The Dragons gave new coach Shane Flanagan his first win as they outclassed Wests Tigers 34-18 at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee on Saturday night.
After a disappointing loss to the Rabbitohs in week one of the Pre-Season Challenge, the Dragons hit back in style with skipper Ben Hunt, centre Jack Bird and a rampaging Jaydn Su'a leading the charge.
On the back of a long break by Tyrell Sloan it was the Dragons grabbing the opening try through Hunt off a Kyle Flanagan kick in the 13th minute.
The Red V had a second just four minutes later when centre Moses Suli surged onto a short ball from Jacob Liddle and stormed over to make it 12-0.
A mistake by Jahream Bula off a Hunt high ball gave the Dragons field position and they made the Tigers pay through a rampaging Mikaele Ravalawa. A third conversion of the night for Zac Lomax made it 18-0.
Ben Hunt Try
Suli got across the line again in the 26th minute but the try was disallowed due to obstruction in the lead-up by Su'a.
The Dragons had a fourth try late in the half when Bird beat a number of defenders before the ball ended up with Hunt who grubbered for himself and planted it down just inside the dead ball line.
A bell ringer by Junior Tupou on Bird forced an error and gave the Tigers a late shot at points and it was Jahream Bula who produced the dazzling footwork to turn Sloan inside out and make it 24-6 at the break.
Zac Lomax Try
The Dragons went further ahead early in the second half when Bird put a pinpoint grubber into the corner for Lomax to dot down and secure a five-try bonus point.
Wests Tigers five-eighth Jayden Sullivan then showed a touch of class to send Fonua Pole over with a quality offload and the margin was cut to 16 points.
With 61 minutes on the clock it was Hunt taking the ball to the line and getting an offload to Raymond Faitala-Mariner who turned Sloan underneath him for the Dragons' sixth of the night.
Lomax knocked over the simple conversion for a 34-12 lead and that's how it stayed until the 78th minute when youngster Heath Mason left Sloan in his wake with a neat step to grab a consolation try for Wests Tigers.
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Match Snapshot
- The Dragons lost prop Blake Lawrie with a rib injury early in the first half while Jacob Liddle finished the night on the bench with ice on his hamstring.
- The Dragons lost their Captain's Challenge in the 30th minute when they challenged a knock-on call against Mikaele Ravalawa and were unsuccessful.
- Moses Suli enjoyed a night out in the centres for the Dragons with 192 metres from 18 runs and 12 tackle breaks.
- Stefano Utoikamanu proved a real handful for the Dragons defence as he came up with nine tackle breaks.
- Wests Tigers completed 30 of 33 sets at 90 per cent and had 54 per cent of possession but could manage only three tries.
Young guns on the run
- The Dragons came up with eight line breaks to the Tigers' three.
- Dragons forward Jaydn Su'a racked up 155 metres and had eight tackle breaks.
- Ben Hunt's classy 62-minute stint for the Dragons produced 14 runs for 59 metres, three tackle breaks, two offloads and two tries.
- The Dragons grabbed the full 15 points for the night with bonus points for 5+ tries, 5+ line breaks and 10+ offloads.
- Wests Tigers five-eighth Jayden Sullivan was placed on report in the 67th minute for a high shot on Kyle Flanagan, who left the field for a HIA.
Jahream Bula Try
Play of the Game
There wasn't much for Wests Tigers fans to get excited about in Mudgee but the sight of new recruit Justin Olam cleaning up Zac Lomax with a trademark hit would have warmed their hearts. The veteran centre has built a career on bone rattling defence and this was just a reminder of his power.
New colours, same Olam
What's Next
The Dragons have a two-week break until their season opener against the Titans on the Gold Coast while Wests Tigers won't play again for three weeks. Benji Marshall's men have the bye in Round 1 of the Telstra Premiership before a Round 2 encounter with the Raiders on March 16.