Corey Norman has produced his second match-winning field goal in consecutive weeks as St George Illawarra won a golden point thriller in Newcastle against the Knights on Sunday night.
The Dragons and the Knights finished at 12-all at the end of regulation time, with Norman piloting a 40-metre field goal with two minutes to go in extra-time to score St George Illawarra's second win in a row.
It was only the second time three NRL games had gone to golden point extra-time in the same round, the previous occasion coming in round 22, 2007.
The win saw the Dragons retain the Alex McKinnon Cup as the red V continued their impressive run against the Knights. St George Illawarra have now won 17 of their last 20 matches in Newcastle and 21 of 27 against the Knights.
Tyson Frizell was immense for the Dragons on his return from a lacerated testicle, with the representative forward dominating through the middle of the field despite missing the last two rounds with the painful injury.
St George Illawarra were the better side though Newcastle had a number of chances to win the game. But it was the Dragons who took their opportunity, with Norman potting a sweet strike from distance for the second week in a row after his effort against the Broncos in Brisbane.
The Dragons were brave in victory over the much-hyped Knights, with St George Illawarra losing Korbin Sims and Jacob Host to injury having already been without captain Gareth Widdop and Jack de Belin,
The Dragons took an early lead through a Tim Lafai penalty goal before the Knights hit back through Edrick Lee. A Tim Glasby offload allowed Kalyn Ponga to throw a 20m cutout pass for Lee to score in the corner.
The Dragons had a try disallowed as James Graham was ruled to have knocked on before Frizell made an immediate impact from the bench.
Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce fielded a Dragons kick in front of his own posts, only for Frizell to chase through and steal the ball one on one before strolling over to score.
But Newcastle would take a 10-8 lead to half-time with Ponga again the architect. The young fullback got on the outside of Host as Euan Aitken produced a poor defensive read to allow Hymel Hunt to cross.
Korbin Sims left the field at half-time and didn't return with a suspected broken arm. It was a brave effort from the back-rower who played for more than 20 minutes with the injury while continuing to make tackles and run the ball.
St George Illawarra were unlucky to have a Jordan Pereira try disallowed early in the second half as Norman's pass was questionably ruled forward. But the Dragons did take back the lead 15 minutes after the break with a superb Matt Dufty cutout pass allowing Mikaele Ravalawa to score in the corner.
Ponga leveled the scores at 12-all with 15 minutes remaining with a penalty goal after Tariq Sims was penalised for a late tackle on Pearce.
Pearce had a field goal attempt charged down with seven minutes to play and put another shot wide in the 77th minute - and another from almost halfway right on full-time.
Norman had a chance with one minute left but put the ball wide. But the effort was to be a sighter as Norman produced the match-winner in extra-time.
The Dragons return to Kogarah to host local rivals Canterbury on Sunday looking to make it three wins in a row.
Leader Scoreboard
St George Illawarra Dragons 13 (Tyson Frizell, Mikaele Ravalawa tries. Tim Lafai two goals. Corey Norman field goal)
defeated
Newcastle Knights 12 (Edrick Lee, Hymel Hunt tries. Kalyn Ponga two goals)
at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Leader man of the match: Tyson Frizell (Dragons)
Dragons' next three: Bulldogs (home - Kogarah), Sea Eagles (home - Wollongong), Roosters (away)
