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Lomax is hammered then nails last-minute sideline shot to down Tigers
Updated ,first published
Zac Lomax was poleaxed one minute, then slotted a match-winning sideline penalty goal the next to save the Dragons blushes at CommBank Stadium.
Staring down a 16-6 half-time deficit after two sin-binnings against the last-placed Tigers, St George Illawarra clawed their way back to 22-all as golden point loomed in a topsy-turvy contest.
As the last of 26 errors in the game gave Lomax a run down the right edge, Tigers centre Asu Kepaoa came across in cover and bundled him into touch with heavy and high contact.
As Kepaoa walked forlornly to the sheds, Lomax calmly lined up the penalty goal a few metres inside the sideline and, despite abuse from Tigers fans, nailed home a 24-22 triumph.
“Absolutely I was copping it but that’s what it’s all about,” Lomax said.
“I missed one earlier in the game from pretty much the same spot, I knew it was make or break and it was one I had to hit.”
For the second time in as many weeks, a dozen Dragons proved enough as Anthony Griffin’s side was reduced to 12 men for a quarter of the match.
After downing the Gold Coast with Francis Molo sent off last week, first-half infringements from Cody Ramsey and Jack Bird had the Tigers daring to dream after conceding a record 72 points to the Roosters.
A double to rookie back-rower Tom Freebairn gave Brett Kimmorley’s beleaguered side a surprise 10-point advantage at the break and hope of jumping out of last place and ahead of the Titans on the ladder.
But second-half tries to Tautau Moga and Lomax levelled up proceedings as the Tigers scraped together just 41 per cent of possession after a slew of second-half six-agains and errors.
Even with all the momentum against them though, the Tigers still threatened.
Despite squandering plenty of possession, Jock Madden and Zane Musgrove still combined to send the former on his way and the Tigers to a 22-16 lead.
But as has been the Tigers’ lot in 2022, their gutsy second-half effort came with requisite heart palpitations when Junior Pauga inexplicably touched a short drop-out inside the Dragons’ 10 metres. A try to Jackson Ford and Lomax’s thrilling match-winner duly followed.
“It’s a big learning curve [on] how to handle pressure and adversity,” Kimmorley said, noting Pauga was wearing his mistake particularly hard.
“I said to the boys it’s really important to know the rules and what decisions come with what outcomes. It’s a tough lesson to learn, we’ll support him and protect him.”
The irony of ill-discipline ultimately proving the difference was not lost on Tigers followers given the Dragons’ woes in the first half.
Where Ramsey’s marching for impeding Starford To’a could be argued as harsh, Bird was pinged for back chat and then sin-binned as he continued to blow up at referee Lachlan Kennedy’s verdict that he had tackled Daine Laurie in the air.
Bird made up for his chirp with plenty in attack afterwards, laying on Lomax’s try with a grubber and threatening throughout.
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