It was anything but a planned move, but St George Illawarra's prodigal son Mark Gasnier proved a match-winner once more in last night's come-from-behind victory over South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
When second-rower Neville Costigan came out of dummy-half a long way from the tryline, it didn't appear to be the inspired play to break the game open with the Dragons down by one point.
But just when Costigan looked to be caught, he managed an offload, which set centre Beau Scott and then winger Jason Nightingale free, before Gasnier raced away seal a remarkable 16-13 victory.
Full coverage of the Dragons Not so long ago Gasnier was the attacking, prolific try-scoring hero of the Dragons, before he left for French rugby in 2008.
And in his second game back in the Red V, the delight was clear on his face as he touched the ball down in an otherwise quite individual performance.
Still, the Dragons fans had to deal with some late heart flutters, with Souths having a late opportunity to snatch back the lead after being ahead for most of the game.
Before Gasnier's try, Souths looked the likely winners when halfback Chris Sandow slotted a 65th minute field goal to march ahead 13-12.
The Dragons had trailed up until the 60th minute, but drew level when Jamie Soward slotted a 30m penalty goal after hulking Souths second-rower Sam Burgess cheekily stripped the ball out of prop Trent Merrin's hand.
St George Illawarra had been down by eight when Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton - who was in superb touch for most of the game - reached out to score despite the desperate tackles of Dean Young and Darius Boyd.
Sutton's score made it 12-4 and came moments after replacement Michael Crocker looked to have butchered a certain try when he cut back to the centre of the field and ignored the men lining up on his outside.
But the Dragons struck back, with Kiwi international Jason Nightingale sliding over in the corner, before Soward's two kicks squared the ledger.
Souths led 6-4 at half-time on the back of a fifth minute try from Roy Asotasi, who careered through the Dragons line from short range.
It was part of dominant opening from the Rabbitohs.
Wrecking ball Dave Taylor was held up over the line in the first exchanges, signalling their intentions of an early ambush.
Again the Rabbitohs came in the 19th minute, when Englishman Sam Burgess effected an American grid iron-style sack on Australian indigenous representative Jamie Soward on the last tackle.
But the pressure valve released two minutes later when Souths winger Feleti Talanoa was ruled offside and penalised from a grubber kick which bobbled out of the hands of St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale.
From there, Soward and the Dragons responded to be on top in the contest for the first time in the half.
The five-eighth cut the Souths defence open with ease and went on a 30m romp which came undone when the intended receiver Nightingale ran out of room near the touchline and tried to force the ball back inside, only for the covering John Sutton to clean up the mess.
In his second game since returning from French rugby union, Dragons centre Mark Gasnier entered the arena in the 25th minute, but all the action happened on the other side of the field, as NSW winger Brett Morris struck shortly after.
Morris - making a stunning return from a medial ligament knee injury suffered in State of Origin III to play last night - scooted down the left touchline, before leaping to touch the ball down before the attention of Souths fullback Rhys Wesser.
The Dragons came again at the end of a half which was physical and more entertaining than the scoreline suggested at the break, but their charge resulted in nothing further after prop Matt Prior knocked the ball on cold.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 16 (M Gasnier B Morris J Nightingale tries J Soward 2 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 13 (R Asotasi J Sutton tries C Sandow 2 goals C Sandow field goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Shayne Hayne, Chris James. Crowd: 22,238.
Email a friend