In an exciting end to the NRL season for St George Illawarra, Tyrell Sloan's dedication to practicing long-range field goals proved crucial in their 24-22 victory over Parramatta.
The match was characterized by key moments, including Sloan's precision from beyond the 40-metre line, which thrilled the home crowd at Wollongong.
Dragons coach Dean Young acknowledged Sloan's commitment, remarking, "He annoys me at training because when we're going from drill to drill, if there's a loose ball on the ground, he just picks it up and does long-range field goals all the time."
In addition to Sloan's efforts, Blake Lawrie scored for the Dragons, who were also bidding farewell to co-captain Damien Cook, transitioning to the Super League next season.
Despite a disappointing overall season that resulted in a wooden spoon for the Dragons, they showcased the potential of emerging talents like Lyhkan King-Togia, who assisted Sloan's try and helped Dylan Egan cross the line.
With the game tied at 22-all, Dan Atkinson executed a brilliant play, sidestepping Junior Paulo before delivering a one-handed offload to enable Connor Muhleisen to score.
The Dragons faced challenges, losing Hamish Stewart to a concussion and Val Holmes due to an ankle injury. Veteran prop Lawrie's sin-bin for a shoulder charge added to their struggles, yet they managed to clinch victory with only 12 players.
The defeat marked the end of a tumultuous season for the Eels, with coach Jason Ryles expressing frustration with his team's performance, stating, "the attitude and application for periods of the game was nowhere near NRL standard."
Mitch Moses had a notable game for Parramatta, assisting in multiple tries early in the match. However, a head clash and a knee issue sidelined teammates Jordan Samrani and Harrison Edwards, further complicating their efforts.