St George Illawarra can dream of avoiding the wooden spoon after several players with uncertain futures stood up to consign Wests Tigers to an eighth straight loss.
After they led by 12 with four minutes to play, the Dragons had to hold on for a nervous final three minutes before claiming a 24-22 victory at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Fresh off their first back-to-back wins this year, the last-placed Dragons now finish the round only four points behind Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The Tigers could also still be caught while six points ahead, with the Dragons to face Canterbury, Manly and Parramatta to finish their season.
Much has been made of the potential of the Dragons' younger forwards this year, and what is building at St George Illawarra ahead of next year's big-name arrivals.
But this was a Sunday afternoon for those whose futures at the club appear clouded.
Daniel Atkinson proved he can offer utility value next year, after going from first-choice halfback at the start of the year to filling in at fullback.
Playing No.1 for the first time in his NRL career, Atkinson was solid at the back, put on a cut-out ball for a Tyrell Sloan try and had a couple of big kick returns.
It remains unclear what role he will have in 2026, given Luke Metcalf and Kodi Nikorima are arriving to play in the halves and Scott Drinkwater will be fullback.
"I was wrapped with Atko," coach Dean Young said.
"Atko is the kind of guy who if you give him an opportunity he is going to go for it, and he certainly went for it tonight.
"It has been an up and down year from Atko. But he just walks into training every day with a smile on his face wanting to get better."
Lykhan King-Togia faces a similar situation, but on Sunday had one of his best games of the year.
The Dragons five-eighth caught out Adam Doueihi in defence and sent Hamish Stewart over for the Saints' first try.
And he had one of his own in the second half, digging into the line to create space for a Sloan linebreak before backing up to take a kick back inside from his Super League-bound winger.
Moses Suli, who has pledged to fight for his spot after being told by the Dragons he could leave, also had a strong afternoon.
The 28-year-old burst his way through two defenders to go 50 metres and score once in the first half, before pulling off a try-saver on Jahream Bula in the second.
Suli goes straight through! 😤 #NRL pic.twitter.com/aeEigTt1eS
— NRL (@NRL) August 16, 2026
For the Tigers, a season that started so well can't end soon enough.
They led 6-0 early through Sunia Turuva, and briefly fought back into the game at 18-12 after halftime when Samuela Fainu finished off an Alex Seyfarth break.
The one bright spot was a late double to centre Solomone Saukuru on debut, who reduced the margin to two with three minutes to play.
But the fact just 9773 fans turned up for a Sunday afternoon match against another Sydney team is telling of how badly this season has spiralled.
"It'd be pretty hard for the players given a lot that's transpired this year," coach Benji Marshall said.
"But it's not hard to get up playing NRL because you get paid to do it for a living and you're wearing a Tigers jersey."
