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NRL News - by Craig Hill

St George-Illawarra Dragons - NRL News

Storm Defeat Dragons

March 14th 2009 04:26
Melbourne superstar Greg Inglis used to sidestep around players on his way to the tryline.

Now he runs straight over the top of them, and he kicks winning field goals.

Inglis slotted the winning goal with 1min 37sec left on the clock in the first period of extra time to give his side a 17-16 victory over St George Illawarra in their opening round NRL clash at Olympic Park.

The Dragons looked dead and buried with less than four minutes remaining in the match, trailing by six.

But one of new coach Wayne Bennett's old favourites, Wendell Sailor, got them back into the game with a 50m break before off-loading to centre Matt Cooper who raced to the tryline.

Five-eighth Jamie Soward then converted to lock up the scoreboard 16-16.

Inglis' field goal, after three earlier attempts by the teams, topped off a superb night for the 22-year-old.

It also gave the NRL something to cheer about after Inglis replaced Manly's Brett Stewart, who has been charged with sexual assault, as the face of the game in its new TV advertisement.

Inglis has stacked on six kilograms in the off-season to now weigh in at an imposing 107kg, without surrendering any of his pace or skills and that was all apparent as he scored the first try of the 2009 season in the 15th minute.

He took a Cooper Cronk pass 10 metres out from the tryline and charged head, tossing aside Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward like a rag-doll and then running over the remaining defence to score and give his side a 4-2 lead.

Coach Craig Bellamy said it was typical Inglis, but was otherwise disappointed with his team's attack.

After a try by Dragons halfback Ben Hornby helped the visitors take an 8-4 lead to the sheds, Bellamy's side got back ahead through tries by Billy Slater, who otherwise had a miserable night, and Cooper Cronk.

"I thought our attack in the first half was poor but we picked it up in the second half," Bellamy said.

"But I thought our defence did really well, it was quite effective."

Playing for the first time under former Brisbane coach Bennett, St George Illawarra looked the sharper of the two sides in the first half.

They had their chances but too often the final pass or kick went astray.

Never a fan of the golden point, Bennett was disappointed to miss out on a share of the competition points.

But he was impressed by the Dragons' courage.

"I was very happy with the effort ... the way they gutsed the game out," Bennett said.

"They stayed in there. It's really hard to coach those qualities so it's great to see the team do that."

Bennett predicted his team would improve.

"We can take confidence out of tonight we can compete with the top teams," he said.

"We're going to get better than tonight."

Melbourne Storm Logo


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Rabbitohs Defeat Dragons In Trial

February 28th 2009 13:21
South Sydney has claimed an 18-6 Charity Shield NRL trial victory over St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

With two impressive trial wins under their belt since master coach Wayne Bennett took charge, the Dragons finally fell with a limp three tries to one loss in a worrying sign ahead of the NRL season start in two weeks.

The Rabbitohs dominated the game with five-eighth John Sutton having a hand in all tries, including the Dragons' four-pointer, as the red and whites failed to create much in attack.

Sutton combined with fullback Rhys Wesser to put winger Nathan Merritt across in the eighth minute for the first points of the game.

But Sutton and Wesser turned villains 11 minutes later as the Dragons levelled at 6-6.

Sutton's kick from his own 20m line was charged down by Dragons lock Beau Scott before Wesser, attempting to clean up the mess, fumbled the ball in goal allowing Scott the simplest of four-pointers.

Sutton appeared to hurt his leg early in the second half, but brushed aside the injury concern to grubber for Colin Best to score in the 45th minute.

Best added a second try 12 minutes later, storming onto a short pass from Sutton to effectively seal the result in a low-scoring affair.

The Dragons were twice denied a try in the second half, with recruits Jeremy Smith and Mickey Paea held up over the line by desperate Souths defence.

South Sydney coach Jason Taylor was pleased with his side's defensive effort, but knows their attack will have to improve for the season proper.

"We would want to be better in a couple of weeks time," he said.

"It was good for us to have that tough hit out and realise we cannot score every time we are down there.

"I was happy with what we did defensively. We have worked hard on it. We had some testing periods and they also let us off the hook a few times."

Despite the result and unflattering performance in attack Bennett was "not unhappy" with his side.

The new Dragons coach knows trial form or results mean little in the NRL season, noting that his former side Brisbane lost to a Queensland Cup outfit in last year's trials but still started the season strongly without skipper Darren Lockyer.

"(Trials) are something you should not beat yourself up about too much," said Bennett.

"I'm not sure if we needed it (a loss), but we got it.

"There's always room for improvement and tonight was no exception.

"We know where we are going and what we are trying to achieve.

"I was pleased with the effort and pleased that we stayed in it."

South Sydney Rabbitohs Logo


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Dragons Defeat Bulldogs In Trial

February 21st 2009 21:32
Mathew Head assumed a stranglehold on the St George Illawarra No.7 jumper for the NRL season proper after leading the Dragons to a 24-12 trial win over the Bulldogs in Wollongong on Saturday night.

Vying for the halfback jumper with injured incumbent Ben Hornby, Head put together a solid display as he set up three of the Dragons' four tries, both sides showing enough to leave rival coaches Wayne Bennett and Kevin Moore happy that there is plenty to work with.

The new-look Bulldogs looked slick early with new buys Michael Ennis and Brett Kimmorley particularly sharp, which is more than can be said for Head as he watched the kick-off bounce over his head and the dead-ball line.

It was a happier 'homecoming' for Josh Morris when the centre - playing against the club he had called home since he was a teenager - held off three defenders before popping a ball for Matt Utai to score.

Head struggled with his short kicking game but his passes soon began finding their range as he got the Dragons on the board.

He first laid on a flat ball for Matt Cooper to score before snatching an intercept from Ben Hannant and finding Jason Nightingale, who raced 75 metres for a 12-6 lead.

Piloting the Bulldogs for the first time in his long career, Kimmorley looked comfortable as he outsmarted the home side's defence to put understudy Ben Barba over to lock it up at the break.

The game got a little scrappy in the second stanza as both coaches emptied extended benches, Head on the park for long enough to put Ricky Thorby under the posts before he too was given a well-deserved early mark.

Despite Head's performance and the unlikelihood of Hornby playing in the Dragons' final pre-season match against Souths next weekend, Bennett said his halves were far from settled for round one.

"Not at the moment, we've got Ben Hornby to come back so we've got to make a decision about him, where he plays," Bennett said.

"But I'm really happy with Mathew and certainly Jamie Soward."

Asked if he would risk throwing Hornby in without a trial under his belt, Bennett said:

"Oh, yeah, why not, he's played 170 of them."

Moore said he was happy with side's performance, especially the play of Ennis and Kimmorley around the ruck, but said he was expecting the intensity to lift in the club's second and final trial against Canberra next week.

Bulldogs backrower Brad Morrin was the only major casualty out of the match with a suspected broken hand while Daniel Harrison and Barba both suffered mild concussions.

AAP

St George Dragons
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Dragons Defeat Roosters In Trial

February 15th 2009 13:44
Wayne Bennett's tenure as St George Illawarra coach opened in stunning fashion as the Dragons crushed Sydney Roosters in their first match under the veteran coach.

After 21 years in Brisbane, Bennett's impact looked immediate in a 54-6 belting of the tri-colours at Members Equity Stadium in Perth.

Much-maligned for beating themselves with errors and wasted opportunities, the new-look Dragons instead made Brad Fittler's side pay for a number of gaffes, including knock-ons to start the first two quarters.

The joint venture side led 30-6 at half-time in steamy conditions before an enthusiastic 9,832 crowd, with centre Chase Stanley, back-rower Beau Scott, fullback Brett Morris and winger Michael Lett each scoring a brace of tries.

