Dragons go down to Panthers in Heritage Round

Raymond Faitala-Mariner was placed on report in the early exchanges for a tackle that forced James Fisher-Harris off the field with groin complaint.

Casey McLean came up with the first points of the contest for the visitors off the back of it with Nathan Cleary adding the extra two to make it 6-0.

The Dragons were forced to spend an extended period camped on their own try-line in the aftermath and finally cracked with Cleary sending Liam Martin over through a hole down the right-hand corridor.

Cleary found one of his own soon after off a fifth-tackle, short-side raid that sent Daine Laurie into the clear as the lead ballooned out to 18-0.

Laurie and Mathew Feagai were taken from the field for HIAs following the four-pointer after a fierce collision with the Dragons fullback placed on report for the contact.

Both No.1s were unable to return to the action having failed their assessments.

Both sides were forced into backline reshuffles with Zac Lomax shifting to the back for the Red V and Sunia Turuva for the visitors.

Jaydn Su’A also found himself placed on report for the Dragons soon after for high contact as ill-discipline continued to cost the home side.

Cleary snagged his second of the afternoon off it as the Panthers’ dominant opening forty persisted.

The Dragons fired in an unsuccessful challenge off the corresponding kick-off as the Panthers marched straight back onto the attack.

Izack Tago was placed on report moments later as the Dragons earnt their first attacking opportunity of the afternoon with Christian Tuipulotu powering his way over in the southeast corner off a terrific Lomax offload to open the side’s account.

The four-pointer marked the Tongan international’s sixth from his past four outings as the scoreboard read 22-4 the way of the visitors.

Toby Couchman was added to the Dragons’ lengthy list of first-half reportees after the 20-year-old was whistled for a crusher tackle.

The Dragons gave away a penalty with ball in hand to gift the Panthers more favourable field position early in the second stanza with Scott Sorensen slamming the ball down off it to extend their advantage.

Isaah Yeo had the ball dislodged out of his grip short of the line moments later after a small-scale push-and-shove between the sides.

Ben Hunt used the breeze to his advantage the following set to nail a much-needed 40/20 only for the hosts to come up short in their attempt to eat into the deficit.

Couchman was denied the Red V’s second soon after off a string of offloads with replays showing that the ball had come free from his grip inches above the turf.

A successful challenge earnt the Panthers another attacking opportunity only for a savvy Hame Sele strip to rip possession back the way of the hosts.

The Panthers grew their lead entering the final 10 with Lindsay Smith pouncing on a Cleary grubber to right of the sticks to make it 34-4.

Cleary secured his hat-trick the following set off a Jarome Luai break before Trent Toelau burrowed his way over to put a bow on what proved a comprehensive Panthers victory.

Su’A surged over in to nab a consolation try the final moments for the Dragons as Ben Murdoch-Masila limped off the field with a late injury concern.