Liddle stands tall as Dragons seal shock win over Storm
Saturday's victory - the Dragons' first of the campaign - was a dour and ugly affair, which hung in the balance until the final quarter of an hour.
Interchange hooker Jacob Liddle burrowed his way over the line in the 69th minute to send the 6211 rainsoaked crowd at Kogarah Oval into a frenzy.
The Dragons had let narrow games slip from their grasp in the first two rounds of the season, falling to Canterbury and South Sydney before last week's bye.
But Liddle's dummy-half barge-over was enough for the Red V to edge past an unconvincing Storm.
Lids barges over! 🔴⚪️#BreatheFire #NRLDragonsStorm pic.twitter.com/n6XrFS9Wn7
— St George Illawarra Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) March 29, 2025
Without halfback Jahrome Hughes, Melbourne struggled for fluency in attack and their all-star spine struggled to hit top gear.
Craig Bellamy's side had 46 play-the-balls in the Dragons' 20m zone but their sole try was scored by Ryan Papenhuyzen just before halftime.
Papenhuyzen's four-pointer came after stand-in Storm halfback Tyran Wishart had kicked a penalty goal to open the scoring for the visitors.
Valentine Holmes crossed the first try of the afternoon in the 34th minute before Papenhuyzen gave Melbourne an 8-6 lead.
Gutho links up with Val Holmes! 🐲#NRLDragonsStorm pic.twitter.com/PSDqrkd0GD
— NRL (@NRL) March 29, 2025
Melbourne had chances to score but Shawn Blore and Eli Katoa both fumbled the ball as they looked to pull away.
After missing an earlier penalty goal from right in front, Holmes drew the Dragons level in the 62nd minute with a straightforward kick to send the game down to the wire.
Liddle was the hero from close range as the hooker shrugged off some lax Storm defending to give his side the lead.
Holmes added the extras to give the home side a six-point buffer which Melbourne could not overcome.
Bellamy's men face an unenviable away trip to Manly next week and will desperately need to refine their attack if they are to trouble the Sea Eagles.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Storm unveil bronze Sue Bird statue outside of Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena
Sue Bird's legacy in Seattle has been cast in bronze. The Seattle Storm unveiled a statue of Bird outside of Climate Pledge Arena, securing a spot for the franchise legend outside her former stomping grounds. The bronze statue, which features Bird doing an iconic layup, was revealed in a ceremony on Sunday. Bird becomes the first WNBA player to be honored with a statue by her former franchise. The point guard picked a layup for her statue because of the significance that the move had in her career. "My very first points in the WNBA at Key Arena as a rookie were on a layup, my very final points in the WNBA were at Climate Pledge on a layup," Bird said. Among those in attendance at the ceremony was Bird's fiancée, USWNT star Megan Rapinoe. Bird was also joined by two of her former UConn teammates, Diana Taurasi and Swin Cash, and by fellow Storm legend Lauren Jackson, who is the only other player to have her number retired by the Storm. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Bird took the time to pose with the statue on her own, before posing with family and friends. Fans were then given a chance to get their own pictures as well. Bird is one of the most iconic players to come out of the Storm franchise, playing with the team for her entire 21-year career. She led Seattle to four WNBA Championships across a long span — 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020 — and earned 13 All-Star nods and five All-WNBA First Team selections. Bird first joined the Storm as the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn in 2002. She played her final WNBA season in 2022 before retiring. Her No. 10 jersey was retired by the franchise the next year. Though Bird is the only player with a statue created by her WNBA franchise, she is not the only player in the league with a statue. Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was honored with a statue at her alma mater, South Carolina, in 2021.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Not the right time': Family detail as major news about Cameron Smith emerges
