The Dragons beat the Sharks 24-16 in a thrilling derby victory at Kogarah, as the Knights ended the Raiders season with a 30-24 victory in Canberra.
Trailing 26-24 in the final 10 minutes of the contest, the Raiders were awarded a penalty after Dane Gagai and Corey Horsburgh tangled at a play the ball.
Instead of having a kick at goal to level the scores though, Horsburgh slapped Gagai over the head, resulting in the penalty being overturned.
Ricky Stuart was livid, calling the incident “a f***ing brain explosion”.
“We should have gone 26-all and there was a brain explosion,” Stuart said.
“It was a f***ing brain explosion, and we lost the opportunity.”
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Stuart was under no illusions that his forward was in the wrong, either.
“Of course it was [a sin bin],” he said.
“There was one last week. Everyone knows that, you’re not allowed to do that. It’s in the rules. It’s been in the rules for the last many, many years.”
The Raiders fans may have felt hard done by after Gagai was not sin binned earlier in the half following a tip tackle on Horsburgh, for which he was only placed on report by referee Ashley Klein.
In the late match, St George Illawarra dealt Cronulla Sutherland’s top-two finals hopes a hammer blow with a spirited 24-16 victory.
The Dragons and Sharks engaged in a brutal first half. (Getty Images: Brett Hemmings)
Recording only their third win of the season and just their second derby success in their last 13 against the Sharks, the Dragons are still in the hunt to avoid the wooden spoon.
Addin Fonua-Blake could face a spell on the sidelines for the Sharks, after being sin binned and placed on report for nasty shoulder charge on Dragons forward Hamish Stewart.
Jesse Ramien left the field with a suspected pectoral injury and Ronaldo Mulitalo also played out the second half under an injury cloud on a bad afternoon for the premiership aspirants.
Meanwhile, Storm halfback Cameron Munster was given a one-match ban for dangerous contact against Sea Eagles forward Taniela Paseka, only to have that overturned a couple of hours later.
Munster was charged after making contact with the side of the knee of the Sea Eagles prop as the third man into a tackle during the first half of the game, which the Storm came from behind to win.
The NRL judiciary later amended the charges after a medical report from Manly showed Paseka’s injury was not as severe as it was initially thought.
Instead of a week off, Munster can now accept a $750 fine for a grade one dangerous contact charge.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 6:11pm
Thanks for being with us!
Wow! The Dragons have got to be one of the best quality wooden spoon contenders we’ve had for some time. Thanks Simon, see you next time.
– Mike
Another big weekend of action in the books.
Can you believe that the finals start in a month’s time?
Wild.
We’ll see you next week.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 6:11pm
Cam Munster has charge downgraded
Now the the judiciary, where Cam Munster’s grade two charge – and subsequent one-match ban – has been downgraded.
Here’s what the NRL said in its statement, which came through about half an hour ago.
When initially ascribing a grading to Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster for the charge of Dangerous Contact, the MRC considered the contents of a Medical Report provided by the injured player’s Club which offered preliminary details as to the nature and extent of the injury.
Subsequently, the Match Review Committee has received a further report which materially alters the nature and extent of the injury suffered by the player.
Pursuant to Rule 61 of the NRL Judiciary Code, where further expert or medical information warrants a different grading, the Match Review Committee may authorise the Match Review Manager to amend the grading and issue an amended Notice of Charge.
Following due consideration of this Report, the Match Review Committee has reviewed the charge against Cameron Munster and, in accordance with the Judiciary Code, has forwarded the player an amended Notice of Charge for the offence of Dangerous Contact (Grade 1).
So, with an early plea, Cam Munster can pay a $750 fine, up to $1,000 if found guilty at the panel.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 6:08pm
Ricky wasn’t happy with Corey…
Just a bit of housekeeping before we wrap things up.
First, Ricky Stuart did not hold back about the “brain explosion” from Corey Horsburgh that cost his team a win.
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Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:55pm
FT: Dragons claim famous derby victory
St George Illawarra’s bid to avoid the wooden spoon stays alive for another week after a gutsy derby victory over the Sharks at Kogarah.
The Dragons fell behind early after Sione Katoa’s try in the opening five minutes.
However, the Red V hit back with venom to score the next two tries through Val Holmes and Hamish Stewart.
Billy Burns powered over to reduce the deficit to 10-12 at the break, Nicho Hynes’ first missed kick in 33 attempt the only difference between the two sides.
Tyrell Sloan scored to put the Dragons further ahead just after half time, before Jesse Ramien scored to level things up.
Val Holmes took a shot at goal to poke the Dragons into a narrow lead with 20 minutes to go.
