Dragons 13
Tigers 12
There was a moment, involving Kiwis winger Jason Nightingale, that clearly changed the game against the Tigers and swept the Dragons into the NRL grand final against the Roosters next weekend.
Until that moment, Benji Marshall's Tigers had rocked St George, smothering them defensively, cutting off the air supply by
harassing their halves, skipper Ben Hornby and Jamie Soward.
But Nightingale, set free by a rare wide pass from Soward, targeted by the rush Tigers defence, changed all that. His sideline burst and offload set big centre Mark Gasnier away and, from the tackled ball, they worked the ball close to the posts when the man who started it - Nightingale - burst through to finish it.
That took the game to 12-12 but the momentum clearly shifted at that moment to the Dragons. Their chests seems to swell, air filled their lungs and their heartbeats grew stronger.
Suddenly the Tigers, who seemed to be turning the tables on the title favourites, seemed to be cast in their pre-game role: the dazzlers who would run out of puff against the Dragons' efficiency and consistency.
This was, remember, supposed to be the grinders versus the blinders: the magic of Benji Marshall trying to cast a spell on the percentage plays and dogged defence of the Dragons.
Turned out that, for much of this game, it was the Tigers' defence that did the business. It was ironic because the Dragons, with their crushing consistency, are the strongest defensive team in the NRL this season - leaking the fewest line breaks, missing the fewest tackles and averaging only 11 points against them per match.
It had begun ominously for the Tigers, with the Dragons' percentages and efficiency taking them close to scoring through prop Michael Weyman. They had the better of the opening 10 minutes and even when the Tigers made one of their trademark raids downfield, prop Keith Galloway ruined it with a botched play-the-ball.
Yet it was a simple handling error from Hornby that led the Tigers to draw first blood. Marshall and halfback Robert Lui combined with a decoy move that sucked in three defenders and big winger Lote Tuqiri had the touchdown.
The Tigers were punished as they tried to swarm around the play-the-ball and knock the Dragons out of their rhythm.
The 5-0 penalty count eventually added up the wrong way for the Tigers.
With back-to-back sets, Nathan Fien from dummy half put fellow Kiwi Jeremy Smith between the posts but, even though he was wrapped up by two committed Tigers tacklers, he had the presence of mind to change hands and find a way to get the ball down as the defenders used their bodies to smother the try.
Though the Tigers were well down in the penalty count, it was a Dragons offence which brought the next try. Beau Scott tackled Lui off the ball, Marshall kicked the penalty to touch 30m out, Robbie Farah went wide to Liam Fulton, who set up Lui to scuttle through a surprisingly sleep Dragons defence for a 12-6 lead at halftime.
The Dragons had to score first after halftime - and they did when Soward finally slipped the defensive attentions to set Nightingale away.
The Tigers, brave even though they were running out of puff and ideas, tried hard but the mistakes came as the Dragons put the squeeze on.
When Sowar coolly slotted a 40m field goal, the Dragons had recovered their poise; were once more the Kings of Cool.
Dragons 13 (J. Smith, J. Nightingale tries; J. Soward 2 goals, field goal), Tigers 12 (L. Tuqiri, R. Lui tries; B. Marshall 2 goals). Halftime: 6-12
