Dragons’ newest loss a flip for the more serious: Nightingale

Membership legend Jason Nightingale believes St George Illawarra’s newest loss marked a turning level for the struggling membership and units the stage for an important conflict with the last-placed Wests Tigers at Magic Spherical.

The Dragons misplaced their three video games previous to final Sunday by a transformed attempt or much less and had been effectively within the contest on every event.

On the again of a gutsy Anzac Day efficiency that had them on the cusp of upsetting the Sydney Roosters, the Dragons have been tipped to return to the winner’s circle towards injury-ravaged Canterbury in spherical 9.

However the three way partnership discovered themselves ambushed at dwelling in Wollongong because the Bulldogs established a 10-4 halftime buffer that the Dragons lowered however by no means overcame.

Nightingale, a member of the Dragons’ 2010 premiership-winning group, mentioned the latest sport of the dropping streak would have hit his previous agency the toughest.

“There was disappointment with each a kind of losses however you might be fairly proud up till final week,” he informed AAP.

“Though they’ve all been shut losses, once they begin mounting up, it will get extra worrying.

“The turning level was most likely final week. They have been most likely anticipated to beat the Bulldogs and they might’ve anticipated higher of themselves at dwelling.”

Sunday’s conflict towards the last-placed Tigers looms as essential for under-fire coach Anthony Griffin, who has already been informed he might want to reapply for his job past this season.

Regardless of the Tigers’ lowly ladder standing, victory is much from assured for the Dragons; Wests waged an almighty upset towards reigning premiers Penrith final week to lodge their first win of the season and enter the Dragons sport on a excessive.

“It is a huge sport on the again of the frustration final week,” Nightingale mentioned.

Centre Zac Lomax was completely crushed by reverse man Jake Averillo within the loss to Canterbury and has been dropped in favour of Max Feagai.

Adjustments to Lomax’s goal-kicking model have yielded underwhelming outcomes and price the Dragons on their dropping streak; Saints scored the identical variety of tries or greater than their opposition in every of their final 4 video games.

“It is the fruits of what occurs after loss on loss on loss,” Nightingale mentioned of the choice change.

“On the weekend at dwelling, it was an excellent alternative to get the 2 factors and that is most likely the one which’s pressured the hand and the change.”

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