St George Illawarra have kick started their season with a last-gasp 25-24 victory over the Broncos in Brisbane on Thursday night - but it may have come at a cost.
Captain Gareth Widdop was helped from the ground in the dying stages after he looked to have re-injured his troublesome shoulder that ended his campaign last season.
While Widdop's potential injury was another blow to the Dragons' new spine, the spine's newest member - Corey Norman - showed why St George Illawarra were so desperate to acquire him, winning the game for the Dragons with a field goal with five seconds to play.
Already without Jack de Belin and Tyson Frizell due to unavailability and injury respectively, new signing Korbin Sims scored a try on debut as the Dragons showed great resilience to fight back from a half-time deficit to score their first win of the season.
The Dragons took the lead after just six minutes through Cameron McInnes. The hooker darted from dummy half with Brisbane's markers on the ground 40 metres out from the Broncos' line, with McInnes producing a sublime dummy to stroll past Darius Boyd and score under the posts.
St George Illawarra were in again five minutes later in a frantic start to the match.
With Jordan Pereira tackled in the left corner, Ben Hunt looked to play to the open side before darting back to the left, with Tim Lafai's quick hands setting up Pereira to tip toe down the touchline and dive over in the corner.
The Dragons were excellent in defence in a breathless opening 20 minutes, denying Alex Glenn close to the line.
The visitors had a controversial call go against them after 26 minutes with a try completely against the run of play allowing Brisbane back into the match.
Mikaele Ravalawa dropped the ball running it out from his own end with Corey Oates scooping up the loose ball to score. On field match officials ruled no try but the video referee bunker officials overturned the decision, despite it appearing that Jack Bird had knocked the ball forward in the tackle.
The Broncos then managed to take the lead to half-time with another try against the run of play.
With the Dragons deep on the attack, Widdop attempted a left foot kick into the in-goal area. James Roberts stuck out a hand to pluck the ball out of the air and raced 90m to score for Brisbane to give them a 12-10 advantage.
Jacob Host went close shortly after the break, only to be denied by Anthony Milford.
The Dragons did re-take the lead seven minutes into the second half as Ravalawa showed great athleticism to produce an acrobatic finish to score his first NRL try after Hunt and Norman had combined.
A Widdop penalty goal extended St George Illawarra's lead to 18-12 before the Broncos hit back on 55 minutes. Milford drifted across field before he caught the Dragons off guard with an early grubber kick on the third tackle, with Glenn following through to level the scores.
The Broncos had a chance to take the lead through Jamayne Isaako, only for Isaako to drop a short Boyd pass with the line wide open.
And the Dragons made them pay, with Korbin Sims making it a debut to remember as he barged over Andrew McCullough from close range, his fifth try in six games against Brisbane, to put St George Illawarra 24-18 in front.
But the game would swing again. A deflected Kotoni Staggs grubber was toed through by Boyd, with Widdop looking to have it covered as he cleaned up at the back.
Widdop appeared to land on his outstretched arm awkwardly, similar to his shoulder injury on the same ground in the elimination final last season. And as Boyd attempted to drag Widdop into the in-goal area, Widdop dropped the ball, allowing Bird to swoop in and score next to the posts.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor said it was a serious shoulder injury, with Widdop to undergo scans on Friday.
With their captain lost to injury and already down two of their best forwards, the Dragons had every excuse to quit.
But they refused.
Isaako had the chance to win Brisbane the game in the 79th minute, only to fade his drop goal attempt just wide.
The Dragons then charged down the other end in their seventh tackle set, with Norman slotting a 35m field goal to win the game against one of his former clubs with five seconds remaining.
Leader Scoreboard
St George Illawarra Dragons 25 (Cameron McInnes, Jordan Pereira, Mikaele Ravalawa, Korbin Sims tries. Gareth Widdop four goals. Corey Norman field goal)
defeated
Brisbane Broncos 24 (Corey Oates, James Roberts, Alex Glenn, Jack Bird tries. Jamayne Isaako four goals)
at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Leader man of the match: Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Dragons' next three: Knights (away), Bulldogs (home - Kogarah), Sea Eagles (home - Wollongong)