The writing was on the wall for the Bondi Junction side when prop Frank-Baul-Nuuausala knocked-on from the kick-off and after a quick scrum win, Dragons centre Matt Cooper put winger Michael Webb over in the left corner.

St George Illawarra Dragons


Then Sydney's restart went out on the full and New Zealand international Stanley scored.

The second period saw further tries to Stanley (22) captain Dean Young (34) and Scott (37).

And while new recruit Darius Boyd was denied a try off Wendell Sailor's grubber in the 57th-minute, the Broncos import managed to cross the stripe with 12 minutes to go anyway, after a long break from Ben Creagh.

Lett crossed again in the final minutes to add some extra gloss to the Dragons' scoreline.

AAP
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Wayne Bennett Says Saints Positions Up For Grabs

February 14th 2009 12:16
St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett admits he's yet to grasp a full understanding of his newly-acquired squad and says positions are up for grabs during the club's three NRL pre-season games.

Bennett, who crossed to the Dragons at the end of last season after 21 years at the helm of Brisbane, will coach his new club for the first time in Saturday night's pre-season clash with the Sydney Roosters in Perth.

The Dragons are also scheduled to play trial games against the Bulldogs and South Sydney and Bennett says the next three weeks are crucial as he contemplates his best line-up for their season-opener against the Melbourne Storm.

"I suppose the next three weeks, for me personally, I need to see them play to get a better handle on some issues with them," Bennett said in Perth on Friday.

"The only way I'll be able to do that is by them playing, so from my point of view the trials are a little bit more important than they have been in the past.

St George Illawarra Dragons


"I'm not trying to put too much pressure on our players and I want them to treat them as trials, but I need to see them play.

"I've got ideas about who's going to do what.

"Some positions are up for grabs but I haven't gone around and made general statements about that ... there are some opportunities there and they have a chance to grab them over the next couple of weeks."

The Dragons have named a strong team to face the Roosters, with former internationals Matt Cooper and Wendell Sailor in the starting line-up.

But Bennett warned not to expect a flawless performance from the side in his first game in charge.

"It's not all about one trial game and we are not playing a grand final tomorrow night, are we clear on that?" Bennett said.

"So we have got three games, we'll use the three games to get ourselves what we think is the best team and get those little areas of the game that you need to have working together."

Bennett, who led Brisbane to six premierships, said he was confident of bringing success to the Dragons.

"I'm confident we can improve on what they've done there," Bennett said.

"They've had some wonderful teams there and for whatever reason it hasn't fallen their way.

"But that was in the past."

Roosters coach Brad Fittler, eager to test the depth of his squad, has named an inexperienced line-up against the Dragons.

"It's going to be really interesting for us tomorrow night," Fittler said.

"From our point of view ... we've got our starter pack just about out."

AAP
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Mathew Head Dragon's Halfback

February 13th 2009 10:34
Prodigal son Mathew Head will get first crack at the St George Illawarra No.7 jumper after being named at halfback for Saturday's NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters in Perth.

Head will partner Jamie Soward in the halves with Ben Hornby still sidelined following off-season shoulder surgery.

Head hasn't worn the red V since 2007 when a debilitating knee injury looked like it would prematurely end a promising career.

The diminutive playmaker found a new home with Hull in the English Super League before Wests Tigers threw him a lifeline last season.

Injuries again curtailed his opportunities at the Tigers, the Dragons taking another punt in the hope his darkest days were now behind him.

"It has been a long pre-season so everyone is just itching to get out there and play," Head said.

"I'm really excited to start the season with the number seven on my back and I am looking forward to playing again with the Dragons."

St George Illawarra Dragons


New coach Wayne Bennett named a strong line-up for the club's first hit-out of the season with former internationals Matt Cooper and Wendell Sailor named in the starting line-up.

New buys Jeremy Smith, Luke Priddis and Darius Boyd will start the game from the bench along with backrow star Ben Creagh.

"The players are certainly keen to get out there and play and everyone will be getting an opportunity," Bennett said.

"I won't be looking for anything in particular out of the game, it is really about the players getting some match fitness and working on timing and cohesion."

Team-: Brett Morris, Michael Lett, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Mathew Head, Justin Poore, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Beau Scott, Jarrod Saffy, Matt Prior. Interchange: Jon Green, Dan Hunt, Luke Priddis, Ricky Thorby, Ben Creagh, Jason Nightingale, Darius Boyd, Jeremy Smith.

AAP
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Wayne Bennett Wollongong Move Beats Media

February 4th 2009 11:02
Elusive coach Wayne Bennett now knows you can't run but you can hide.

Infamous for dodging the media with his backdoor exit at Brisbane Airport following Australia's 2005 Tri Nations loss, Bennett has since found a better way to avoid the media altogether - move to Wollongong.

The new St George Illawarra coach was on Tuesday boasting at the fact his training sessions are no longer daily events for journalists.

While it used to take journalists just 10 minutes to travel from the city to Brisbane's Red Hill training base it is now over an hour for Sydney media to reach the Dragons home at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

"Every training session I did for 21 years at the Broncos I had at least one journalist or half a dozen there. I've hardly seen one in Wollongong. I enjoy that," Bennett quipped.

It is ideal for Bennett to have isolation as he attempts to rebuild the red and whites into an NRL premiership force.

Wayne Bennett Dragons


Bennett, who coached Brisbane for 21 years and to six premierships, knows his performance at the Dragons is going to be heavily scrutinised in 2009 but he bristled at the idea it could be the story of the year.

"Well you can write it but I won't contribute to it," he said.

Bennett offered a flat "no" when asked if he'd made any adjustments to his own style to adapt to his new club but left no doubt he's confident his old ways will be successful for the Dragons.

"I know what I'm capable of," he said.

"The boys are working pretty hard but there is still much to be done.

"We have had good days and not so good days.

"I'm enjoying it, I enjoy getting down there and the guys I'm working with."

The players are certainly enjoying Bennett's influence, veteran Dean Young excited by the changes at the club over the summer.

"Our whole approach has changed. Wayne changed the whole staff. Players like myself, Ben Hornby and Matt Cooper, guys who have been here seven or eight years, it is a great change for us," said Young.

"We are happy with how things are going. It's been a hard preseason but very enjoyable."

Young is one of several candidates to take over the captaincy vacated by Mark Gasnier, although Bennett will not rush into the decision.

He won't do that until closer to the season start with the Dragons to play three trial matches - against Roosters, Bulldogs and South Sydney - before round one.

The other question facing Bennett in the coming weeks is whether to remain on the New Zealand Test team coaching staff after assisting Stephen Kearney and the Kiwis to last year's shock World Cup win.

"That is a decision I have to make pretty soon," he said.

"I said to myself I would get down here first and see how I felt about it."
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NRL Stars Would Like It At Dragons

January 16th 2009 08:28
St George Illawarra believe the change of regime at the NRL club will attract interest from off-contract superstars Benji Marshall, Darren Lockyer and Karmichael Hunt.

The three marquee names come off contract after this season and all have a connection with new Dragons coach Wayne Bennett.

Bennett is the only coach Lockyer and Hunt have played under at Brisbane, while current Wests Tiger Marshall was a key member of the World Cup-winning New Zealand outfit for which Bennett was an assistant.

"They're all people that we'd like to think would be interested in the Dragons going forward but our main priority is to settle down with what we've got and see how that fits," Dragons chief executive Peter Doust told AAP on Thursday.

St George Illawarra Logo


"The coach is really working on a plan now, having completed our rosters for 2009, of seeing people play and how they play together so we won't be rushing into anything at the moment."

