Scary scenes as two Dragons concussed in friendly fire during brave loss to Warriors
The Warriors recovered from a 10-point first-half deficit to snap an alarming three-game losing streak after the Dragons lost three forwards before the break in freakish scenes at GO Media Stadium.
The Dragons had to activate 18th man Tyrell Sloan after back-rowers Hamish Stewart and Jack De Belin fell victim to some friendly fire, both ruled out with a category-one concussion after clashing heads trying to bring down Warriors enforcer James Fisher-Harris.
Then interchange forward Hame Sele also failed a HIA following a 29th-minute head knock.
Despite the setbacks, the Dragons enjoyed a 10-0 lead following an early tryscoring double from powerhouse centre Mathew Feagai.
A four-pointer six minutes before the break to Chanel Harris-Tavita, after a skilful sideline offload from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, put the Warriors back in the contest.
The Dragons overcame their reduced forward rotation to hold the Warriors at bay for much of the second half before the home team finally drew level at 10-10 with a 62nd-minute try to centre Adam Pompey.
Pompey's second shortly after, when St George Illawarra's short-side defence fell for a clever dummy-half dummy from Taine Tuaupiki, gave the Warriors the lead for the first time with six minutes remaining.
Coming off back-to-back wins over finals-bound Cronulla and Canberra, the Dragons had the chance to steal the match at the death and claim another big scalp but weren't able to cash in on a Sloan line break.
Friday night's victory vaulted the Warriors above Penrith into fourth spot on the ladder after the New Zealanders' season threatened to unravel.
The injury-hit Warriors could have slumped to as low as seventh by the end of the round.
Instead, Andrew Webster's side extinguished the Dragons' slim finals hopes.
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Shane Flanagan fumes as obstruction non-call robs theDragons
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was fuming at an obstruction non-call for Adam Pompey's first try that cost his side in their 14-10 loss to the Warriors in Round 24. Pompey's try in the 63rd minute drew Flanagan's ire, as Dragons five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia appealed for an obstruction after being impeded by lead runner Marata Niukore in the lead-up. Flanagan was not asked about the crucial decision post-match, but chose to bring it up anyway. 'I know you haven't asked the question, but I am going to give an answer,' Flanagan said. 'It was really tough for us that what was an obstruction last week is not an obstruction this week. 'I started playing footy when I was four years old and I don't know the rules anymore. I deadset do not know the rules. 'So it is tough, but we are a tough club and this is a really connected unit and we will fight really hard for the next three weeks.' Flanagan was pressed if he thought it was a clear obstruction from Niukore. 'As I said last week it was an obstruction and this week it is not,' Flanagan said. 'The boys asked out on the field numerous times and they just got shooed away, so that is frustrating.' Despite the loss Flanagan was proud of his players after they lost three forwards Jack de Belin, Hamish Stewart and Hame Sele to category one concussions, which saw them reduced to two on the bench including 18th man Tyrell Sloan. 'I feel a lot of pride,' Flanagan said. 'I'm proud of the group. Their effort. Their attitude. Their commitment. 'It was one of the better performances I have seen for a long period of time. 'To lose three forwards so early in the game and then you lose three interchanges there as well, so we had just one forward just rotating around and we had to activate our 18th man. 'I can't talk highly enough of the group. How hard they tried. How committed they are and how connected they are to the jersey and fighting for each other, so really proud.' Flanagan revealed the three players were doing OK, but would miss a week at least. 'Jack is looking OK,' Flanagan said. 'He is up and about. His 250th game, so really disappointing that happened. 'Hame Sele is very similar. He is feeling OK and Hamish Stewart has got a pretty nasty cut to the back of his head form the de Belin incident. 'So they will all miss a week more than likely I would think.' Dragons skipper Damien Cook was proud of his troops after a game unlike any other he had experienced. 'No I don't think I have ever been a part of a game like that,' Cook said. 'We spoke about it at halftime this could be one of the greatest wins if we could steal it, but still the result is still a massive win for us as a team. 'Just the resilience and character that we showed today is a massive step in a good direction for us.'
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
NRL news ‘Awful scenes' as three St George Illawarra Dragons knocked out against the Warriors
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. 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 Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 00:29 SUBSCRIBER ONLY 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
7NEWS
4 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Scary scenes as two Dragons concussed in friendly fire during brave loss to Warriors
The Warriors have regained their place in the NRL's top four with a thrilling 14-10 comeback victory over a luckless and brave St George Illawarra outfit in Auckland. The Warriors recovered from a 10-point first-half deficit to snap an alarming three-game losing streak after the Dragons lost three forwards before the break in freakish scenes at GO Media Stadium. The Dragons had to activate 18th man Tyrell Sloan after back-rowers Hamish Stewart and Jack De Belin fell victim to some friendly fire, both ruled out with a category-one concussion after clashing heads trying to bring down Warriors enforcer James Fisher-Harris. Then interchange forward Hame Sele also failed a HIA following a 29th-minute head knock. Despite the setbacks, the Dragons enjoyed a 10-0 lead following an early tryscoring double from powerhouse centre Mathew Feagai. A four-pointer six minutes before the break to Chanel Harris-Tavita, after a skilful sideline offload from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, put the Warriors back in the contest. The Dragons overcame their reduced forward rotation to hold the Warriors at bay for much of the second half before the home team finally drew level at 10-10 with a 62nd-minute try to centre Adam Pompey. Pompey's second shortly after, when St George Illawarra's short-side defence fell for a clever dummy-half dummy from Taine Tuaupiki, gave the Warriors the lead for the first time with six minutes remaining. Coming off back-to-back wins over finals-bound Cronulla and Canberra, the Dragons had the chance to steal the match at the death and claim another big scalp but weren't able to cash in on a Sloan line break. Friday night's victory vaulted the Warriors above Penrith into fourth spot on the ladder after the New Zealanders' season threatened to unravel. The injury-hit Warriors could have slumped to as low as seventh by the end of the round. Instead, Andrew Webster's side extinguished the Dragons' slim finals hopes.
