The elastic band snapped before slingshotting for St George Illawarra.
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The last six weeks presented such an opportunity for them, if only they could have held on long enough to stay in finals contention.
But now it's over, instead becoming a farewell tour for Dragons captain Gareth Widdop, who will never have a meaningful shot at winning a title since moving from Melbourne.
In the run to Mad Monday, they meet the Titans twice, the Sharks, Tigers and Roosters, as well as Sunday's game against Parramatta.
Of those, only against the premiers would you pencil in a loss. Even six from six and they almost certainly still miss out on finals.
Social media channels and fan forums have taken to the pitchforks and flaming torches again, demanding Paul McGregor's removal, wanting to put him on the scrap heap alongside Steve Price and Nathan Brown.
Only an outsider is good enough, the narrative continues, given Wayne Bennett delivered their only post-merger premiership.
Unless the wheels really do fall off in the final six rounds, McGregor will certainly be coach next year, but the pressure will be intense from round one.
Those wanting McGregor's removal must understand that revolution, rather than evolution, is a mixed bag.
Bennett simplifies the game, raising the likelihood of immediate results, as he's done with Souths, in contrast to Anthony Seibold, rebuilding and remodelling at Brisbane. The Dragons' end-of-season review will be, or at least should be demanding.
Is Matt Dufty the long-term fullback or not? Is Euan Aitken the first-choice centre?
Where is Zac Lomax's best position?
Should Jack de Belin, with all the distraction and his own pent-up frustration at being stood down from playing by the NRL, have been allowed to train with the first grade squad all year, especially when they were fighting to keep their season alive? What future does Jai Field have at the club?
And what of the back three, with the selection door revolving of Jordan Pereira, Jonus Pearson, Mikaele Ravalawa and Jason Saab?
They haven't handled losing the experience of Brett Morris and more recently Jason Nightingale.
Injuries a factor, but the gap between St George Illawarra's best and worst has been extraordinary this year. De Belin's ongoing court cases have had a huge impact, given his position as a State of Origin player, leader of the team song and conduit between the leadership group and younger players.
But on the field the Dragons have conceded 425 points, just six fewer than the Gold Coast, who already sacked Garth Brennan.
The choice between revolution and evolution might be shaped in the six weeks the Dragons have left.
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