Corey Norman apologised to his Dragons teammates after clinching a 19-18 win over the Warriors with a golden-point field goal because he took so long to seal the game.
The five-eighth's 88th-minute one-pointer completed a pulsating comeback by St George Illawarra, who scored three tries in the last 10 minutes at Central Coast Stadium after being down 18-6.
Winger Cody Ramsey crossed in the left corner to level the scores after the siren before Norman struck the upright with his shot at goal.
After slotting a penalty, Norman failed to convert any of his team's four tries and then hooked his first field goal attempt in extra time.
Match: Warriors v Dragons
Round 16 -
home Team
Warriors
12th Position
away Team
Dragons
7th Position
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
"It's a bit disappointing," the left-footer said.
"I can obviously seal those games earlier, so when I did hit [the field goal], I apologised to the boys and said sorry about that.
"Against the Sharks [in round 11's 13-12 golden-point loss] I missed [a field goal] and it was a bit disappointing.
"I didn't want to let that one get away."
Despite his horror night off the tee, Norman was confident when he lined up the conversion to win the match after Ramsey's try.
"I was telling the boys I was going to get it and then when it hit the post I was a bit off it," the 30-year-old said.
His self-belief remained strong, however.
Norman slots the match-winner
"Last time against the Sharks I had my chances and we ran the ball. I just said to Benny [Hunt] we'll set up and he can have a crack.
"When he didn't get it, I thought I'd have another crack. I'm someone where I'll still have a crack and if I do lose it I'll put it on me."
The result was only possible because of a collapse from the Warriors, who looked set to cruise to victory.
Mid-season recruit Chad Townsend bizarrely attempted a field goal when his side led by eight, giving St George Illawarra a seven-tackle set which they used to march upfield and score another try.
Crucial errors by Wayde Egan and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the second term of golden point then helped the Dragons get up.
Townsend battled through a shoulder injury - suffered after a crunching tackle from Tariq Sims in the second minute - while lock Tohu Harris copped a head knock and also hurt his shoulder and second-rower Eli Katoa came limping off the field at the death.
With no crowd permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions, on-field communication echoed around the empty stadium, only drowned out at times by the ground announcer and music, an enthusiastic crew of Warriors players in the stands and the occasional nearby train.
Ramsey try sends us to golden-point
The Dragons enjoyed the bulk of possession to begin the match and scored through Ben Hunt in the 21st minute.
St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin said he thought his troops should have crossed the stripe at least once more in that period.
But the Warriors led 12-6 at half-time after Egan dummied his way past the markers before Katoa steamrolled into the in-goal.
The Warriors looked home when prop Bunty Afoa overpowered Andrew McCullough to claim his first try of the year in the 50th minute.
Hunt and Vaughan combine for the opener
But there was still life in the Dragons with fullback Matt Dufty firing a long pass to set up Gerard Beale in the 70th minute.
Centre Jack Bird pounced on his own grubber to make it 18-14 before St George Illawarra miraculously spun the ball wide on the last play with Brayden Wiliame putting Ramsey in the corner.
The Dragons, who are sitting firmly in seventh place, have a bye next week. Lock Jack de Belin was twice placed on report, first for a cannonball and then a lifting tackle.
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