Adding to a potential fit between the trio and the club is the fact the side's fullback (Hunt's position) and halves (Marshall and Lockyer's) are far from settled for 2009.

Ben Hornby, Brett Morris and Darius Boyd appear to be the candidates for the No.1 jersey while Hornby, Mathew Head and Jamie Soward are the most likely candidates for the halves.

Hunt and Marshall have also been linked to possible moves to rugby union.

Doust said Bennett's first month-and-a-half in charge had created a different environment at the joint venture club.

"You introduce someone of that calibre and you're looking to instigate change," Doust said.

"Wayne as a professional has recognised all the good things about St George Illawarra ... he's dealing with a marquee club, an icon of the game, and he understands that there's a lot of things here that only need to be tapped or twisted a little bit.

"So we're working together not to overhaul the club in any major way, but to take it to that level that we think we should be at."

Bennett was in no mood to talk football as the club announced its renovated Sydney home ground would be known this year as WIN Jubilee Oval, where the Dragons will play six home games including a round three grudge match against former captain Trent Barrett's Cronulla.

Instead, the master coach launched an impassioned plea for more clubs to recognise their suburban heartlands.

"It's what the fans want," he said.

"I think the fans are disenfranchised at different times when we continually move our stadiums and don't cater for them as well as we should.

"Grounds like this just give you atmosphere, it's automatic. The big grounds, you need the crowds there to do that.

"Last year I turned the TV on, I wasn't going to watch the Titans playing the Wests Tigers, and I looked at Leichhardt (Oval) and it was packed and the atmosphere was just coming through the television and I sat and watched the whole game.

"I had no intention of doing that and that's what it does for you, it just gets you involved and that's what you play for as a club and that's what your fans want."

AAP
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Dragons Sydney Home Is Now WIN Jubilee Oval

January 15th 2009 07:26
St George Illawarra's Sydney home ground will be known as WIN Jubilee Oval in 2009.

The Dragons announced the naming rights deal with Australia's largest commercial television network, WIN Corporation, at the renovated ground on Thursday.

The joint venture club will play six games at their Sydney base this year under new coach Wayne Bennett as well as six games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

The Dragons return to Kogarah after playing their Sydney home games at the cavernous ANZ Stadium last year.

Dragons WIN Jubilee Oval Kogarah
WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah


"I've obviously been at the ground as an away coach, but to now come here as the home coach in the heartland of the club will be something special," Bennett said in a statement.

"It is certainly one of the great boutique grounds in Australia."

AAP
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Mark Gasnier quits the Dragons

July 16th 2008 08:47
Mark Gasnier


Australia and NSW representative centre Mark Gasnier will quit St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the 2008 season to play rugby union in France with glamour club Stade Francais for at least two seasons on a reported $800,000 to $1million per year deal.

Arguably the best centre in the game, Gasnier has decided to exercise a clause in his playing contract and leave the Dragons after third-party agreements in his five-year contract signed in 2006 had not been honoured. This consequently left him earning two-thirds of his contract money.

Mark Gasnier


Gasnier will link up with former Waratah's coach Ewen McKenzie at Stade Francais.

At the press conference which announced Gasnier's imminent departure from the club, Dragons Chief Executive Officer Peter Doust said: “To acknowledge that Mark Gasnier is leaving the Dragons and the game of rugby league is indeed a sad occasion,

“Mark is a rare talent, a St George junior who has developed into one of the games finest players.

“Two years ago we worked extremely hard to keep him at our Club and in the game when he was off contract and attracting significant offers from elsewhere and over the past two years we have continued to do all could to ensure he remained a Dragon but unfortunately his decision to leave is for circumstances beyond our control,” he said.

Despite the general opinion that money was the prime motivator in his switch to French rugby union, the talented centre said he had to make a tough decision.

“This definitely wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said Gasnier. “I love the Dragons and the Club has always been fantastic to me.

“I could not have asked for any more from this Club, Peter, the Board, Nathan and the players in the way that I have been treated and looked after for my entire career,” he added.

“I made the decision because it became very clear to me that the commitments that were made to me and that I agreed to in 2006 involving external parties was not going to eventuate.

“Everyone knows that we have a relatively short time as athletes and therefore we need to ensure that we maximise our opportunities on and off the field.

“I am very grateful to the Dragons and rugby league for the support that I have had and I know that I will leave behind some great friends but I am still here now and have much of this season left to focus on with the Dragons. [dragons.com.au]


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Dragons cruise to victory

June 6th 2008 11:37
The St George-Illawarra Dragons have stormed into the NRL’s top eight after recording a hard fought 28-10 victory over a spare parts Brisbane Broncos outfit at WIN stadium tonight.

With the majority of the pre-match hype centred on the return of dual international Wendell Sailor, it was the young Dragons contingent that guided the joint venture to their fourth successive victory.

The much heralded return of Sailor turned into a fizzer, with the bulky winger failing to return from the sheds at half-time after sustaining a suspected broken cheekbone from an accidental head clash with Brisbane’s David Stagg.

After a fiery start to proceedings, the home side posted first points through skipper Ben Hornby, with the Origin utility chasing through a nifty Jamie Soward grubber kick to provide the Dragons with a 6-0 lead after eight minutes.

Soward pushed that the lead out to eight with a penalty goal just two minutes later, before hooker Dean Young extended their lead to 14-0 in the 20th minute thanks to a simple dummy-half barge over try.

Brisbane hit back with a well worked team try finished off by forward Greg Eastwood, the Kiwi international running a neat angled run to beat three Dragons defenders to the tryline, with Michael Ennis’s 27th minute conversion making it 14-6.

In what was turning into an exciting match, St George-Illawarra were the next to score through some exhilarating work from the ‘Morris twins’; Josh drawing in three defenders before producing a one-handed offload to brother Brett to race fifty metres for a 20-6 half-time lead.

After Soward was denied a try by video referee Phil Cooley straight after the break, Cooley earned the ire of a hostile Wollongong crowd by controversially awarding a try to the Broncos Tonie Carroll.

Chasing an innocuous Ennis kick downfield, the veteran Brisbane lock found himself rewarded for a determined chase when the ball took a horrid right-hand break away from the Dragons players, with television replays suggesting that Carroll bobbled the ball while dotting down.

But after countless replays, Cooley awarded a benefit of the doubt try to Carroll, making it game-on at 20-10 with half an hour left to play.

However, the young Broncos backline gifted the Dragons their fourth try in the 61st minute, with a determined chase and bat back off a Soward bomb providing winger Jason Nightingale with his eleventh try of the season.

Nightingale’s second four-pointer wrapped up the match for the Dragons.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 28
Tries: Jason Nightingale 2, Ben Hornby, Dean Young, Brett Morris
Goals: Jamie Soward 4
defeated
Brisbane Broncos 10
Tries: Greg Eastwood, Tonie Carroll
Goals: Michael Ennis

WIN Stadium

Referee – Ben Cummins



In tonight’s earlier game, a youthful South Sydney Rabbitohs has sprung a surprise 35-28 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.

In a game that saw 12 tries scored, Souths recorded just their second victory of the season, with Toyota Cup rookie Chris Sandow a standout.

The former Gold Coast rookie was a constant menace for the large Warriors forwards, and he capped off a fine debut by kicking a 79th minute field goal to secure victory for the visiting team.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 35
Tries: Jamie Simpson, Fetuli Talanoa, Manase Manuokafoa, Luke Capewell, Luke Stuart, Ben Lowe
Goals: Isaac Luke 3, Chris Sandow 2, Chris Sandow fg
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 28
Tries: Michael Crockett 3, Patrick Ah Van, Aiden Kirk, Jerome Ropati
Goals: Patrick Ah Van, Lance Hohaia

At Mt Smart Stadium
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Dragons twins snatch late win

May 23rd 2008 11:51
St George-Illawarra have overcome an attack of the ‘dropsy’s’ to record a nail biting 20-18 victory over a shell-shocked Manly Sea-Eagles at Brookvale oval tonight.

