Dragons find form at Kogarah
St George Illawarra secured a crucial 24-10 victory over the Wests Tigers at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday, marking their first home win in nearly 11 months. The result, headlined by a late double from Valentine Holmes, keeps the Dragons’ hopes alive of avoiding the wooden spoon, while simultaneously dealing a severe blow to the Tigers’ top-eight aspirations.
Injury crisis deepens for Wests
The match was marred by a significant injury concern for the Tigers, with hooker Api Koroisau suffering a suspected torn pectoral muscle. Post-match reports indicate that if scans confirm the severity of the injury, Koroisau’s season could be over. Coach Benji Marshall did not mince words regarding his side’s performance, describing it as “not good enough” and citing a lack of discipline and attention to detail.
Holmes takes control
The contest remained tight for much of the evening. After an early sin-binning for Dragons player Clint Gutherson, the Tigers took an early lead through Adam Doueihi. However, the Dragons resiliently clawed their way back, leading 6-4 at halftime following a penalty goal. As the second half progressed, the Dragons tightened their execution. Following Koroisau’s departure, the game turned decisively in the hosts’ favor. Holmes crossed the line twice in the final five minutes, converting his own tries along with a Mathew Feagai score to seal the win.
Looking ahead
For interim Dragons coach Dean Young, the win provides a significant boost to his credentials as the club evaluates head coaching options for 2027. Meanwhile, the Tigers, who were already missing Jarome Luai due to concussion protocols, now face a difficult road ahead as they look to recover for their next fixture against the Warriors.