The Dragons found themselves back in the winners’ circle downing the Warriors 26-18 at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
An ill-disciplined opening stanza saw the Dragons go into half-time trailing by two with Nathan Cross’ squad completing at just 52 per cent.
It was the spark of teenage dummy-half Tori Shipton which helped turn the tide for the Red V in what proved a scrappy second half.
The clash got off to a rough start with the Dragons failing to defuse the Warriors’ opening kick-off before the visitors threw a forward pass a pair of plays later to let the Red V off the hook.
The Dragons drew first blood less than 10 minutes in through an expansive, fifth-tackle sequence in which Kasey Reh showed some nice guile off a collection of offloads to weave a cut-out ball the way of Maria Paseka to make it 4-0.
Lydia Turua-Quedley was placed on report for the Warriors in the aftermath of the try before another butchered kick-off defusal handed the visitors an opportunity on the attack.
Emmanita Paki went close for the Warriors but was held up over the line as the Dragons managed to hold them out.
Keele Browne jammed in and produced a bone-rattler on Warriors back rower Maarire Puketapu moments later to jolt the ball free and earn her side possession back.
Teagan Berry injected herself into the contest soon after shooting down a short side off the back of a quick Nita Maynard-Perrin tap from close to half-way, slicing, and bumping her way past the cover and to the try-line.
Jayme Millard knocked over the conversion to notch the first points of her NRLW career and make it a double-digit game.
The Dragons made their third kick-off error of the match off it to hand the visitors another attacking chance, but some Shenai Lendill kick pressure forced a miskick to earn her side a 20-metre restart.
The hosts fired in an unsuccessful Captain’s Challenge 10 minutes prior to the break as the Warriors surged back onto the attack.
The Warriors found their first points of the afternoon off the resulting scrum with Payton Takimoana powering her way over to cut the deficit back to four.
The visitors marched down the field their next possession to earn their first lead of the game with Paki crafting a deft grubber for chasing halves partner Patricia Maliepo to score behind the sticks.
Ella Koster was placed on report for a dangerous tackle in the opening set of the second half as the Warriors were sent back onto the attack.
The Dragons held the visitors at bay however before Tori Shipton showcased her knack for producing the spectacular off it with the rookie rake darting into space behind the ruck from inside her own half and finding Berry who raced away to touchdown underneath the posts and put the Red V back on top.
Takimoana answered for the visitors moments later out of dummy-half to lock things up with Maliepo remaining perfect from the tee to make it 18-16.
Shipton’s electric beginning to her NRLW career continued soon after with the 18-year-old burrowing her way over out of dummy-half to give the Dragons the lead back as the seesawing nature of the affair persisted.
Kasey Reh left field for a HIA – which she passed – 51 minutes in before the Warriors lost their Captain’s Challenge not long after.
Sara Sautia was inserted into the clash for her first taste of NRLW since Round 2, 2024 marking the culmination of a long injury journey.
The Dragons dragged Apii Nicholls back into her own in-goal with four minutes to play in show of spirit as they earnt a shot in good ball.
The hosts sealed it in the final minute with Millard finding herself on the end of a brilliant Berry offload and diving over in the southeastern corner for the first try of her NRLW career.