The home side were seemingly always in control against an opposition that at one stage failed to complete eight straight sets, and looked to have the match wrapped up when Michael Robertson crossed to make it 18-14 inside the final ten minutes.

But it took a piece of magic from the Dragons ‘Morris’ twins to get the struggling visitor’s home, with winger Josh passing to brother Brett to level the scores with three minutes remaining, with half Jamie Soward calmly slotting the conversion to claim a crucial two competition points.

The Dragons opened the scoring in just the sixth minute through a simple try to Beau Scott, the rangy backrower isolating a groggy Anthony Watmough in defence to stroll over for an early 4-0 lead.

Manly’s reply was swift thanks to a exquisite backline movement, Sea-Eagles Matt Orford and Glenn Stewart perfecting a neat little run around to put Brett Stewart into space, with the Origin fullback flicking a superb inside ball to David Williams to score.

Orford’s magnificent sideline conversion saw the home side push out to a 6-4 lead after 16 minutes.

After repelling the Sea-Eagles for consecutive attacking sets, the Dragons snatched back the lead in the 23rd minute thanks to Ben Hornby dotting down off a towering Soward bomb, with the Dragons half’s successful conversion making it 10-6.

St George-Illawarra’s poor handling eventually cost them the lead, with the Sea-Eagles hitting the lead just before the half-time break thanks to a determined effort from Steve Menzies, the veteran backrower crashing through a feeble Soward tackle to dot down for his 169th career try.

Orford again converted from a much easier angle to allow the home side to go to the break with a handy 12-10 advantage.

After both sides fumbled their way through the opening minutes of the second half, it took a late Steve Matai hit on Soward to spark the visitor’s into action, with Dragons winger Jason Nightingale awarded a try moments later off the back of yet another towering, Soward cross-field bomb.

Manly regained the lead in the 69th minute thanks to the freakish aerial skills of winger Michael Robertson, with the prolific try-scorer climbing high to take an Orford bomb and dive over inches inside the corner post.

The accurate goal-kicking boot of Orford was proving to be the difference, with another sideline conversion making it 18-14 heading inside the final ten minutes.

But it was St George-Illawarra’s ‘Morris’ twins that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, with Josh stepping inside his opposite Jamie Lyon before flicking inside to brother Brett to level the scores in the 77th minute.

And after missing two easier shots at goal, Soward made no mistakes with his fourth attempt to hand the visitor’s a dramatic 20-18 victory.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 20
Tries: Beau Scott, Ben Hornby, Jason Nightingale, Brett Morris
Goals: Jamie Soward 2
defeated
Manly Sea-Eagles 18
Tries: David Williams, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson
Goals: Matt Orford 3
At Brookvale Oval

Referee – Jason Robinson

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Dragons claim ANZAC Cup

April 25th 2008 07:09
The St George-Illawarra Dragons have put a month of woe behind them by producing a dominant 26-6 victory over a disappointing Sydney Roosters outfit in the annual ANZAC Day clash at ANZ Stadium.

Breathing fire from the outset, the Dragons produced a high quality, composed performance for the entire eighty minutes to notch just their second victory of the season, with recalled half Jamie Soward and hooker Dean Young the standout performers.

The Roosters were lucky not to be beaten by a bigger scoreline, with Brad Fittler’s men failure to complete sets cruelling any chance of mounting a comeback.

It was a spectacular start for the besieged Dragons; Jamie Soward producing a towering bomb for Ben Hornby to climb above Roosters fullback Sam Perrett and open the scoring in just the 3rd minute, with Soward’s conversion giving the visitor’s an early 6-0 lead.

The Dragons made it back-to-back tries less than a minute later, this time a miscued Hornby kick floated into the arms of centre Josh Morris, with the zippy utility beating two defenders before drawing Perrett, to provide Jason Nightingale a clear run to the line.

Soward’s sideline conversion never looked like missing, handing the Dragons a surprise 12-0 lead in just the 8th minute of play.

After firing a few volleys across the Dragons bow, the Roosters were the next to score through a typically bullocking try to lock Anthony Tupou, with Craig Fitzgibbons simple conversion making it 12-6 after 21 minutes.

A Soward penalty goal for a Riley Brown high shot pushed the visitor’s lead out to 14-6, with a 39th minute try to a determined Josh Morris enabling the Dragons to go to the sheds with a dominant 18-6 lead.

With both sides struggling to control possession in the muddy conditions, the majority of the second half turned into an old fashioned forward arm wrestle.

The game was as good as over when Simon Woolford slotted a pinpoint grubber through for Morris to score his second, with Soward’s conversion, and another penalty goal in the 72nd minute completing the four tries to one rout.

Both teams now have a weeks rest courtesy of their Round 8 bye.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 26
Tries: Josh Morris, Ben Hornby, Jason Nightingale, Brett Morris
Goals: Jamie Soward 5
defeated
Sydney Roosters 6
Tries: Anthony Tupou
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon

At ANZ Stadium

Referee – Sean Hampstead
Crowd – 21,596
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NRL Club Analysis for Season '08 - St George-Illawarra

March 12th 2008 11:21
St George-Illawarra Dragons

St George-Illawarra Dragons


Attack – 8/10
Defence – 7/10
My prediction – 14th

It’s a do-or-die season for St George-Illawarra coach Nathan Brown, with pressure sure to mount if his underperforming Dragons again fail to deliver. With his head allegedly on the chopping block, coach Brown will again take the reigns of a youthful but exciting squad, with the joint venture hoping to improve on their disappointing 13th finish last season.

While the Dragons forward depth looks threadbare, coach Brown has no such worries in the outside backs, with Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper set to reunite their lethal centre partnership. If St George-Illawarra can finally steer clear from the dreaded injury curse, than given their attacking talent, they may just challenge for a semi-final berth. While the Dragons may run out of puff this season, look to them to be breathing fire cum 2009!

Strengths-

With Gasnier’s return to the centres, the Dragons will once again have a potent backline capable of shredding any defence. In Soward, the Morris twins, Cooper and Stanley, the Dragons have potentially the quickest backline in the competition, but that all boils down to nothing if their forward pack cannot lay the foundations. On their day, they can run up a cricket score!

Weaknesses-

The Dragons starting pack may be full of talented individuals, but if injuries hit (as they so often do for the joint venture), then it could be another long season for the red and whites. Creagh, Young, Woolford and Ryles aside, the cupboard is pretty bare in terms of experienced and talent amongst the forwards, with the Dragons pack also lacking the size of seasons past. Like Penrith, St George-Illawarra are still going through a rebuilding period, which signals a long year for both coach Brown and the clubs long suffering fans.

Best Team-

1- Josh Morris
2- Brett Morris
3- Mark Gasnier
4- Matt Cooper
5- Jason Nightingale
6- Ben Hornby
7- Jamie Soward
8- Justin Poore
9- Simon Woolford
10- Jason Ryles
11- Beau Scott
12- Ben Creagh
13- Dean Young

14- Rangi Chase
15- Stuart Webb
16- Kirk Reynoldson
17– Lagi Setu

2008 Gains and Losses –

Gains –

Kirk Reynoldson (Newcastle), Stuart Webb (South Sydney), Jon Green (Canterbury), Jarrod Saffy (Wests Tigers), Jardine Bobongie and Joe Falemaka (North Sydney)

Losses –

Wes Naiqama, Danny Wicks, Chris Houston and Keith Lulia (Newcastle), Ashton Sims and Tom Hewitt (Brisbane), Corey Payne (Wests Tigers), Adam Peek (Cronulla), Charlie Leaeno (Canterbury)

*Please join me tomorrow for my Analysis of the South Sydney Rabbitohs 2008 season.

