LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan laid down the law with a fiery halftime speech that lit a fire under his team, leading to a historic seven-year victory over the Panthers.
In a classic tale of two halves, the Dragons came out guns blazing in the second half to outclass the reigning champions 22-10 at Bluebet Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite missing key players due to Origin duty, Penrith held a 10-0 lead at halftime, looking like they were on their way to another victory.
But the Dragons had other plans, with winger Sione Finau making a statement with a blistering run in the opening moments of the second half.
From there, it was all uphill for the Dragons as they surged ahead and shut down the Panthers' attack, scoring four unanswered tries to secure the win.
Flanagan's halftime "spray" clearly had the desired effect, inspiring his team to dig deep and play with heart and determination.
The victory marked a significant milestone for the Dragons, who haven't tasted success like this against the Panthers in seven years.
It was a gritty and hard-fought win for the Dragons, reminiscent of some of their classic performances in years gone by.
With Flanagan at the helm, the Dragons showed the kind of fighting spirit and resilience that makes them a force to be reckoned with in the NRL.