Dragons Fight Back to Claim Roy Masters Cup
Game Summary
Old Boys Day at Lidcombe Oval produced a thriller in Round 24 of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, with St George Illawarra Dragons running out 36-24 winners over Western Suburbs Magpies in front of a healthy crowd that included Magpies legends and coaching great Roy Masters.
The Magpies were the aggressors early, racing to a 12-nil lead inside the opening quarter thanks to a double from teenage winger Heamasi Makasini, set up by slick backline work from Javon Andrews and Mavrik Geyer's forwards. It was as clean a start as either side could have hoped for, with Western Suburbs error-free in the opening exchanges.
St George Illawarra were far from finished, however. Josh Kerr barged over for the Dragons' first four-pointer, using every bit of his experience to get the ball down, before Tyler Peckham-Harris burst through a gap to level scores. The tit-for-tat contest swung the Dragons' way as the half wore on.
A crucial cut-out ball from Kade Reed found Nick Tsougranis in space, and the halfback-turned-finisher made no mistake to extend the margin. That try, on top of Kerr's second of the afternoon, meant the Dragons went into the sheds leading 24-12, a stunning turnaround from their sluggish start.
The Dragons kept the foot down after half-time. Hooker Connor Muhleisen bullocked over for a try and Reed, perfect off the tee, stretched the lead to 30-12 and then 36-12 as St George Illawarra threatened to run away with it.
Makasini refused to let the Magpies fade, crossing for his third and then a fourth try to drag the scoreline back to 36-24, giving the home crowd hope of an unlikely comeback in the final quarter.
A composed Dragons outfit held firm, with veteran Luciano Leilua crossing late to snuff out any hopes of a Magpies fightback. The siren confirmed a 36-24 win for St George Illawarra and safe passage of the Roy Masters Cup back to the Illawarra.
Talking Points
- Heamasi Makasini's four-try haul was the individual highlight of the match, the 19-year-old carving up the Dragons' left edge in just his sixth NSW Cup appearance of the year.
- Josh Kerr's two tries and a try-assist headlined a dominant Dragons middle, the kind of form that will have NRL coach Dean Young taking notice.
- Kade Reed was faultless off the tee, landing six from six conversions to help the Dragons control the scoreboard throughout.
- Javon Andrews struggled with the boot in comparison, missing several attempts from the touch-line that could have kept Western Suburbs closer on the scoreboard.
Key Moment
Reed’s cut-out ball to send Tsougranis over just before half-time was the turning point, extending a two-try Dragons response into a 24-12 half-time lead and snuffing out the Magpies' early momentum for good.
What's next?
Western Suburbs Magpies head to Wenty Park to face the Sydney Roosters, while St George Illawarra Dragons return home in the Illawarra to take on Canterbury-Bankstown, both in Round 25 of the NSW Cup.