Kevin Walters has revealed Cameron Smith won't be part of his coaching staff when the Kangaroos travel to England for the end of year Ashes tour, with the NRL legend choosing to prioritise family and his media commitments instead. Smith was believed to be in the running for the Kangaroos role when Mal Meninga departed, but it went to Walters instead. There'd been speculation that Smith would become an assistant to Walters when Australia play three Tests in England after the completion of the NRL season. But the Kangaroos coach revealed over the weekend it won't be happening. 'I don't think Cameron will be involved,' Walters told . 'It's just not the right time for him to be involved. We'll let him do what he needs to do with his commentary and family and we'll get on with the tour. 'It's been a bit of a slow process (finalising support staff), but that's okay. I've spoken to (Justin Holbrook and Trent Barrett) but we're still contemplating what the makeup of the staff will be.' Cameron Smith puts family and commentary first Speaking last month, Smith admitted he'd have to weigh-up what was best for his young family and role with Channel 9 when making a potential move into coaching. "I love my role with the commentary team at the moment, I've got three young kids as well, I'm up in Bundaberg watching my eldest play netball (tonight)," he said on Channel 9. "But it's a wonderful opportunity to be able to coach our country. I was lucky enough to play for Kangaroos many, many times. To be able to coach such a wonderful team full of wonderful footballers would be a great opportunity." Tellingly, Smith said he understood why Brad Fittler withdrew from contention when the former NSW coach was believed to be the initial front-runner. Fittler also holds a role with Channel 9, which he's enjoying much more after stepping down as Blues coach in Origin. Kevin Walters responds to Payne Haas' defection Meanwhile, Walters has dismissed comments from Wayne Bennett that the ARL Commission made a 'ridiculous' call not to allow an NRL head-coach to take the Kangaroos job. And he also responded to news that Payne Haas has officially declared his allegiance to Samoa over Australia. 'The decision to not get someone from NRL land was made for a reason. It's not because they couldn't do it, it's just the workload," Walters said. "(Haas' decision) wasn't surprising to me. It's been on the table for probably 12 months. I'd like to have seen Payne playing for Australia, but I respect his decision. 'I said to him from the get-go when I got the job, 'Mate, whichever way you go, we've still got a strong relationship and that remains intact'. I'd like the opportunity to work with him again but he's chosen Samoa and I totally respect that." RELATED: Fans' telling response after Channel 9's divisive post-game move Second Storm player under fire after controversy in Panthers game Walters is also facing the prospect of losing Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. The Queensland State of Origin stars are also leaning towards representing Samoa over the Kangaroos.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Storm unveil bronze Sue Bird statue outside of Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena
Sue Bird's legacy in Seattle has been cast in bronze. The Seattle Storm unveiled a statue of Bird outside of Climate Pledge Arena, securing a spot for the franchise legend outside her former stomping grounds. The bronze statue, which features Bird doing an iconic layup, was revealed in a ceremony on Sunday. Bird becomes the first WNBA player to be honored with a statue by her former franchise. The point guard picked a layup for her statue because of the significance that the move had in her career. "My very first points in the WNBA at Key Arena as a rookie were on a layup, my very final points in the WNBA were at Climate Pledge on a layup," Bird said. Among those in attendance at the ceremony was Bird's fiancée, USWNT star Megan Rapinoe. Bird was also joined by two of her former UConn teammates, Diana Taurasi and Swin Cash, and by fellow Storm legend Lauren Jackson, who is the only other player to have her number retired by the Storm. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Bird took the time to pose with the statue on her own, before posing with family and friends. Fans were then given a chance to get their own pictures as well. Bird is one of the most iconic players to come out of the Storm franchise, playing with the team for her entire 21-year career. She led Seattle to four WNBA Championships across a long span — 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020 — and earned 13 All-Star nods and five All-WNBA First Team selections. Bird first joined the Storm as the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn in 2002. She played her final WNBA season in 2022 before retiring. Her No. 10 jersey was retired by the franchise the next year. Though Bird is the only player with a statue created by her WNBA franchise, she is not the only player in the league with a statue. Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was honored with a statue at her alma mater, South Carolina, in 2021.