However, just seven minutes later Addin Fonua-Blake was sin binned for a shoulder to the chin, with the Dragons sealing the win through a magical Setu Tu score in the closing minutes.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:54pm
79′ THE DRAGONS DEFENCE STANDS TALL!
Moses Suli stands tall! He makes the tackle on Hiroti on the last!
Is that it?!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:53pm
78′ Sharks win the short kick off!
They have to score this set!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:50pm
77′ THE DRAGONS SEAL IT!
SETU TU!
It’s a simple play off the scrum at first receiver.
He fends Mawene Hiroti
and he’s away!
Simple missed tackle from the Sharks centre and then Tu cannot be stopped, the replacement winger diving over the line to score!
The Dragons players come from all over the pitch to celebrate!
There’s still time left, but Holmes’ kick means it’s an eight-point game!
Dragons lead 24-18.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:50pm
76′ Sharks lose the ball! But they challenge!
Briton Nikora has lost the ball!
Jacob Liddle was in the tackle – and he’s just made a tackle!
It’s a lost ball and the Dragons have the scrum 40 metres out with just under four minutes remaining!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:46pm
75′ Dragons think they’ve scored!
The Dragons are on the charge!
Tyrell Sloan makes the break down the left, Kennedy with a massive tackle!
The Dragons move the ball right.
Setu Tu gets the ball on the right wing, and he dives over the line!
He thinks he’s scored!
But has his knee gone into touch before he slammed the ball down!
The Bunker is having a very long look at this…
And now, finally, the Bunker shows that it’s a simultaneous touchline touch and ball slamming into the in-goal.
Simultaneous means no try!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:42pm
72′ Penalty Sharks
The Dragons need to get their act together if they are to take advantage of this sin bin period.
Katoa goes down after being caught high by King-Togia having pin-balled off Val Holmes.
Pressure reliever for the Sharks.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:39pm
68′ Addin Fonua-Blake is in the bin!
And he may have a week off too!
He was placed on report by the Bunker after a massive shoulder charge to the chin of the Dragons ball carrier.
He came up to meet the man, no arms at all, a bad shot.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:37pm
68′ Mulitalo saves a try
Oh the Dragons started to cook there.
The ball was moved so quickly to the right side, and the Dragons had straightened, with Setu Tu outside.
Mulitalo did so well to stick his hand out to score there.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:35pm
Sharks struggling to generate momentum here
OK that’s enough Simon, you’ve had your fun – it’s time to put the Sharks back in front…
– Mike
You get the feeling that something needs to happen just to spark the Sharks here, because they look listless and are resorting to attempted 40:20s by Trindall.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:34pm
65′ Sharks attempt a 40:20!
But it’s just short!
That was a great kick from Trindall.
Meanwhile, Ramien is off.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:33pm
64′ Jesse Ramien is holding his chest
He has tried to make a tackle and has reeled away in a lot of pain.
The chest/pec area might have gone there.
He’s with the trainer.
The Dragons look to take advantage down the short side but Clint Gutherson throws a forward pass after the dart.
A better execution there and the Dragons score.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:32pm
63′ HYNES LOSES THE BALL!
Nicho Hynes carries the ball towards the corner, he’s spun around like a top and then tosses it forward!
It’s Dragons ball just inside their own half – another chance to put points on the board!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:29pm
60′ Dragons penalty!
Val Holmes is taken out by Jesse Ramien as a kick is put through and that’s as clear an escort as you’re ever going to see.
Gutherson wants a sin bin but there’s no way that’s going to be given as there is cover there.
It is a penalty, which Val Holmes converts to give the Dragons the lead!
It’s 18-16.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:28pm
58′ Sione Katoa gets away with a knock on!
It’s a good bomb sent up from King-Togia, and Sione
Katoa drops that cold!
Incredibly the refereeing team think that’s not gone forward!
The Kogarah faithful disagree!
BUT THEN THE FOOTBALL GODS SERVE JUSTICE!
Mawene Hiroti loses the ball and the Dragons are on the attack again!
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:26pm
57′ Sharks bomb one!
Brilliant tackle from Val Holmes and Lyhkan King-Togia!
Nicho Hynes played the ball to Briton
Nikora on the crash ball and they smashed him back, high and low, to dislodge the ball.
Great tackle right on the tryline.
Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 5:22pm
52′ Try Sharks!
That is a wonderful grab by Jesse Ramien!
Braydon Trindall
took the ball to the line at pace, straightening things up and then lofts a pass to Ramien, who gets down low and somehow grabs it with his finger tips off his boot laces.
That’s brilliant.
He slides the ball along the ground to score.
The kick is good and we’re locked up at 16-16!
dan