Jaydn Su’A’s Magic Round Mishap Proves Costly in Dragons’ Narrow Loss to Tigers
In one of the most unfortunate moments of his professional career, Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A committed a glaring blunder during Saturday evening’s Magic Round showdown against the Wests Tigers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium — a mistake that could have dramatically altered the outcome of the match.
With the Dragons trailing by ten points in the final minute of the first half, playmaker Kyle Flanagan delivered a high, floating pass that set up a clear three-man overlap on the right edge. The opportunity was ripe — a certain try appeared to be on the cards for the Red V.
However, instead of using his support runners and shifting the ball through hands, Su’A chose to take matters into his own hands. He charged at the defensive line and looked destined to score as he powered through two Tigers defenders. As he dived for the line, it seemed a routine four-pointer was imminent.
But in a heartbreaking twist, Su’A lost control of the Steeden just inches from grounding it. The ball slipped free, denying the Dragons a vital try on the stroke of halftime.
To compound the disaster, Tigers fullback Jahream Bula scooped up the loose ball and stunned the crowd with a 105-metre dash downfield, evading defenders and touching down for a try just as the halftime siren sounded. Instead of going into the break potentially trailing by just four points at 20-16, the Dragons found themselves facing a daunting 26-10 deficit — a 16-point swing that deflated their momentum.
Veteran Fox League commentator Andrew Voss was visibly shocked by the moment, lamenting, “The game can be so cruel. I want to go down and give the bloke a hug.”
Rugby league Immortal Mal Meninga expressed sympathy for Su’A, acknowledging the emotional toll such errors can take on a player. “I felt so sorry for Jaydn. It should have been 20-16 at halftime. These things happen in rugby league, but you never want them to happen to you — it’s embarrassing in a way,” he said.
Queensland legend Cooper Cronk echoed the sentiment, noting the gravity of the error and its likely impact on the Dragons’ chances. “That was a big moment, and I don’t think the Dragons can fight back from that,” he commented.
Although the Dragons mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, the damage had already been done. The Tigers held on to secure a hard-fought 34-28 win in front of a vocal Magic Round crowd.
Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters summed up the general reaction to the bizarre sequence, stating, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
For Jaydn Su’A and the Dragons, it was a harsh reminder of rugby league’s unforgiving nature — where one split-second mistake can swing the momentum and, ultimately, the result of a game.
