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Rugby League > Dragons too good for Tigers
By Steve Jancetic
June 26, 2010

The St George Illawarra juggernaut rolled on but it wasn't all good news for the NRL ladder leaders with prop Michael Weyman almost certain to be rubbed out of Origin III thanks to a dangerous tackle in his side's 34-10 win over Wests Tigers on Friday night.

While Jamie Soward did his best to play himself into a sky blue jumper with a brilliant display, Weyman's chances of playing in the Origin dead rubber appear over after he was put on report for an ugly lifting tackle on Tigers fullback Wade McKinnon.

It may not have had the venom of Luke O'Donnell's piledriver on Darius Boyd in Origin II, but there is little doubt it was just as dangerous with Weyman sure to be eyeing a long stint on the sidelines.

It took the gloss off a wonderful performance from the hosts, particularly Soward who capped his effort with a brilliant individual try just before fulltime which had Queensland legend Wally Lewis singing his praises.

"If he's not picked in the NSW side at five-eighth, I'll be very, very surprised," Lewis said while commentating on the Nine Network.

The Dragons sensed they were in for a tough night when they opted for the penalty goal after 17 minutes which became 8-0 lead when Boyd finally broke his 2010 duck when he scythed through a poor Benji Marshall tackle for just his second try for the club.

Tigers fullback Wade McKinnon looked set to reply but served only to set himself up for a week of ribbing from teammates when his 70m run was terminated by a chasing Ben Creagh, Chris Lawrence saving his blushes with a brilliant put down in the corner to halve the lead.

If Marshall's miss in the lead-up to Boyd's try was bad it had nothing on his gaffe just before the break - an innocuous forward pass on halfway presenting the Dragons with an opportunity for Ben Hornby to set up Kyle Stanley's fifth try from as many top grade games.

The late letdown no doubt added fuel to coach Tim Sheens fiery halftime address, the Tigers playing like a team that had just been given a rev-up when Marshall and Lawrence combined to put Tuqiri away for his ninth try of the year from inside their own half.

Down by four points the Tigers were now full of running, Weyman's hit on McKinnon only adding to their impetus only for the last-play options which had plagued their play all night to again let down the visitors.

The methodical Dragons took their lumps and hit back in clinical fashion when Brett Morris touched back a Soward bomb for Ben Creagh to put the pink and whites -- the Dragons wearing a pink v in recognition of women in league week -- up by two converted tries.

Soward beat four defenders to kick-start early celebrations with Morris grabbing his customary four-pointer as fulltime sounded.
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