Dragons' comeback falls short as Warriors shoot to second on ladder

Sydney Morning Herald

10-05-2025

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In a round dominated by the comeback, something extraordinary occurred 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, this one 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 yet 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 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.'
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.