Cheers,

StephenP
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Roosters, Sharks or Dragons for Mason?

November 10th 2007 06:30
Willie Mason
Who will Willie Mason be playing for next season?


Canterbury Bulldogs have given want-away bad boy Willie Mason permission to negotiate with other clubs after a crisis meeting on Wednesday.

The influential forward has since been the subject of a tug-of-war between the Roosters and the Sharks but the Dragons have emerged out of nowhere to be amongst one of the favourites to sign the Australian international. English club Wigan have also expressed their interest in his services.

Sydney Roosters in the affluent Eastern Suburbs remain favourites to sign Mason with officials at the Bondi Junction club, including coach Brad Fittler, scratching their heads to find a palatable deal for the club and player.

Sydney Roosters
The frontrunners to sign bad boy Willie Mason?


However, their efforts have been thwarted by their inability to find a club for prop David Shillington - the player most likely to make way for Mason's arrival.

Amongst other things is the matter of salary cap issues and whether the player, who is reportedly on $450,000 a season, would be willing to take a pay cut.

Taking a pay cut seems to be the least of Mason's worries when he briefly spoke to the media today.

"I don't think there's been a player that has come off contract a week before they start training, so it's a weird situation and I know that everybody has now got their roster settled and it's going to be hard to squeeze a player like myself into their roster," Mason said.

"So I know I'm going to have to take a pay cut and I'm willing to do that." said Mason.

Expect an announcement to be made sometime next week.




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Dragons keep Eels sliding

August 27th 2007 11:33
The Parramatta Eels are now in real danger of missing the NRL semi-finals after the St George-Illawarra recorded a mistake riddled 14-6 victory at WIN Stadium on Monday night.

With the Eels needing to secure a victory to assure a top four position, it was a dominant 12-0 first half performance by the home team that saw them register just their sixth home victory of the season.

Parramatta were their own worst enemies, combining 18 handling errors with 38 missed tackles to slip to sixth on the competition, while the Dragons have seemingly kicked clear of the dreaded wooden spoon.

After enjoying a dominant 70% share of possession over the opening twenty minutes, it was a Mark Gasnier break from inside his own half that found flying utility Rangi Chase to race away and score under the posts.

Dragons half Jamie Soward converted from right in front to make it 6-0 after 24 minutes.

The Dragons continued their dominance just four minutes later, with a majestic Soward cross field kick finding an unmarked Jason Nightingale to dive over and score.

Soward’s second conversion pushed the home side out to a handy 12-0 advantage.

Battling with injuries to Ian Hindmarsh and Chad Robinson, the Eels finally started to even up the possession flow, with only desperate Dragons defence denying them the chance to get on the scoreboard before the half-time break.

Parramatta finally got on the board in the 60th minute, with lock Feleti Mateo rewarded for a determined effort with a try beside the posts. Krisnan Inu’s conversion left the visitors trailing 12-6 with 19 minutes left on the clock.

But it was a 79th penalty goal to Soward that sealed the Eels fate, with the Dragons victory now leaving the Newcastle Knights anchored to the cellar of the NRL ladder.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 14
Tries: Rangi Chase, Jason Nightingale
Goals: Jamie Soward 3

Parramatta Eels 6
Tries: Feleti Mateo
Goals:

At WIN Stadium

Referee – Sean Hampstead
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Rookie Dragons upset Sea-Eagles

July 1st 2007 07:45
A young St George-Illawarra Dragons outfit produced one of the upsets of the season, completing a thrilling 26-22 victory over the Manly Sea-Eagles at a packed Oki Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.

The last placed Dragons recorded just their fifth victory of the season, with a dominant, individual display by Dragons half Jamie Soward orchestrating the five tries to three upset victory.

After an exciting start, it was a 13th minute penalty goal to Dragons half Jamie Soward that saw the home side open up an early 2-0 advantage.

The Sea-Eagles replied through a simple barge over try to backrower Glen Stewart in the 20th minute, with Matt Orford’s conversion making it 6-2 to the visitors.

A fantastic offload by rookie centre Chase Stanley enabled Soward to scoot away for a forty metre try just five minutes later, with the young half’s conversion attempt from the sideline just swinging wide.

St George-Illawarra’s youngsters seemed to grow in confidence as the opening half wore on, with the home side showing great composure to go to the half time break level with the second placed Sea-Eagles.

Manly hit the lead five minutes into the second half through a soft try to Adam Cuthbertson, with the hulking prop spinning his way through three Dragons defenders to score. Orford kicked the Sea-Eagles out to a 12-6 lead.

However, it took only two minutes for the Dragons to respond, with a fantastic one arm offload by Danny Wicks allowing backrower Beau Scott to crash over. Soward’s conversion allowed the Dragons to level up at twelve all after 50 minutes.

The Dragons extended their lead just five minutes later, with Soward displaying scintillating pace to latch onto an intercept and race eighty metres to score under the posts. The young half converted to push the home side out to an 18-12 lead.

The St George-Illawarra running game clicked into gear two minutes later, with tenacious lock Ben Creagh dotting down to provide the Dragons with a sniff of an upset victory. Soward missed from wide out, but the Dragons snuck out to a 22-12 lead upon the hour.

Scott’s second try in the 66th minute all but sealed the two premiership points, with the Dragons storming to a commanding 26-12 lead with only twelve minutes remaining.

Late tries to Manly wingers Nick Bradley-Qalilawa and Chris Hicks ensured a grandstand finish, but the young Dragons held on to record a morale boosting 26-22 victory.

The Dragons now play host to the Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium next Sunday afternoon, whilst Manly will host the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 26
Tries: Jamie Soward 2, Beau Scott 2, Ben Creagh
Goals: Jamie Soward 3

Manly Sea-Eagles 22
Tries: Glen Stewart, Adam Cuthbertson, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Chris Hicks
Goals: Matt Orford 3

At Oki Jubilee Stadium

Referee – Tony Archer
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Fiery Dragons slay Titans

May 18th 2007 12:18
The St George-Illawarra Dragons recorded just their third win of the season, registering an entertaining 28-10 victory over a frustrated Gold Coast Titans at WIN Stadium on Friday night.

A brave crowd of 12,058 risked the blustery conditions to witness a much improved performance by the home team, with a two try burst straight after the halftime break allowing the struggling joint venture club to score a flattering eighteen point victory over a plucky Titans outfit.

St George-Illawarra’s five tries to two victory released some of the pressure off embattled Dragons coach Nathan Brown, while Titans counterpart John Cartwright will be struggling for answers after witnessing his sides third straight defeat.

After the usual forward dominated, opening softening up period, it was the home side that conjured first points through flashy centre Wes Naiqama. Looking sharp after a long lay off through injury, Dragons half Matthew Head poked a pinpoint grubber in behind the Titans outside defence for Naiqama to pounce. The big Fijian centre converted his try from wide out to afford the home side the perfect start.

The Titans dodged a bullet just four minutes later when towering prop Jason Ryles crossed, only to have referee Tony Archer ruling that he was held up over the line. But a string of penalties against the Titans kept the Dragons camped down inside the Gold Coast red zone, with only desperate Gold Coast defence keeping the visitors in the contest.

After being forced to defend for the majority of the opening quarter, a bullocking 50 metre charge from Anthony Laffranchi finally got the Gold Coast firing. Laffranchi’s break sparked the visitors into action, with dual international Mat Rogers causing headaches for the Dragons outside backs with a couple of dangerous charges.

