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Injury-hit Dragons lose derby to Sharks

3 minute read

St George Illawarra NRL star Tyson Frizell will enter NSW camp for State of Origin I after being knocked out in the clash with Cronulla.

TYSON FRIZELL of Australia makes a run during the International Test match between Tonga and Australia at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
TYSON FRIZELL of Australia makes a run during the International Test match between Tonga and Australia at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

Tyson Frizell may enter State of Origin I under an injury cloud after failing to finish St George Illawarra's 22-9 NRL defeat by Cronulla due to concussion.

Frizell was knocked out late in the first half after a sickening head clash with Josh Dugan, before being ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game.

He was one of three first-half injuries that whittled the Dragons down to 14 men for the entire second period, along with James Graham and Tim Lafai (both ankle).

The injury toll cruelled any hope the Dragons had of holding onto a one-point halftime lead, and they slumped to a fifth straight defeat.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor is confident Frizell will be able to suit up for the Blues, but was left to lament his banged-up squad.

"We were left with one there, and we unfortunately used five (interchanges) in that period because of the changes," he said.

"But that's footy; it's a bit of a mash unit downstairs to be honest."

The win for the Sharks came on the back of the electric return by Matt Moylan, who had a hand in two tries, and a Bronson Xerri hat-trick of four-pointers.

Moylan's inclusion added plenty of polish in a slick combination with Chad Townsend and Kyle Flanagan that thoroughly outplayed their counterparts.

It didn't take long for Moylan to have an impact, swerving to take an out-ball and creating the overlap for Xerri to post first points.

Dragons halfback Ben Hunt should've equalised only to drop the ball over the line, but Cameron McInnes saved his blushes by charging over in the 32nd minute.

Sosaia Feki matched Hunt's bombed try when he collected a ball while standing on the sideline with the tryline open.

That opened the door for Hunt to give his team a one-point lead at the break with the first field goal of his career in front of the 14,586 WIN Stadium crowd.

But it wouldn't take long for their lack of troops to tell on the scoreboard, beginning with Xerri grabbing his second in the 46th minute.

Sharks second-rower Kurt Capewell beat Jordan Pereira to a second-tackle Flanagan kick, and picked it up for Xerri to score.

The Sharks rookie then completed his first career hat-trick when he took a no-look Moylan pass in the 60th minute, before Blayke Brailey scored on the siren.

Sharks coach John Morris expected a couple of errors from Moylan, but was ecstatic with what was arguably a best-on-ground performance.

"He helps our halves, Chad and Kyle, to be a bit more composed with their shapes in attack. And just that x-factor around him," Morris said.

"The boys get more belief and confidence with Matty Moylan in our side.

"It was a good comeback."

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