A Lachlan Ilias field goal proved the difference as the Dragons marched to a phenomenal 31-30 win over Penrith at St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Penrith struck first through David Fale who proved too powerful out in the centres muscling his way over in the left corner to make it 6-0 just five minutes in.
Their hot start persisted with Asu Kepaoa winning the race to score off a Soni Luke grubber after the No.7 slipped into the backfield from inside his own half.
Mavrik Geyer claimed a third for the Panthers soon after but was ruled to have bobbled it over the line handing the Dragons a relieving 20-metre restart.
The Dragons fashioned a response just shy of the first quarter mark with Haele Finau using his pace to stand up his opposite and dive over in the right-hand corner.
Jonah Glover slotted the conversion from just inside the right touchline to cut the deficit back to 12-6.
Jesse McLean was placed on report for a high shot as Jarrah Treweek carted the ball forward off the following kick-off.
A desperate Cody Ramsey effort saved a Panthers try soon after before the Dragons fullback showed some nice creativity to force a dropout down the other end of the field.
Penrith extended their lead prior to half-time however with Daine Laurie taking in a short Dragons dropout and zipping through to score and make it 18-6.
The Dragons found a key try as the half-time siren sounded with veteran Ben Murdoch-Masila, less than 48 hours on from appearing in the club’s NRL clash on Thursday night, taking in a Lachlan Ilias inside ball and brushing past a pair of defenders to slam the ball down under the sticks.
Luke Sommerton took advantage of a gap created by a Dragons injury to dive over out of dummy-half and respond for Penrith early in the second stanza.
Cyrus Stanley-Traill and Campbell Rubie both left the clash for HIAs in the aftermath of the try.
Zac Lipowicz stepped his way to the line to extend Penrith’s lead out to 28-12 moments later as the hosts threatened to run away with it.
The Dragons crafted a needed response 55 minutes in with Jonah Glover slicing through from 65 metres out and hitting a supporting Cody Ramsey on his inside to score and cut the deficit back to 10.
Penrith extended their lead back out to a dozen a little over an hour in courtesy of a Jack Cole penalty goal.
Sione Fonua was placed on report and sin binned for a high shot on Ramsey several plays later to invite the Dragons back into the contest.
With 10 minutes remaining, Lachlan Ilias stepped his way to the chalk for the Red V with Glover adding the extras to cut the deficit to a half-dozen.
The Dragons’ continued their charge the very next set with Murdoch-Masila sending Ramsey flying down the left touchline and into space.
The Dragons fullback threw a beautiful spiral back inside to a supporting Ilias who outran the Penrith chasers to dive over under the sticks and lock it up at 30-apiece.
Ilias nailed a sensational one-pointer from 35 metres out the next set to miraculously earn the Dragons their first lead of the afternoon.
Penrith had late chances to snatch the win and looked destined to in the final minute through Fale but an ill-timed error prevented it as the Dragons held on for a crucial win.
The victory sees Willie Talau’s squad jump back into second and secure a Top 3 finish with a week to play.