A rare Titans attacking raid was finished off in impressive fashion, with a perfectly weighted Matt Hilder bomb allowing tenacious Titans winger Matthew Petersen to fly high above the pack and score. Rogers’ conversion attempt just skewed wide of the uprights in the strong breeze, but the Titans were back, trailing 6-4 after 24 minutes.

The home side were in again in the 33rd minute, with some determined running from the Dragons outside backs being rewarded with a try to interchange forward Adam Peek. A strong charge by Ben Creagh found the Dragons backrower in space, with the dynamic Dragons forward offloading to Beau Scott, who found Peek in support to barrel over. Replacement goal kicker Matthew Head duly slotted the conversion, to hand St George-Illawarra a deserved 12-4 half time lead.

A mistake from the Titans just after the resumption of play afforded the home side ideal field position, with booming Dragons interchange forward Corey Payne making the visitors pay, by slamming the ball down in the 44th minute. Head’s second conversion of the night put the joint venture club out to a commanding 18-4 lead.

The Dragons were in for their fourth try in the 55th minute, with a brilliant set move from a scrum allowing rookie winger Jason Nightingale to dive over underneath the posts. Winning a scrum just inside Titans territory, Head kicked the ball long for the flying Nightingale, who easily outpaced the Titans cover defence to score a crucial try. Head had no problems with the conversion from right in front, and the home team were well on the way to registering an important home victory.

But, for the second week in a row, it was crafty Titans half Scott Prince that got the visitors back into the match, with a mesmerising 20 metre run seeing the Gold Coast playmaker beat four defenders on his way to scoring a majestic try under the posts. An ultra quick conversion by Rogers saw the Titans peg the score back to 24-10, but it seemed that the visitors had too much work to do against a focussed Dragons outfit.

A nifty little grubber from dummy half Simon Woolford saw St George-Illawarra post a try to Ashton Sims with 15 minutes left on the clock, with the unconverted try to the Dragons interchange forward all but sealing victory.

The Titans tried valiantly to conjure a miracle victory in the dying moments, but were continuously denied by the committed Dragons defence. The 28-10 victory keeps St George-Illawarra in touch with a host of teams on eight competition points, whilst the Titans season is faltering after their third successive defeat.

It wasn’t all good news for the struggling joint venture club however, with a serious knee injury to Wes Naiqama to be assessed by specialists on Monday, along with a minor ligament strain to giant prop Jason Ryles.

A rejuvenated St George-Illawarra outfit now take on the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium next Friday night, while the Gold Coast Titans will play host to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Carrara Stadium next Saturday night.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 28
Tries: Wes Naiqama, Adam Peek, Corey Payne, Ashton Sims, Jason Nightingale
Goals: Matthew Head 3, Wes Naiqama

Defeated

Gold Coast Titans 10
Tries: Matthew Petersen, Scott Prince
Goals: Mat Rogers

At WIN Stadium

Crowd – 12,058
Referee – Tony Archer

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Dragons beat bumbling Panthers

May 4th 2007 13:20
A host of St George-Illawarra Dragons stars returned from injury to help post a surprise 28-16 victory over a disapointing Penrith Panthers outfit at Oki Jubilee Stadium on Friday night.

The five tries to three Dragons victory was masterminded by the return of Matthew Head, Matt Cooper, Jason Ryles and Dean Young from lengthy injury spells, with representative centre Cooper looking particularly sharp.

Poor handling again cost the frustrated Panthers the two competition points, with the visitors creating plenty of opportunities to put the game away in the second stanza, only to be repeatedly thwarted by simple unforced errors.

Panther’s winger Luke Rooney controversially opened the scoring in the 7th minute, with the giant winger’s knee seemingly grazing the sideline whilst grounding a Peter Wallace grubber. Referee Sean Hampstead failed to send the decision to video referee Bill Harrigan, instead preferring to award the try based on evidence supplied by his touch judge. Despite the controversy, Penrith sharpshooter Michael Gordon converted from the sideline to hand the visitors a dubious 6-0 lead.

Two consecutive high shots from the Panthers allowed Wes Naiqama to post first points for the Dragons through a penalty goal just four minutes later, before debutant winger Jason Nightingale made amends for a few earlier handling indiscretions by scoring in the corner in the 19th minute. Naiqama’s difficult sideline conversion attempt sailed wide, with the game in the balance at 6 all after 20 minutes.

Gordon scored a great individual try in the 27th minute for the visitors, beating four Dragons defenders on a weaving 15 metre run to the try line. Unfortunately the flashy winger could not convert his own try from out wide, but the Panthers held the ascendancy at 10-6.

Former Test centre Matt Cooper got the small home crowd of 9,057 cheering in the 33rd minute, when video referee Harrigan awarded a contentious try to the powerful representative centre. Television replays appeared to show Cooper’s elbow grazing the corner post whilst grounding the ball, with Harrigan ruling that a Panthers defender had in fact brushed the corner post. Naiqama landed a brilliant sideline conversion to put the home side back in front at 12-10 five minutes out from the break.

Dragons centre Chase Stanley scored a dubious try a minute out from the half time siren, when the flashy youngster scoring under the posts off a blatant forward pass from Dragons half Head. Naiqama nailed his easiest conversion of the night to hand the home team an unconvincing 18-10 half time lead.

Penrith got back into the game in the 43rd minute through a converted try to Rooney, with the giant Panthers winger unluckily denied his hat trick a short time later, again by video referee Harrigan.

The game denigrated into a forward struggle between two desperate teams for the next half hour, with both sets of forward packs toiling hard in the slippery, cool conditions. Both teams tried desperately to score the knockout blow, but the only points added was though a Wes Naiqama penalty goal in the 67th minute.

Naiqama scored a decisive try in the 73rd minute, after poor Panthers handling prevented them from snatching the lead, with another penalty goal to the Fijian winger handing the home side a crucial 24-16 lead.

Cooper capped off a fine return by crossing for his second try on the full time siren, handing the struggling joint venture club just their second victory of the season.

The Dragons now take on the Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium next Sunday, whilst Penrith have the enviable task of travelling to Dairy Farmers Stadium next Saturday night to take on the rejuvenated North Queensland Cowboys.


St George-Illawarra Dragons 28
Tries: Matt Cooper 2, Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Wes Naiqama
Goals: Wes Naiqama 4

Defeated

Penrith Panthers 16
Tries: Luke Rooney 2, Michael Gordon
Goals: Michael Gordon 2

At Oki Jubilee Stadium
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Round 5 Preview - Dragons VS Storm

April 14th 2007 06:01
St George-Illawarra Dragons VS Melbourne Storm @ Oki Jubilee Stadium, Saturday 14/04/07 5.30pm


There was plenty of soul searching this week at Dragons training, as coach Nathan Brown searched for answers to his side’s meek 40-4 capitulation to the Sharks last Monday night.

The once watertight Dragons defence was burst open at will by the confident Sharks, while the joint ventures attacking game was virtually non-existent. Things don’t get any better for the Dragons this week, as they take on one of the premiership frontrunners and favourites for the 2007 NRL crown, the Melbourne Storm.

Even though the Storm is undefeated so far this season, they have yet to dominate an opposition as they did so regularly last season, with the jury still out on the move to five-eight of dazzling centre, Greg Inglis.

Unfortunately for the Storm’s whiz kid, Inglis is set to miss the next month of football due to a knee injury, with the Melbourne side also without the services of handy interchange, Michael Crocker. The Dragons have their own injury concerns heading into this match, with big prop Jason Ryles and teenage fullback Brett Morris also under an injury cloud for this crucial home match for the Dragons.

