Jon Green's first try in the NRL ensured the Dragons would smash a hoodoo that has dogged them for the best part of a decade.
The unlikely hero, a toiling prop who's spent much of the season with NSW Cup feeder team Shellharbour, has been credited with playing a key role in sending their season into the stratosphere.
From short range, Green bustled on to a short pass from five-eighth Jamie Soward and over the tryline for his first four-pointer in the top grade.
Classy Dragons temper Storm
SLIDESHOW: Dragons superstars meet their fans Full coverage of The St George Illawarra DragonsIt sealed a stunning 26-12 victory on Friday night over the Melbourne Storm, a team they have beaten just six times in 23 starts.
The Dragons had lost nine of their previous 11 games to the Storm, as well as the 1999 grand final and the 2006 preliminary final.
Green and fellow fringe squad members Michael Lett and Chase Stanley have played key roles throughout the State of Origin period, as an under-manned Dragons team romped to victory over Penrith and Manly.
But as St George Illawarra zero in on the minor premiership and a shot at an elusive NRL title under coach Wayne Bennett, Green is just trying to keep his place in the team.
"I'll take every chance I get. Wayne has shown faith in me and I just want to repay that as much as I can.
"It's certainly a thrill playing in front of 16,000 at Kogarah instead of 600 at (Shellharbour's home ground) Ron Costello Oval, but I just want to turn up each week wherever I'm playing and do my best."
Bennett left Green on the bench at WIN Jubilee Oval after originally selecting a six-man interchange, with hooker Luke Priddis and centre Nick Emmett trimmed from the team.
But with New Zealand international lock Jeremy Smith and centre Matt Cooper due back from injury for Friday night's clash with the Panthers, the side's balance and dynamic will change again.
This means Green may return to Shellharbour, who are near the bottom of the NSW Cup ladder.
"I think that is a bit of a difference this year, we're all part of the squad.
"We're all doing a job when we're called upon and we're all part of the group. I think we've all played a role at some point," Green said.
His 70th minute try erased the memory of a dropped ball over the line in his first NRL game.
Second-rower Ben Creagh said his contribution was invaluable.
"Just great having depth in the club, guys like Michael Lett and Chase Stanley, who has played in the centres while Cooper's been out," Creagh said.
"When you're playing for Shellharbour ... it's a big step up for them to come up to the NRL and it's great for the confidence of the rest of the guys to know they can come in and step up."
Creagh also produced a game-turning moment on Friday with a try-saving tackle on Melbourne winger Steve Turner when the Dragons led 20-12.
Creagh said beating the Storm hoodoo would give the Dragons a big lift in the lead-up to the play-offs.
"Beating Melbourne was our biggest test of the season so far," he said.
"We haven't beaten them for a long time at full strength, so it was a great confidence boost."
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