Dragons break Wollongong curse in Titans thrashing

St George Illawarra finally put the foot down — and kept it there — as they stormed to a 38-16 win over the Gold Coast Titans at WIN Stadium on Friday night, snapping their inconsistency curse in spectacular style.

The Dragons had already coughed up two 12-point leads this season, but there was no collapse this time.

A flurry of four tries in 11 minutes — sparked by Luciano Leilua’s game-changing cameo off the bench — blew the match wide open and left Titans coach Des Hasler lamenting “a disappointing seven or eight minutes that lost us the game.”

Christian Tuipulotu lit up the scoreboard and the crowd with a try-scoring double, capped by the return of his infamous “money man” celebration after his 43rd-minute effort.

Coach Shane Flanagan, who had previously downplayed the move, shrugged: “I don’t care if he brings it back as long as we’re winning and he’s scoring winning tries.”

Unfortunately, Tuipulotu’s night ended early with a hamstring injury — but not before Tyrell Sloan added a double of his own, and Dylan Egan crossed for a memorable maiden NRL try late in the contest to win as the $1.60 favourites with the top NRL bookmakers.

Flanagan admitted his side had made life tough for themselves early, with clunky execution and 54 tackles inside their own 20, but praised their defensive steel and ability to finally kick clear.

“We’ve got this get-out-in-front-by-12 habit and haven’t been able to go to another level,” Flanagan said.

“Tonight we did. That was nice to see.”

Valentine Holmes was flawless from the tee with 5/7 conversions and a first-half try, while halves Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias each contributed two try assists in a much-improved attacking display.

For the Titans, David Fifita was again a lone bright spot, setting up two tries — one off a kick-off and the other with brute strength.

But it wasn’t enough to prevent another Wollongong wipeout, with Gold Coast’s losing streak at the venue now extending back to 1989.

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Late tries to Phillip Sami and AJ Brimson softened the scoreboard, but not the verdict.

A high shot from Brock Gray, who was sin-binned, summed up the Titans’ second half: sloppy and outclassed.

The Dragons now sit at 3-3, ruing earlier missed chances but looking like a side finally learning how to hold a lead.

With a spine still bedding in and players returning from injury, Flanagan may have just found his platform for consistency with the NRL betting sites giving them a $61 hope to win the 2025 Premiership.

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