While the Dragons are a much better team at Oki Jubilee Stadium, it is hard to see the struggling joint venture team causing an upset against the Melbourne Storm juggernaut. The Storm aren’t in the best of form at the moment, but after the Dragons shocking effort last Monday night, coupled with their short turn around, you would be a mug not to back the Storm in this one.

Prediction – Melbourne by 8


St George-Illawarra Dragons-
Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Wes Naiqama, Matt Cooper, Luke MacDougall, Richard Williams, Ben Hornby (c), Justin Poore, Tony Caine, Jason Ryles (c), Ashton Sims, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh
Bench - Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Dan Hunt, Sam Isemonger

Melbourne Storm –
Billy Slater, Matt Geyer, Matt King, Anthony Quinn, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Antonio Kaufusi, Cameron Smith, Brett White, Michael Crocker, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson
Bench - Sam Tagataese, Jeff Lima, Ben Cross, Steve Turner

Referee – Ben Cummins
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Round 3 NRL Previews - Dragons VS Cowboys

March 31st 2007 06:16
St George-Illawarra Dragons VS North QLD Cowboys @ WIN Stadium, 31/03/2007


In what must be increasingly frustrating for Dragons coach Nathan Brown, the joint venture club’s premiership campaign could again be derailed by injury to key players. With Mark Gasnier ruled out for the season, Brown was forced to rely on the new halves partnership of Ben Hornby and Matthew Head to guide the team for the remainder of the season.

But unfortunately for coach Brown, Hornby has been ruled out through injury for this Saturday nights clash with the white hot North Queensland Cowboys, and in even worse news for the Dragons, it appears that Head may yet join him on the sidelines due to his chronic leg problems. Coupled with injuries to seven other regular first grade standard players, including new hooker Simon Woolford, the Dragons will field their youngest line-up this Saturday night.

There are no such worries for the North Queensland side however, with only new five-eight Jason Smith unable to play this weekend. Smith sprained his ankle in last weeks demolition of the Sydney Roosters, with versatile lock Justin Smith covering for the wily veteran this week.

If the Cowboys play anywhere near their potential at WIN Stadium tonight, then they could well rack up a cricket score against ‘Browns babes’. The combination of Thurston and Bowen in particular has been absolutely devastating in the Cowboys victories thus far, and if the giant Cowboys forward pack can continually get over the advantage line, then the North Queensland outside backs will have a field day.

Look to the Cowboys to record a large victory over the injury depleted Dragons outfit by 13 , with Matt Bowen, Ashley Graham or Johnathan Thurston in first try scorer calculations.


St George-Illawarra Dragons -
Josh Morris, Luke MacDougall, Keith Lulia, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Ben Hornby, Matthew Head, Justin Poore, Tony Caine, Jason Ryles, Ashton Sims, Corey Payne, Ben Creagh
Bench - Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Dan Hunt, Rangi Chase, Chris Houston, Lagi Setu, Chase Stanley

North Queensland Cowboys –
Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ashley Graham, Paul Bowman, Neil Sweeney, Jason Smith, Johnathan Thurston ©, Matthew Scott, Aaron Payne (vc), Carl Webb, Steve Southern, Luke O'Donnell, Justin Smith
Bench - Rod Jensen, Jacob Lillyman, Sione Faumuina, Shane Tronc, Scott Bolton
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St George-Illawarra Dragons Round 3 Analysis

March 29th 2007 12:30









Just when the Dragons look like they are turning the corner, the dreaded injury curse strikes again. Last Friday night saw new recruit Simon Woolford hobble off with an ankle injury, to compound the crisis that sees seven of his teaamtes currently out of action through injury.

The task doen't get any easier for 'Browns babes' this week, with the young Dragons team taking on a red hot Cowboys outfit. About the only thing running in the Dragons favour is that the match will be played at the former fortress of WIN Stadium.

If the Dragons are to be any chance at stopping the Cowboys juggernaut, than their forward pack must stop the Cowboys forwards from rolling over the advantage line. The less time that Thrston and Bowen have to weave their magic, then the better chance that the Dragons will have off jagging a much needed home victory.

Injuries -

Dean Young - knee - Round 7
Sam Isemonger - knee - Round 4
Mark Gasnier- ruptured pectoral - NRL Finals Series (possibly)
Brett Morris - broken finger - Round 5
Simon Woolford - ankle - Round 5
Beau Scott - foot - Round 7
Corey Payne - suspended - Round 4

Team VS North QLD Cowboys:-

Josh Morris, Luke MacDougall, Keith Lulia, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Ben Hornby, Matthew Head, Justin Poore, Tony Caine, Jason Ryles, Ashton Sims, Corey Payne, Ben Creagh
Bench - Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Dan Hunt, Rangi Chase, Chris Houston, Lagi Setu, Chase Stanley

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NRL Round 2 Preview - Dragons VS Knights

March 22nd 2007 13:21
St George-Illawarra Dragons VS Newcastle Knights @ Oki Jubilee Stadium
Friday 22nd March, 2007


ANALYSIS

The determination and spirit that both these young sides displayed last weekend, holds them in good stead for this Friday nights battle. While such names as Johns, Buderus, Gasnier and Head will be missing from this clash, the exuberance of youth and the reward of two competition points will be enough incentive for these two coastal rugby league superpowers.

While this game promises to be a forward dominated arm wrestle, there is still some amazing young talent in both backlines to keep audiences entertained. The showdown between the two MacDougall brothers promises to be a highlight worth tuning in for, while the clash between the two rising halves, Richard Williams for the Dragons and Jarrod Mullen for the Knights will go along way in determining the eventual victor.

This game will be a tight affair as both teams are missing their chief playmakers. Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen combined well last week after Johns’ injury, but Mullen will be partnering Daniel Abraham in the halves this week. Knowing coach Brian Smith’s penchant for team changes, look for Gidley to play five eight on Friday night, with MacDougall dropping back to fullback. Look for rookie hooker Terence Seu Seu to create havoc around the middle of the ruck, especially in th eddying minutes of each half.

For the Dragons, Simon Woolford was at his scheming best last week against the Titans, and his wily combination with Hornby and Williams might just get the Dragons home in front of a massive Oki Jubilee crowd. Keep an eye on replacement prop Danny Wicks – he can be a human wrecking ball coming off the bench, and I am sure coach Nathan Brown has instructed his outside backs to follow his charges closely.

In a tight affair, I am going for the Dragons by 6-10 points, on the basis of the joint venture having a more stabilised half/hooker combination.
St George-Illawarra Dragons to Win

DANGER MEN

Dragons – Simon Woolford, Ben Hornby, Matt Cooper, Jason Ryles
Knights – Kurt Gidley, Jarrod Mullen, Steve Simpson, Adam MacDougall


INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS

St George-Illawarra Dragons -
Dean Young - knee - Round 7
Matt Head - knee - Round 5
Sam Isemonger - knee - Round 4
Mark Gasnier- ruptured pectoral - NRL Finals Series (possibly)
Brett Morris - broken finger - Round 5
Justin Poore – suspended – Round 3

Newcastle Knights -
Andrew Johns - concussion - Round 3
Paul Franze - jaw - unknown
David Seage – knee - Season

TEAMS

St George-Illawarra Team-Josh Morris, Luke MacDougall, Keith Lulia, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Richard Williams, Ben Hornby, Dan Hunt, Simon Woolford, Jason Ryles, Ashton Sims, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh
Bench - Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Corey Payne, Tony Caine

Newcastle Team- Kurt Gidley, James McManus, George Carmont, Brad Tighe, Adam MacDougall, Daniel Abraham, Jarrod Mullen, Josh Perry, Terence Seu Seu, Adam Woolnough, Steve Simpson ©, Clint Newton, Kirk Reynoldson
Bench - Todd Polglase, Cory Paterson, Matthew White, Daniel Tolar
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Posted By: StephenP - Category: St George-Illawarra Dragons
   


St George-Illawarra Dragons Round 1

March 15th 2007 13:13
St George-Illawarra Dragons Analysis -










Notoriously slow starters to the season, the injury depleted Dragons head to Suncorp Stadium this Sunday with only 3 representatives stars available for their clash with the Gold Coast Titans.

