Game of rugby union breaks out in the middle of the Dragons’ win over the Warriors

St George Illawarra and the Warriors appeared to momentarily switch codes on Saturday when a maul broke out in the Dragons’ in-goal during their 24-18 win.

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson played a grubber kick in behind St George’s defence, but Dragons winger Mathew Feagai covered the play and swept up the ball. 

Rather than trying to run it out of the in-goal area, however, Feagai passed the ball to Zac Lomax, who was standing right behind the posts. The Dragons fullback was tackled by Warriors hooker Jazz Tevaga as he looked to get out of in-goal area to avoid giving away a five-metre scrum.

Zac Lomax held possession after being wrapped up while in the in-goal area

The Dragons fullback (middle) was in the middle of a maul and refused to go down

Despite being wrapped up by Tevaga and Warriors five-eight Daejarn Asi, Lomax refused to go down and kept his footing even as more players joined what by then was effectively a rolling maul. 

By the time the maul crumpled to the ground, Lomax still held possession of the ball and was just across the try line. 

The 22-year-old was heavily involved on Saturday, scoring two tries and kicking three conversions and a penalty as the Dragons moved up to 10th on the ladder and piled more misery on the Warriors, who have just one win in their last five under coach Nathan Brown.

In front of 7147 fans at a rain-soaked Jubilee Oval, the home side began in the best possible fashion when Johnson dropped the first kick-off of the afternoon, allowing Lomax to touch down for the Red V on the very next set.

The Dragons fullback scored two tries, kicked three conversions and a penalty on Saturday

Michael Molo crossed to score St George’s third try in their 24-18 win over the Warriors

But from thereon it was the Warriors who had the upper hand. Johnson scored one of his own and sent up two aerial kicks for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to bat back in field for Viliami Vailea to touch down.

Cody Ramsey was the only response the Dragons could offer as he burst into the line and slipped through some feeble Warriors defence to get his first try of the season.

St George Illawarra trailed 14-12 at the break and the Warriors looked set to pull away when Watene-Zelezniak crossed for his first of the afternoon.

Fullback Reece Walsh’s inaccuracy with the boot – he kicked one from four – proved to be the Warriors’ undoing. They also lost star prop Addin Fonua-Blake to injury.

Shaun Johnson (left) scored the Warriors’ second try at Jubilee Oval on Saturday

Viliami Vailea grabbed a brace for the Warriors in their loss against the Dragons 

The Warriors have now lost four of their last five games in a dismal run of form

It meant that when NRL debutant Michael Molo barged over the line from close range, the Dragons were level after Lomax converted.

Ramsey had looked threatening whenever he brought the ball back from the backfield and a shift play to the Dragons’ right edge allowed him to burst upfield in the play which broke the game open.

Off the back of Ramsey’s break, Lomax found his way over the line. He missed his conversion but added a penalty to make it 24-18 with 10 minutes to go.

Despite a late scare from the Warriors in the final 30 seconds, Griffin’s side held on for their fifth victory of the season.