Things won’t get any easier for Shane Flanagan as St George Illawarra’s form player Jaydn Su’A was sent off in a 30-12 loss to South Sydney that keeps pressure on the embattled coach.
Latrell Mitchell torched the Dragons’ right edge with four tries, vindicating Wayne Bennett’s decision to keep him at left centre and leave fullback duties to the returning Matt Dufty, who starred against his old firm.
It was a case of deja vu for Flanagan at Accor Stadium on Saturday night as the Dragons were again competitive in patches, but not for long enough to prevent an 11th consecutive loss.
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The last-placed Dragons were down 20-12 when Parramatta recruit Su’A flew out of the line to flatten Cameron Murray with a late and high shot in the 69th minute.
Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski consulted with the bunker before Su’A became the first player since round 22, 2024 to be banished from the field.
Jaydn Su’A has been marched during another Dragons loss, this time against rivals South Sydney. Credit: AAP
As the Rabbitohs marched up the pitch, Mitchell burst through the line for a third try of the night, before a fourth put the result well and truly beyond doubt.
Mitchell had earlier scored from a scrum play that embarrassed his opposite man Val Holmes, and nabbed a second try burrowing out of dummy half.
The Red V’s latest loss means they are winless entering their most important fixture of the regular season, the traditional Anzac Day clash with the Sydney Roosters.
The Dragons look set to play that round-eight game and spend an extended period without Su’A, one of few players to have done the jersey proud this year with Flanagan fighting for his job.
After losing another shining light in Jacob Liddle (hamstring) during the warm-up, hooker Damien Cook produced some vintage running form to help Saints hold a 12-10 lead until just before halftime.
But the Dragons were left to rue clocking off down the right and allowing Alex Johnston to belt over down the shortside in the final 90 seconds of the first half.
It was the first of two tries Saints leaked while Souths were reduced to 12 men by Pete Mamouzelos’ hip-drop tackle on David Fale.
Once again, a lack of attacking polish hurt the Dragons as they fought to get back into the game.
Great white hope Dan Atkinson sprayed a kick out on the full in the red zone as the Dragons hunted second-half points down 16-12.
Through it all, Dufty was magnificent in his first NRL game since leaving Canterbury midway through 2022 for the Super League.
Dufty, signed to a NSW Cup contract, ran for an NRL career-high 324 metres and fended past Kyle Flanagan to score down the right side in the second half.
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