After experiencing a mass exodus of experienced players over the NRL off season, the last thing that Coach Nathan Brown would have wanted heading into the opening rounds of the premiership, was injuries to key players.

Unfortunately though, the six injured players are all ususally walk up starters for the joint venture, and it will be tough opening month for Brown as the Dragons also meet the Bulldogs and Storm in the coming weeks.

Injuries:-

Dean Young - Knee - Round 7
Matt Head - Knee - Round 5
Sam Isemonger - Knee - Round 4
Mark Gasnier- Ruptured Pectoral - NRL Finals Series (possibly)
Brett Morris - Thumb - Round 5
Justin Poore - Suspended - Round 3

Team VS Gold Coast Titans:-

Josh Morris, Luke MacDougall, Keith Lulia, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Richard Williams, Ben Hornby ©, Dan Hunt, Simon Woolford, Jason Ryles ©, Ashton Sims, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh
Bench - Adam Peek, Danny Wicks, Corey Payne, Tony Caine, Lagi Setu
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Posted By: StephenP - Category: St George-Illawarra Dragons
   


NRL Week 2 Semi-Final Review

September 17th 2006 21:12
NRL Semi-Finals Week 2 Match Reports and Scores

St George-Illawarra VS Manly Sea-Eagles

In a dangerous warning to their premiership rivals, the St George-Illawarra Dragons flexed their title credentials at Aussie Stadium last Friday night, running out convincing winners 28-0.

The promise of a rugged, tightly contested war of attrition never eventuated, as the Dragons took control of the game early in the first half, and cruised to a five try to nil win over a Manly team seemingly suffering stage fright.

It took the Dragons twenty minutes to gain the ascendency, with a Ben Creagh bust on halfway putting the Dragons in good field position. From the ensuing play the ball, rookie Dragons winger Brett Morris accepted a brilliant flick pass from Clint Greenshields to score near the posts. The conversion from hooker Aaron Gorrell made it 6-0 after 21 minutes.

St George-Illawarra went further in front in th e27th minute when Manly veteran Steve Menzies was ruled to be offside after full back Brett Stewart spilt a bomb. Gorrell slotted another goal to make it 8-0.

The first of a handful of controversial decisions against the Dragons happened in the 31st minute, as five-eight Trent Barrett seemed to have booted a huge 40/20 kick. Referee Paul Simpkins forwarded the decision upstairs as Barrett’s kick passed bounced over the sideline dangerously close to the corner post. After a handful of replays, video referees Tim Mander and Chris Ward ruled the ball had indeed brushed the corner post, and instead of the Dragons being on the attack, Manly received a free restart on the 20metre mark.

A dropped ball from Manly three tackles after the tap restart resulted in the Dragons peppering the Sea-Eagles try line with wave after wave of attack. The Dragons crossed the try line in the 34th minute, and once again the Dragons were on the rough end of the decision, with a No Try ruling being decided by the video referee, after Manly half Matt Orford was deemed to have been interfered with by a Dragons chaser. The Dragons held on to their 8-0 lead at the half time break.

Nothing changed for the Sea-Eagles in the second half, with a penalty in the opening set of six putting the Dragons right back on the attack. St George-Illawarra utility back crossed for a try, to extend the lead to 12-0 after 41 minutes.

The game turned into a bit of an arm wrestle for the next twenty minutes, as Manly tried desperately to hold onto their season. There attacking raids were thwarted by terrific Dragons defence, which is definitely pleasing for Coach Nathan Brown.

Brett Morris produced another magical pass to set up rookie centre Daryl Millard for a try in the 64th minute, after a great break from Clint Greenshields. Matthew Head missed his second goal kick of the night, and St George-Illawarra led 16-0 with fifteen minutes to play.

A try to Matt Cooper sealed the win for the Dragons just three minutes later, after a skilful grubber kick by Dragons second rower Ashton Sims. Wes Naiqama’s conversion from the sideline put St George-Illawarra up 22-0 and well on their way to a showdown with the Melbourne Storm this Saturday night.

Brett Morris capped off a big night when he crossed for his second try with three minutes left on the clock. Morris did it all himself as he fielded a drop out kick on the halfway line, and continued on a fifty metre weaving run, beating defenders with both pure pace and magical footwork on his way to the try line. The Gorrell conversion made it 28-0.

St George-Illawarra Dragons 28 (Morris 2, Hornby, Millard, Cooper tries; Gorrell 3, Naiqama goals)
defeated
Manly Sea-Eagles 0
at Aussie Stadium


Brisbane Broncos VS Newcastle Knights

Brisbane and Newcastle competed for a right to play the Bulldogs on Saturday night at Aussie Stadium, with the rampant Broncos firing a warning to the Belmore based club, running out 50-6 over a humiliated Knights outfit.

In what was a mistake riddled first half by the Newcastle team, the Broncos controlled field position and capitalised on their opponents mistakes, racing to a 24-0 lead at halftime.

Newcastle started the match full of running, and dominated the Broncos for the opening ten minutes. But a mistake by Knights forward Kirk Reynoldsen gifted the Brisbane team their first try, with David Stagg scoring in the corner after some scintillating sideline to sideline Bronco ball movement. A magnificent sideline conversion by makeshift goal kicker Darren Lockyer provided the 6-0 lead.

Another mistake by Reynoldson deep inside Knights territory presented the Brisbane team with their second try through Brent Tate. The Corey Parker conversion made it 12-0 after 19 minutes.

Further tries to Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt gave the Brisbane team an unassailable 24-0 lead at half time, and things went from bad to worse after the break for the Knights.

A 43rd minute penalty goal to Corey Parker and a 47th minute converted try to Dane Carlaw secured the result for the Broncos, with Newcastle’s demeanour justifiably shot.

Three converted tries in the space of six minutes brought up the half century for the Broncos, with the northerners turning on some breath taking attacking rugby league. Petero Civoniceva’ try in the 54th minute, was followed up by a scintillating Brisbane backline movement two minutes later. Darren Lockyer finished the movement with a try under the posts, after he himself handled twice in the lead up. Rookie winger Darius Boyd crossed three minutes later after yet another exquisite Broncos attacking raid, with Corey Parker kicking his seventh goal of the night to bring up the 50 for Brisbane.

Newcastle fullback Kurt Gidley never gave up trying all night, and was rewarded in the 77th minute with a try off an Andrew Johns flick pass. The Johns conversion finished the scoring for both teams for the night, and the Brisbane side will go into Friday nights clash with Canterbury brimming with confidence after their 44 point thrashing.

Brisbane 50 (Stagg, Tate, Hodges, Hunt, Carlaw, Civoniceva, Lockyer and Boyd tries; Parker 7, Lockyer goal)
defeated
Newcastle Knights 6 (Kurt Gidley try; Johns goal)
at Aussie Stadium


Week 3 NRL Semi-Final Schedule

Friday Night –
Canterbury Bulldogs VS Brisbane Broncos at Telstra Stadium

Saturday Night –
Melbourne Storm VS St George-Illawarra Dragons at Telstra Stadium

Cheers,

StephenP
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