The Tigers inexplicably played at a short drop out inside the 10 metres allowing the Dragons score a late try and penalty goal to seal a 24-22 comeback win.
The Tigers were leading 22-16 when Junior Pauga played at a short drop out inside the 10 metres allowing the Dragons to march them 100 metres and Jackson Ford to score to lock up the scores.
Asu Kepaoa was then sin-binned for a high shot allowing Zac Lomax to kick the match winning penalty goal in the 80th minute.
Tautau Moga produced a deft grubber for Jaydn Su’A to score in his 100th NRL game and give the Dragons an early lead.
Dragons fullback Cody Ramsey was sin-binned for taking out Starford To’a in a try-scoring opportunity opening the door for the Tigers.
Adam Doeuihi set up Fa’amanu Brown, who sliced through a gaping hole to lock up the scores.
Doeuihi then set up rookie Tom Freebairn with his second try assist for his first NRL try as the Tigers took the lead.
Jack Bird was sent to the sin bin for backing up a penalty with repeated back chat after he was marched 10, to reduce the Dragons to 12 men for the second time in the half.
Jock Madden set up Freebairn for his first half double as the Tigers took control with a commanding lead.
Lomax set up Tautau Moga for a try to start the second half to get the Dragons back on track.
Lomax dived over after he was earlier denied a try to see the Dragons lock up the scores.
Jock Madden produced a brilliant solo try to see the Tigers retake the lead against the run of play.
Jack De Belin produced a pass to put Jackson Ford over to lock up the scores with four minutes to play after the Tigers inexplicably played at a short dropout inside the 10 metres to see the Dragons march 100 metres up the field.
“I can't believe what I have just seen,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.
“That sums up their season.”
Asu Kepaoa was sin-binned for a high shot on Lomax gifting the Dragons a penalty goal which he iced to win the game.
Here are the key takeaways from the match.
PAUGA BLUNDER SEES TIGERS LOSE UNLOSABLE GAME
The Tigers led 22-16 and forced a goal line drop out with seven minutes to play, before a crazy blunder from Junior Pauga gifted the Dragons a penalty.
The Tigers would have had a penalty to go eight ahead with the drop out not going 10 metres, only for Tigers winger Pauga to play at the ball inside the 10 metres, which gave the Dragons a penalty.
“It came off Pauga inside the 10,” Warren Smith said.
“It is going to be a penalty to the Dragons. I can’t believe I have just seen that.
“That is incredible. Pauga just standing there. What was he doing? Standing there and lets the ball hit him before it has travelled 10 metres.
“Why was he inside the 10 anyway? I don’t know if we will ever find a satisfactory explanation for what we just saw.
“Tigers about to be on the attack. It might have been a penalty from in front to make it an eight point game.”
“He was just standing there in no man’s land,” Steve Roach said.
“You have got to know the rules.”
The penalty let the Dragons go coast to coast and score to level the match at 22-22 before a late sin-binning of Asu Kepaoa gifted Lomax the chance to ice the game.
TIGERS LOSE DESPITE DRAGONS HORROR FIRST HALF
The Dragons were blown off the park in the first half after Cody Ramsey and Jack Bird were sent to the sin bin reducing them to 12 men for 18 minutes of the first stanza.
Greg Alexander noted how poorly the Dragons played in the first half to find themselves down 16-6 at the break.
“It seemed like after the Dragons scored the first try that all the football was played down their end of the field,” Alexander said.
“That was because of all the errors that the Dragons made.
“They trailed 6-2 in the penalties. They had two players sin-binned in Cody Ramsey and Jack Bird. They were behind in the restarts.
“The Dragons were very disappointing in that first 40 minutes. 25 missed tackles for the Dragons in the first half.”
Corey Parker was critical of the sin-binnings which opened the door for a Tigers upset.
“It was the two players being sent to the bin that was crucial for the Dragons,” Parker said.
“He was very frustrated and that probably epitomised where they were at as a football side in that first half.”
Braith Anasta agreed the Dragons were at their worst in a horror first 40.
“Sin bins or not they were terrible in the first half the Dragons,” Anasta said.
“They only had 12 players on the field for 18 minutes.
“Jack Bird just made contact with Laurie as he caught the ball, which was the right call, but he seemed very frustrated with it.
“The referee warned him three times. He said, stop talking. He got penalised, marched 10 metres and still kept talking.”
Alexander questioned if the penalty against Bird was fair, but admitted he shouldn’t have reacted with repeated back chat.
“I don’t know if it was the right call,” Alexander said.
“I thought that was a rubbish penalty. They penalise players for tackling mid-air. I thought he had one foot on the ground as he hit him.
“But that is no reason for Jack Bird who had no right to argue the situation as much as he did.
“Once he has blown the penalty you are not going to change the result.
“Bird had his say but then he just had to shut up and get on with it.”
LOMAX GETS DRAGONS OUT OF JAIL
Zac Lomax has had a rocks or diamonds season much like the Dragons but he deserves plenty of credit for willing his side to victory with a bit of help from the Tigers.
Lomax had 130 metres, four tackle busts, a linebreak assist, a try assist, a try and four goals, including the match winner in the final minute.
The Dragons centre also went close to pulling off one of the tries of the season when he leapt for a high ball only to be denied by a knock-on.
Lomax’s high pressure kick from five metres in from the sideline sealed a memorable comeback win for the Dragons.
“He bends it back and he has kicked it,” Smith said.
“Lomax hit high by Kepaoa. He gets the penalty and puts the Dragons in front 24-22.
“17 seconds on the clock. What a kick that was.
“Somehow they have snatched one from the jaws of defeat.”
Anasta praised Lomax after a tough year.
“It has been a tough year for the Dragons and for Zac, who hasn’t had his best year, but it is good to see him ice that moment.
“We know he has had that potential for a long time.”
MATCH PREVIEW
The Wests Tigers are hoping to avoid the wooden spoon with a shock result against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Jack de Belin starts at prop with Aaron Woods switching to the bench and Jack Bird moving from centre to lock.
Tyrell Sloan starts on the wing, with Matthew Feagai switching to centre.
The Tigers are on equal points with the Gold Coast Titans but occupy last place due to a poorer score differential.
And with a final round clash against the fast-finishing Canberra Raiders who are pushing for a finals berth, this could be the Concord outfit’s best chance at getting off the foot of the ladder.
However, they will have to do it without star forward James Tamou who is suspended after his verbal outburst towards a referee in the Tigers’ embarrassing defeat to the Sydney Roosters.
Luke Garner (head knock), Ken Maumalo (groin) and Alex Seyfarth (shoulder) are also sidelined for the clash.
The Dragons are officially out of the finals race and cannot finish any higher than 10th on the ladder, but they still represent a dangerous outfit.
Anthony Griffin’s side racked up 46 points against the Titans last week, with 16 of those scored with just 12 men on the field.
However, the big story out of Jubilee Stadium is the future of Ben Hunt.
The star halfback has revitalised himself since moving to the Dragons and is a heavy favourite for the Dally M Medal, but reports emerged of an extension offer of $700,000, a figure many considered to be a low-ball offer.
The 32-year-old is likely to command a figure north of $750,000 and it will be intriguing to see if the recent reports have any effect on his performance.
Jack Bird has been moved to the centres to make up for the suspended Moses Mbye.
