Jaydn Su’A Red Carded for Controversial Tackle as Shane Flanagan’s Woes Intensify After Dragons’ Seventh Successive Defeat

On a night when Dragons coach Shane Flanagan would have given anything for a straightforward match and a victory to salvage his coaching prospects, he was dealt another tough hand.

Despite holding the lead for most of the first half, the Red V suffered their seventh consecutive defeat, falling 30-12 to the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium.

Frustratingly for Flanagan, they will likely be without Jacob Liddle and Jaydn Su’A for an extended period due to injury and suspension.

The coach’s troubles began before kick-off, when Liddle appeared to sustain a hamstring injury during the warm-up. He was seen receiving treatment from a trainer before being ruled out of the game.

Shortly after the game began, the Dragons fell behind when Latrell Mitchell scored in just the fifth minute.

However, by the half-hour mark, they had turned the tide and surged ahead after tries from Cook and Stewart.

Things looked promising when Rabbitohs substitute Peter Mamouzelos received a yellow card for a hip-drop tackle on David Fale.

Yet, instead of capitalising on their advantage, the Dragons watched as Alex Johnston scored for the Bunnies just before the break. Mitchell’s conversion handed Souths a 16-12 lead at half-time.

“That’s a crushing setback for the Dragons – they were in front, had the numerical advantage, and yet Souths score just before half-time and convert,” commentator Ginnane remarked.

With Mamouzelos still off the field, Matt Dufty marked his return to the NRL with a try on his first appearance in 1420 days.

As the clock approached the 70th minute, Su’A attempted to ignite a response from the Dragons by charging towards Cameron Murray with the ball in hand. Unfortunately, he mistimed his tackle and made direct contact with Murray’s head.

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Remarkably, Murray, who has a concussion history, managed to get back to his feet without injury.

Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski stated, “Not here to discuss… clear shoulder contact to the head, see you later.”

Unsurprisingly, the Rabbitohs fans erupted in cheers as the red card was shown.

“Su’A has been jeered off by this Rabbitohs crowd, who think it was a reckless act,” commented Ginnane.

“Su’A, trying to change the game’s momentum, got his tackle completely wrong. It’s astonishing that Murray walked away unharmed.”

This marked Su’A’s dismissal, making him the first player to be sent off since Justin Olam of the Tigers in Round 22 of 2024 – his final match in the NRL.

Following the game, Dragons captain Damien Cook appeared at a loss for words.

“At half-time we thought we were on the right track… it’s difficult to pinpoint where we lost it,” he said during a post-match chat with Fox Sports.

“There’s a lot of effort being put in; we just need to keep pushing at training and showing up.”

He acknowledged understanding Su’A’s intentions, but noted he “miscalculated”.

“I could see what he was aiming for… trying to force an error and create something,” he explained. “When you’re in a position like this, with no wins, the pressure can lead to straying from our systems and making poor decisions.”

When asked directly about Flanagan’s future at the club, Cook seemed optimistic.

“I believe they will stick with him, I genuinely do. All we can do is show up on Monday and keep improving,” he affirmed.

“The boys’ attitude is spot on. Results might not be favouring us at the moment, but we are putting in the right effort during the week,” he stated.

“We just need to keep this momentum going, and hopefully we can turn things around for our members, fans, and for ourselves.”

In a standout performance, Latrell Mitchell notched up four tries, while Johnston and Dufty contributed with the other two. However, it was a tough night with the boot for Mitchell, who converted only two out of six attempts, along with one penalty goal.

The Rabbitohs are set to take on the Storm next weekend, while the Dragons will face off against the Roosters.