Shane Flanagan fumes as gutsy Dragons go down to Warriors, three Dragons forwards ruled out with head knocks

The Dragons fought tooth and nail in the Go Media Stadium clash, forcing a fluid forward rotation after losing three players – Jack de Belin, Hamish Stewart and Hame Sele – across two first half incidents.

They still led 10-4 at the break, after a Mathew Feagai double, then were forced into a mountain of defence as they hung against the top four Warriors side.

A sweeping backline play in the 63rd minute drew Flanagan’s ire, as Dragons five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia appealed for an obstruction penalty after being impeded by Marata Niukore, with Pompey crossing outside his second-row teammate.

The footage was heavily scrutinized by the Bunker before being awarded, but that didn’t sit well with Flanagan.

“What was an obstruction last week wasn’t one this week,” he said.

“I started playing footy when I was four years old; I don’t know the rules anymore, I deadset don’t know the rules.

“It’s tough. We are a tough club, this is a tough unit, a connected unit, and we’ll fight really hard for the next three weeks.

“Last week it was an obstruction, this week it was not.

“The boys asked out on the field numerous times and they just got shooed away. It’s frustrating.”

Pompey scored a second try 10 minutes later to put the Warriors up 14-10 with seven minutes to play, and while the Dragons had a late chance to score it amounted to nothing.

They lost forwards duo Stewart and de Belin in the 14th minute after a sickening head clash, before Sele joined them in the sheds with a category 1 concussion in the 29th minute.

Shane Flanagan opted against using his 18th man – winger Tyrell Sloan – until the 67th minute, leaving the remaining forwards with a mountain of work and more minutes than any would have planned for.

Damien Cook made a staggering 61 tackles, David Klemmer made 36 and ran for 151 metres, and Jacob Liddle also made 35 tackles among the monstrous efforts across the pack.

Fullback Clint Gutherson moved to lock to accommodate Sloan’s arrival, while Cook spent time at prop, amid numerous positional tweaks as Flanagan was forced to rotate one forward in the most limited of interchange benches.

DRAGONS CARNAGE

Jack de Belin’s 250th NRL game didn’t quite go the way he planned.

He and Stewart attempted a tackle on Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris, who slipped by just a moment too fast for the Dragons duo.

Their heads collided, as Stewart copped a cut along the hairline and de Belin crashed backwards to the turf.

“What a disaster for the Dragons given the positive opening they’ve had to this game,” said Warren Smith on Fox League.

The Dragons led 4-0 at the time of the incident, after they scored first through Mathew Feagai.

It got worse for the Dragons in the 29th minute after replacement forward Hame Sele was also knocked out.

Sele, who entered the game in place of Stewart, went low to tackle Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but caught the Warriors winger’s hip.

Warriors players rushed to Sele and called for help, who eventually walked from the field, but will also play no further part in the game.

DOING IT TOUGH

The Warriors were far from their best, but the fact they found a way to win was enough to keep coach Andrew Webster happy – just.

Two weeks ago they were done by the Dolphins on the siren, whereas this week they snuffed out the Dragons’ last-gasp attempt to pinch victory.

It’s that result that gives Webster some solace.

“We’re killing ourselves still, but tonight I think it was whatever it takes, we’re not walking away without the points,” Webster said.

RUN HOME

Warriors: Titans (A), Eels (H), Sea Eagles (A)

Dragons: Rabbitohs (A), Sea Eagles (H) Panthers (H)

Originally published as Shane Flanagan fumes as gutsy Dragons go down to Warriors, three Dragons forwards ruled out with head knocks