalf booted the Warriors to a one-point victory at WIN Stadium.Credit: Getty Images
Metcalf’s coach believes there are even better days ahead for the former Shark.
“The funny thing is I don’t actually think it was one of his better games tonight, and I love him,” Warriors mentor Andrew Webster said.
“I think he’s unbelievable, he’s going to be a great player, but I feel like tonight the field goal and the last two minutes were really clear. I reckon he will walk in here tonight happy with the moment, that he kicked it, but not that happy with the way he played.
“He’s got high standards, Luke, we love his progression. What he learnt tonight will be another good learning curve.”
Mitchell Bennett can’t quite break free against the Dragons.Credit: Getty Images
Metcalf was the steadiest hand in another topsy-turvy game. Finally free of injury, Shaun Johnson’s successor was the main beneficiary of an almost flawless half of football, in which the Warriors completed all but one of their 21 sets. Finally, a blowout appeared on the cards.
What transpired next was as unlikely as anything else we’ve seen this weekend.
Dragons captain Clint Gutherson crossed for a try just before the main break and St George Illawarra came out a different side after it.
Jack de Belin was involved in everything in those frantic moments when the pendulum swung the Red V’s way; a head clash that ended Jackson Ford’s night, the giving away of a cheap penalty, then earning one moments later.
First, local hero Dylan Egan crashed over. Then, when former Maroon Corey Allan scooped up a grubber from newish halfback Lyhkan King-Togia to lock up the scores, the locals were out of their seats.
It was an unlikely resurgence given Tyrell Sloan carried an injured elbow, Jayden Su’a hobbled on after being buckled early, and Toby Couchman was forced off with a shoulder injury.
However, this was a comeback that fell short, even if the Dragons scored more tries than the opposition.
“That really hurts,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said. “Potentially we should have won that game, but we didn’t kick our goals, we didn’t kick the field goal, maybe bombed a try here or there.”
