Shane Flanagan delivered his first spray as St George Illawarra coach, and it had the desired result as his side overran noted frontrunners Penrith on Saturday night.
The Panthers were seemingly hurtling towards a victory that would have taken them to the top of the table for the first time this year, despite the absence of Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and, quad willing, Dylan Edwards due to Blues duty.
However, St George Illawarra produced a stunning second half, producing 22 unanswered points for a much-needed win. It marks just the second time in 80 games that the Panthers have been overrun after opening up a double-digit first-half lead.
After being told everyone wanted to know what he said to his troops, Flanagan said: “No you don’t. It wasn’t pretty, especially to a few individuals.
“I was really disappointed in the first half, we were just turning the football over. It was awful.
“We definitely needed the break, we needed half-time and to get them into the room.
Dragons players celebrate Tyrell Sloan’s try.Credit: Getty
“To their credit they responded really well.”
Flanagan said coaches could spray their players only sparingly to ensure they retained their impact, but this is what the occasion called for.
“I’ve done a few [in my career],” he said. “You’ve only got two or three in you per year, and I’ve used one.”
Captain Jack de Belin said those words had the desired effect.
“It was good, it was needed,” de Belin said. “He was only speaking the truth and he was honest. As you can see, it got the result he was after.”
Fittingly, the match-winning try came from the most impressive forward on a drenched BlueBet Stadium, Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
Given the Dragons were also missing three of their best in Ben Hunt, Jaydn Su’a and Zac Lomax due to Origin, the depth of both sides was tested. The Red V halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Jesse Marschke were more composed when it mattered, aided by the punch provided off their interchange bench.
Jesse McLean, sporting a haircut that wouldn’t have been permissible at his alma mater Newington College, came up with a highlight reel play. The teen winger’s 35th-minute effort was Penrith’s second, and final, try of the game.
Loading
“We just couldn’t get any field position, momentum, possession, the works, in the second half,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who was unaware of the extent of a hamstring injury that prematurely ended Moses Leota’s night.
“Our intentions were right, we just kept making errors.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now