Dragons’ heat on Panthers

JOSH Dugan missed St George Illawarra’s team bus but Penrith had their journey to the finals knocked off course in a 16- 14 loss to the Dragons yesterday.

Cronulla- bound Dugan is no certainty to return for the Dragons in their crucial clash with Canterbury next week, after coach Paul McGregor dropped him for failing to meet the club’s standards.

The result means the Dragons need only beat Canterbury next Sunday to all but wrap up top- eight spot.

But while Dugan drove himself to Pepper Stadium, it was the Panthers who were left licking their wounds.

Penrith entered the game with a simple equation: win and their spot in the top eight was assured.

Now their late- season surge of seven- straight wins is at risk of amounting to nothing.

They’ll have to beat Manly at Lottoland next Sunday, or hope North Queensland or St George Illawarra also go down if they are beaten and that forand- against scores remain in their favour.

Making matters worse for the home team, they could also enter the crucial last- round clash without half of their dynamite spine.

With five- eighth and captain Matt Moylan already out with a hamstring injury, Dylan Edwards injured his medial cruciate ligament in the first half yesterday. Four of the last five games between the Cowboys and Broncos have been decided by a point. They have built one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport.