By Liam Cook

Narrow defeats throughout the year to Easts, Norths, UQ, and Souths on Saturday, leave Sunnybank with a mixture of frustration and positivity about their 2023 campaign.

Blooding a plethora of new players and adjusting to a new coaching structure has plagued the Dragons’ cohesion in crucial moments.

A prime example of this arose on Saturday. With only three points scored in over half an hour of second half play, Sunnybank gallantly defied Souths until the 73^rd minute when Phransis Sula-Siaosi scored the matchwinner for the Magpies.

The cruel finish left Dragons’ coach Rob Riori lamenting what might’ve been.

“I think Saturday really summed up our season,” Riori told Rugby News.

“We put ourselves into a position to win but can’t close out a game.”

This inability to finish a contest stems from a lack of experience according to the new coach.

Whereas other clubs can lean on seasoned game managers, Sunnybank are reliant upon a squad brimming with fresh faces.

“Most teams have Super Rugby players that can help control the outcome of games,” he said.

“We have a number of new players to this competition and are still finding their feet.”

Securing an immediate win is not the be all and end all for the Dragons.

Their youthful resurgence and incremental improvement in 2023, in spite of results, is paving the way for sustained success in the years to come as part of a bigger picture.

Pushing the much-improved Souths to the final moments is another feather in the Dragons’ cap they can point to on their journey.

Easts await this weekend, but it is a challenge that is sure to hold no fear for this Sunnybank team that are having a red-hot crack against the odds.

“We are competitive with all the teams.”