Final Four: St George Illawarra Dragons

The Dragons’ fate is now in the hands of the football gods, after a desperate St George Illawarra side came up short against the Cowboys and Sharks over the past fortnight, dropping them back to 11th.

While they might be just two wins behind the eighth-placed Roosters and one win behind the ninth-placed Raiders, it's the -130 points differential that puts the Dragons' slim finals hopes on a knife's edge heading into Round 21.

A win this week against the Green Machine is imperative if Anthony Griffin's side are to keep any ambitions of finals football alive in 2022.

If St George Illawarra don’t live to see past the first Saturday in September, a fourth straight year out of the top eight would mark the longest absence since the club's merger in 1999.

Use the NRL’s ladder predictor tool to see for yourself where your team can finish this year!

The final four games

• Round 22 v Raiders (A)
• Round 23 v Titans (H)
• Round 24 v Wests Tigers (A)
• Round 25 v Broncos (A)

The Dragons will face the Raiders this week, who will not only be fighting to secure a top-eight berth but looking for redemption after their last meeting saw Canberra denied a chance for two points in a last-second penalty controversy.  

The Dragons will be desperately awaiting the return of their attacking fullback Cody Ramsey, who is expected to be still another week away from a knee injury. Moses Mbye has done a serviceable job in the interim but Ramsey's return into the backline would help the Dragons' attack go up another level.

Home, sweet home

There are two home games for the Dragons left, with one in Wollongong and one in Kogarah. The side has made WIN Stadium a difficult place for any opposition to travel after defeating the Raiders, Rabbitohs and Bulldogs there this season.

On the road

A tough away trip this weekend to face the Raiders in the nation's capital awaits before finishing up with a trip to CommBank Stadium to play the Wests Tigers.

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