Jaydn Su’A’s Potential Final Game for the Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A may have played his last game for the joint-venture after suffering a suspected torn pectoral muscle during Sunday afternoon’s match. The injury occurred when Su’A came on for the second half of the game against the Cronulla Sharks, where he only managed to play for 20 minutes before the setback.
Su’A has faced a difficult period in recent weeks. He was suspended following the Round 7 game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and then suffered another injury just days before he was set to return as a centre. Despite these challenges, he made a comeback in the match against the Cronulla Sharks, but the latest injury could end his season early.
Interim coach Dean Young confirmed during his post-match press conference that the situation is not looking good for Su’A. “I don’t think it’s good. I just spoke to him then, and he thinks he might’ve torn it, so it’s not ideal,” Young said. He added that scans would be conducted in the coming days to get a clearer picture of the injury.
A torn pectoral muscle typically requires around 12 weeks of recovery. With the current season in Round 14, and the Dragons no longer in contention for the finals, Su’A would likely only be available for the final few weeks of the season. However, with the club focusing on developing a young forward pack led by Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, the Couchman brothers, Loko Pasifiki, Tonga, and Jacob Halangahu, it is unlikely that Su’A would be selected for those games.
If this is indeed Su’A’s final game as a Dragon, he will leave the club having played 79 matches since joining in 2022. His departure comes at a time when the Dragons are looking to build a new future, with a focus on younger players and a more dynamic forward pack.
A Disappointing Performance Against the Sharks
The Dragons’ performance in the local derby against the Cronulla Sharks was disappointing, with the team losing the match after holding a halftime lead. Coach Dean Young reflected on the game, noting that the side resembled the “old Dragons” in the second half, as they struggled to maintain their momentum.
“We didn’t hold onto the ball. We started the second half with a play-the-ball error, which is not good enough,” Young said. “Then we defended our line for three sets, held them out for about 16 tackles and then the next set we tried to offload the ball and come up with another error.”
Young expressed disappointment with the team’s decision to force offloads, despite their strong defensive efforts. “They were a good attacking side and then the next time we get the ball we looked at forcing the offload. We completed 11 from 19 sets for the second half, and they’re at 21 from 23. There’s the game.”
The loss marks another setback for the Dragons, who had previously secured their first win of the season against the Brisbane Broncos a week earlier. However, the team’s performance against the Sharks highlights the challenges they still face in maintaining consistency throughout the season.
