ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 24 PARRAMATTA EELS 22
CHRIS JONES, WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Sunday

TWO TEAMS that had little to play for faced each other in Wollongong.

But they attracted a capacity crowd of 17,013 to WIN Stadium to witness a thriller, as the fans paid tribute to a host of departing Dragons players, including three – Damien Cook, Tyrell Sloan and Mat Feagai – who will be joining Castleford in 2027.

Despite their victory the Dragons will finish at the bottom of the NRL ladder, while the Eels finish 13th as both former giants will hope to turn things around in 2027.

Nonetheless the game was a thriller for the appreciative crowd and it was decided by a two-point field-goal from over 40 metres out from Sloan – the first field-goal of the winger’s career – on 75 minutes.

It was the first time St George had led their opponents but after that they were able to hold on for victory, even though veteran Blake Lawrie was in the sin bin at the time for a dangerous tackle.

Parramatta started strongly with a try in the second minute to Jordan Samrani, but a Sloan touchdown equalled the scores before speedster Josh Addo-Carr put the Eels back in front.

Dylan Egan equalised for the Dragons with a try from close in but Dylan Walker’s effort just before half-time put Parramatta back in front.

A second converted try from Samrani made it a twelve-point lead but the Dragons fought back with a hugely popular try to the departing Lawrie and an equaliser from Connor Muhleisen before Sloan’s field-goal, which will have Castleford fans bristling with anticipation of what might happen next season.

DRAGONS: 1 Daniel Atkinson, 2 Mat Feagai, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 6 Lyhkan King-Togia, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Toby Couchman, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Blake Lawrie, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga. Subs: 14 Connor Muhleisen, 15 Ryan Couchman, 16 Josh Kerr (not used), 17 Jacob Halangahu (not used), 18 Jacob Webster, 19 Setu Tu

Tries: Sloan (15), Egan (27), Lawrie (57), Muhleisen (67); Goals: Flanagan 3/4; Two-point field-goals: Sloan (75); Sin bin: Lawrie (69) – dangerous tackle

EELS: 19 Sean Russell, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Will Penisini, 4 Jordan Samrani, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Luca Moretti, 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Jack Williams, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 13 Saxon Pryke. Subs: 1 Apa Twidle (not used), 14 Harrison Edwards, 15 Jack De Belin, 16 Teancum Brown, 17 Dylan Walker, 18 Tyrese Lokeni (not used)

Tries: Samrani (2, 50), Addo-Carr (18), Walker (39); Goals: Moses 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-10, 10-10, 10-16; 10-22, 16-22, 22-22, 24-22

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match: Dragons: Dylan Egan; Eels: Jordan Samrani

Penalty count: 10-4; Half-time: 10-16; Referee: Liam Kennedy; Attendance: 17,013