Dragons upset Melbourne Storm to boost NRL finals hopes

The St George Illawarra Dragons have given their hopes of making the NRL finals for the first time since 2018 a huge boost, upsetting top-of-the-table Melbourne Storm 18-16 on Saturday at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

NRL bookmakers had the Dragons as heavy underdogs heading into the round 22 clash, considering it had been 25 years since St George Illawarra defeated the Storm in Victoria.

The match was a gritty, defence-oriented affair, more appealing to rugby league purists than a highlights reel.

Harry Grant opened the scoring for Melbourne with a try after 14 minutes. The Dragons soon hit back with two quick scores of their own, going up 12-6 courtesy of Jayden Su’A and Tyrell Sloan.

Grant Anderson narrowly the half-time deficit to just two points when he went over for the Storm with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Following the break, Grant and Su’A exchanged tries in the first quarter, before the last 20 minutes went scoreless.

The away side stayed stoic in defence, epitomised by Kyle Flanagan forcing a knock-on from Grant with time almost up on the clock and the Storm hot on attack.

NRL ladder opens up at both ends

The Dragons’ win has implications at both ends of the NRL ladder heading into the post-season in just five rounds time.

St George Illawarra bunny-hop the Dolphins to re-enter the top eight with 10 wins and nine losses.

Depending on how the Canberra Raiders go in their match against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday, bookmakers will have them as a strong chance of making the finals now.

Their hopes of a first post-season in six years were buoyed by the Brisbane Broncos losing to the Gold Coast Titans as well, with the loss effectively ending Brisbane’s season.

At the other end of the table, the Storm’s first loss in eight games puts them at risk of a late charge by the Penrith Panthers.

Melbourne currently sits four points clear of Penrith, but the Panthers are yet to play this weekend.

Assuming they win against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday, the Minor NRL Premiership could well come down to the round 24 clash between Penrith and Melbourne.

Bookmaker Jungliwin gives the edge to the Panthers, with the side at $2.62 to win the Grand Final this year, ahead of the Storm’s $4.33 and the Sydney Roosters’ $4 with Neds Bookmaker.

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