NRL news ‘Awful scenes' as three St George Illawarra Dragons knocked out against the Warriors
St George Illawarra suffered an extraordinary level of carnage in the first half of their courageous 14-10 loss to the Warriors, with three players going off with nasty head knocks.
The Dragons led 10-4 at halftime before the home side fought back in Auckland, Adam Pompey scoring a second-half double as the Warriors moved back into the top four.
But Shane Flanagan's side earned plenty of plaudits after a horrific first half.
Despite sitting 11th on the NRL ladder, the Dragons came out firing, opening the scoring through Mathew Feagai in the 10th minute.
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Just five minutes later, however, the visitors were two men down after Hamish Stewart and milestone man Jack de Belin clashed heads in a tackle gone horribly wrong.
The two Dragons attempted to tackle rampaging Warrior James Fisher-Harris before colliding head on and getting knocked out instantly.
Players raced to offer assistance before the trainers came out and assessed the pair, who were immediately ruled out of the game.
Watch the incident in the video player above
Jack de Belin led the Dragons out in his 250th game. (Photo by)
'De Belin has a problem,' Warren Smith said on Fox League. 'In his milestone game, playing game No. 250.
'It looks like Hamish Stewart also has an issue. My goodness.'
Greg Alexander then said: 'Oh no. Oh they're both in trouble. Oh dear.
'Oh this isn't good.'
When a replay was shown, Smith added: 'Friendly fire. Their heads collide around the back of Fisher-Harris and just like that, the Dragons in all likelihood are going to be down two players.
De Belin and Hamish Stewart were knocked out in a tackle gone wrong. Photos: Fox Sports
'Two concussions means they can activate the 18th man but the 18th man tonight is Tyrell Sloan, the winger.'
Stewart was also seen with a nasty cut on the top of his head, while De Belin appeared to be struggling to understand what had taken place.
'Quite obviously, given what we saw and the protocols and criteria regarding potential concussions, Jack de Belin and Hamish Stewart will both be coming from the field surely,' Smith commented.
'It might be a nasty cut as well, it is in the hairline there of Hamish Stewart.
'What a disaster for the Dragons given the positive opening they've had to this game.'
De Belin was in a very bad way after the heavy clash. (Photo by)
Stewart was left with a nasty gash on the top of his head. Photos: Fox Sports
Alexander added: 'Boy that is tough.
'Both players came in very hard too. Both low, we see it happen quite often but not to that extent.'
Still, the Dragons continued to play well, with Hayden Buchanan denied a try just three minutes later due to a forward pass.
Feagai then grabbed his second try in the 20th minute to stun the eerily quiet home fans.
Just as it was confirmed Stewart and De Belin had suffered Category 1 concussions and wouldn't be returning, the Dragons lost another player.
This time Hame Sele was left in an awful state after another misdirected tackle and was also forced out of the game.
Hame Sele became the third Dragon knocked out
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Hame Sele became the third Dragon knocked out
more after... more the replacement prop also suffered a heavy concussion.
The Dragons' bench was decimated... ... more
The Warriors hit back with a try in the 32nd minute through Chanel Harris-Tavita, but all the attention at halftime was on the wounded Dragons.
'Losing two starting middles in the one incident, courageous stuff from the Dragons,' Kevin Walters said.
'They fought on hard and found it difficult getting out of their own half since the two HIAs and then there was a third one later in the game.
'It's been a very brave effort form the Dragons in that opening 40.'
James Graham added: 'Obviously a decimated bench there. Coach (Shane) Flanagan will be doing some mental gymnastics trying to sort out the minutes and who plays where.
'It's carnage out there for the Dragons, but they're outperforming the Warriors. They've been the better of the two teams in the opening 40 minutes.'
Matthew Feagai (right) grabbed a first-half double for the Dragons. (Photo by)
Plenty of people watching on were also keen to comment on the carnage.
The League Scene account on X wrote: 'Hate to see these scenes. Three Dragons have been ruled out with Category 1 concussive incidents in the space of 28 mins. Hamish Stewart and Jack de Belin were gone in one incident, now Hame Sele is KO'ed before he hit the ground in awful scenes tonight.'
Jake Michael Thompson tweeted: 'Oh dear. That's 3 nasty Cat 1 concussions for the Dragons in one game.'
Charles Haig stated: 'This is absolute carnage.'
Chloe MacSweeney wrote: 'Oh wow, That's a very bad one. Hopefully Hame Sele is OK!'
It all left the Dragons facing a huge task if they were to knock off the fifth-placed Warriors and grab a third straight win following victories over the Raiders and Sharks.
It wasn't to be, with Pompey's tries in the 62nd and 72nd minutes enough for the Warriors to secure the points.
Originally published as 'Awful scenes' as three Dragons knocked out against the Warriors
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