Ben Hunt has breathed life back into St George Illawarra's NRL season, scoring two tries to help the Dragons to a vital 20-6 win over Manly.
In a virtual four-point game for both teams, Hunt crossed twice in the first half to lead the Dragons to a 14-0 lead at the break at Jubilee Stadium.
Ravaged by COVID-19 and after losing two more players to injury before halftime, the Sea Eagles scored early in the second term to threaten a fightback.
But they were unable to make the most of having the better of possession in the second half, leaving the Sea Eagles on the verge of dropping out of the top-eight.
The Dragons' win came in the same week pressure intensified on coach Anthony Griffin, amid claims of an unhappy dressing room.
However, they now find themselves at 9-9 with six rounds to play and are only sitting outside of the finals on for-and-against points.
And Hunt was in the middle of it all on Friday night after the Saints lost fullback Cody Ramsey to a knee injury.
The Dragons halfback scored the first try of the game when he slipped over in wet conditions close to the line before burrowing through Manly's defence.
His next try came in more conventional fashion, running onto a brilliant grubberkick from Talatau Amone.
And while Hunt's try-scoring prowess put the Dragons on the road to victory, his kicking and game management was just as vital.
The Dally M leader when votes went behind closed doors last month, Hunt forced four line dropouts off his own boot alone in the wet.
Blake Lawrie also had a big night for the Saints through the middle, busting five tackles in one of his best games of the season.
Jack Bird helped put the icing on the cake for the Saints, sending Mat Feagai over for the match-sealer in the dying seconds.
While Hunt was in control for the Dragons, Manly's attack was clunky with lock Jake Trbojevic, hooker Lachlan Croker and second-rower Andrew Davey all out with COVID-19.
They also lost Ben Trbojevic to concussion in the first half and Sean Keppie to a shoulder injury before coach Des Hasler's difficult night was capped when try-scorer Josh Aloiai limped off with a knee injury late in the match.
Their dangerous right edge was rendered close to ineffective when Haumole Olakau'atu hurt his ankle early in the game and while he played on he lacked his usual damaging power.
