LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
A battered and bruised Dragons side fell to the Warriors 14-10 in a thrilling match in Auckland on Friday night.
The game was particularly significant for Jack de Belin, who became only the fourth player in St George Illawarra history to reach the 250-game milestone. Unfortunately, it wasn't a fairytale finish for de Belin, as he was part of a trio of Dragons players sidelined by first-half head knocks, leading to a scramble on the bench.
Despite these challenges, Shane Flanagan's team managed to hold a two-tries-to-one lead at halftime, thanks to a quick double from Mathew Feagai along the left edge.
In the second half, the Dragons showed commendable resilience, but the Warriors mounted a comeback, culminating in an Adam Pompey double late in the game.
With the forward pack heavily depleted, several players stepped up significantly, including Feagai, who scored two tries, racked up 201 run metres, and achieved seven tackle breaks. Christian Tuipulotu also shone, leading the team with 221 run metres on 22 carries and five tackle breaks.
Damien Cook delivered an impressive performance with 60 tackles over an 80-minute stint, while David Klemmer contributed with 183 metres from 20 carries and 38 tackles.
As misfortune struck again, Sele was assisted from the field after suffering a serious head knock, further diminishing the numbers on the Dragons' bench.