Dragons produce great escape with golden-point win over the Warriors

Zac Lomax has been a big out for St George Illawarra of late, but the Dragons have never missed him more than they did in a stunning back and forth affair.

Anthony Griffin's side scored four tries to three - including Cody Ramsey's four-pointer after the siren - but Norman's 0-4 conversions kept the scores locked at 18-all after 80 minutes.

He nailed a penalty goal from almost in front for first points of the game but is now 1-11 in his last 12 conversion attempts.

Lomax's return looms on the other side of the bye when the Dragons meet Manly, and it can't come quick enough, for Norman's sake more than anyone else's.

Read more: Jai's return to field nears as hamstring rehab speeds up

"He did have an off night, but he kicked the one that mattered at the end," Griffin said post-match.

"Obviously the last 15 minutes was fantastic and that's probably all I'm worried about at the moment. I'll have a look at how we got to that position but the fact they didn't give up, kept coming, we scored four tries to three... we couldn't pick a goal but eventually they got there.

"It was a real good sign for us, we could have easily given that game away with 11 to go and thought it just wasn't out night but they kept coming which was good.

"[The Warriors] were tiring a bit and probably looking at the scoreboard. When we got that first try [to Gerard Beale] I thought we were a good chance."

His first attempt at field goal in the extra-time period also sailed wide before the Warriors coughed the ball up an inexplicable three times in their own end down the stretch, opening the door for Norman's match-winner.

In fairness, there was coat of paint in the last effort at sealing the win inside the the distance, and three of the four attempts came from on or near the sideline.

It would have been tough for a full-time goal-kicker, let alone a fill-in, but the miss from a far more kickable position following Ben Hunt's 21st minute try looked like it would be the one to rue.

In the end it was Warriors half Chad Townsend, in his first game since making the mid-season shift to the club, who was left ruing an attempt at field-goal with four minutes left with his side up by eight.

Read more: Edwards' Olympic preparations on track after clocking historical time at Dream Mile

It sailed wide and surrendered a seven-tackle set that let the Dragons march up the park and score through Jack Bird to set up the grandstand finish. It was a head-scratcher, even for Griffin.

"I was [surprised], at 18-10," Griffin said.

"I'm glad he did but I didn't understand why he took it. He obviously thought they were only ahead by six."

Chasing consecutive wins for the first time since round five, the Dragons had all the early momentum, leading 6-0 after 29 minutes only to concede the next 18 straight points.

Tries to Beale, Bird and Ramsey in the final 10 minutes got them out of jail, but they will consider themselves fortunate given the mid-game fade that probably should have cost them victory.

With a bye to follow next week, the Dragons won't pick up a more important two points this season, the win giving them valuable breathing space in a logjam at the bottom of the eight.

Griffin welcomed back Josh McGuire and Tyrell Fuimaono from Magic Round suspensions, but now has fresh headaches on that front after Jack de Belin was twice placed on report in the second half, first for a cannonball and second for a dangerous throw.

"I've got have a look at the tackles but I didn't think there was too much in either of them, " Griffin said.

"You never know but I'll have a look at them."

After a fast start, Josh Kerr looked certain to open the scoring off a short-ball from Ben Hunt, but he couldn't handle the pass, ending up in the Warriors in-goal empty-handed.

It was the visitors only error in a near faultless 30 minutes, with Ben Hunt forcing back to back repeat sets that led to the opening points via Norman's penalty goal.

The skipper, who was undoubtedly his side's best, put Paul Vaughan through half a gap and backed up for the off-load and the first try of the match in the 21st minute.

Norman missed the conversion but the Dragons had all the momentum Bird produced his side' second error of the half at the play-the-ball 30 metres out from his own line.

Read more: Hantis accelerates towards Aussie titles after powerful motocross campaign

Wade Egan crossed untouched from dummy-half three rucks later, with Townsend converting for 6-all despite the visitors enjoying just 40 per cent of the footy.

They drove the advantage home, with Eliesa Katoa blazing through some flimsy on-line defence to grab his side's second try and a 12-6 lead at the break following Townsend's conversion.

Beale crossed eight minutes after the resumption only to be called back after Matt Dufty's pass was rightly called forward.

Bunty Afoa rubbed salt in that wound by barging across from close range at the other end to score under the sticks and see the lead balloon to what appeared an unassailable 18-6 lead.

The Dragons finally hit back with a virtual do-over on their right flank, with Beale crossing off a lofted cut-out ball from Dufty to make a game of it.

Bird followed up six minutes later when Edward Kosi fumbled a Hunt grubber in his own in-goal, bringing the margin back to four.

Ramsey finished a last-ditch shift to draw level on the siren, with Norman's attempted conversion dramatically cannoning into the upright in what was his best strike of the night.

It sent the game into extra time, with the Dragons showing more composure to eek out the victory.

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.