The Warriors have bucked a wild trend in the NRL this weekend and hung on for a gutsy 15-14 victory on the road against the Dragons on Saturday.
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MATCH CENTRE: Dragons v Warriors, stats, scores, blog
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In the three preceding games this round, teams had raced out to at least 14-0 point leads before going on to lose the match.
The Warriors burst out of the blocks but looked set to become the latest team to capitulate when Dragons winger Corey Allan made it 14-14 in the second half.
But a cool, calm and collected Luke Metcalf had other ideas and the Warriors halfback slotted a field goal in the 70th minute which proved the difference.
St George Illawarra veteran Val Holmes missed a field goal from in front in the 75th minute and the WIN Stadium crowd let out a collective groan as their side went on to lose by one point for the third time this season.
The Dragons have given up 12-point leads twice this season and this time it was their turn to come back from two tries down.
They almost got there but for the second time this season they scored more tries than their opposition only to lose the game.
“That really hurts,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said after citing that statistic.
“Potentially we should have won the game but in the end didn’t kick our goals, didn’t kick the field goal and bombed a try here and there.
“If we kick our goals, I’m not sitting here answering these questions.
“It’s really disappointing.”
The Warriors ran with the wind in the first half and the Dragons’ back three struggled under the high ball which handed the visitors all the possession and it didn’t take long to turn into points.
Metcalf took the defence on close to the line, threw a dummy and then produced a fend to break through two tacklers and score in the eighth minute.
The Dragons bombed a try in the 16th minute and the Kiwis made them pay with a length-of-the-field try as Chanel Haris-Tavita put a chip up which was batted back to Metcalf who found Taine Tuaupiki to finish in the corner.
The Warriors extended their lead with a penalty goal before the Dragons finally got on the board when Clint Gutherson crossed thanks to an explosive run and pass from Holmes on the stroke of halftime.
Red V young gun Dylan Egan crossed for his second try in as many matches before Allan showed sensational hands to scoop up a grubber and level the scores in the 52nd minute.
But Metcalf showed his class when it mattered as the Warriors made it seven wins from their past eight games to solidify second on the ladder.
BIG HITS
METCALF ALL CLASS
Luke Metcalf is having a breakout season, stepping up to the plate in the Warriors No. 7 jersey following the retirement of Shaun Johnson.
The playmaker set up both their tries then booted the rest of the points, including the winning field goal after shaping to run the ball, to see his side home in Wollongong.
“I don’t think anyone in the stadium thought he was going to take shot bar Luke, so those are always the best field goals and the smartest ones from a half,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said.
“I don’t want to give away too much but Luke actually practices the deception part where he looks like he’s playing and then knows what he wants to do.
“He’s put a lot of time into those little things that turn into big plays.”
Metcalf made his NRL debut at the Sharks back in 2021 but he’s never played more than 12 games in a season. He’s missed just three minutes of action through nine games in 2025.
The 26-year-old has shown glimpses of immense potential in previous seasons but this year he’s putting it all together for the 7-2 Warriors.
STAR IN THE MAKING
Dragons backrower Dylan Egan has looked right at home in the NRL since making his debut in Round 4 and he produced another standout performance against the Warriors.
The Gerringong product made it two tries in two weeks when he crashed over in the second half to close the gap to four points.
Then with the scores locked at 14-14, Egan made a try-saving tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak that resembled Wally Lewis’ famous hit on Michael O’Connor in the 1987 Origin decider.
The 20-year-old rookie chased down DWZ then perfectly anticipated the step back inside to crunch the Warriors winger.
Egan finished with a try, a linebreak and 72 metres from 11 carries, while also making 37 tackles and missing just one.
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