By Alan Nicolea -
February 9th 2010 @ 1:58am
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2010 to be the Year of the Dragon
Jamie Soward is chased down by Sika Manu during NRL Round 19, Melbourne Storm vs St George Illawarra Dragons, at Olympic Park, Melbourne, Monday, July 21, 2008. Melbourne won 26-0. AAP Image/Action Photographics/Jeff Crow
The opening round of season 2009 saw the St George Illawarra Dragons faced with the uneviable task of playing the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park – a match which saw the Red V display the credentials necessary that would see it lift the Minor Premiership 26 weeks later.
It was Wayne Bennett’s first game in charge of a Dragons unit that has continually under achieved despite a roster containing some of the NRL’s most solid players.
Having farewelled coach Nathan Brown and key figures Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles during the off-season, the Dragons approached a new dawn under master coach Wayne Bennett, and the signs early on proved very encouraging.
Despite losing to the Storm in Golden point extra-time, the Dragons had showed enough in that performance to suggest the side was ready to make its presence felt come early October.
And for the majority of season 2009, it appeared as if the Dragons had mastered the ability to perform at their best when expectations were at their highest.
Terrific away wins against the Brisbane Broncos and the Parramatta Eels in consecutive weeks arguably layed the platform for a dominant showing that culminated in a seven match-winning streak during the latter stages of the season.
The Dragons winning run was eventually ended by the Canberra Raiders – a 24-12 loss that unfortunetly signalled the start of another late season collapse.
Wayne Bennett’s men would go on and lose 12-2 to a resurgent Brisbane Broncos outfit at home before succumbing meekly to rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs 41-6 a week later.
Despite securing the Minor Premiership with a thumping 37-0 victory against the Parramatta Eels, the result did little in the end to revive what looked such a promising Premiership campaign.
The loss of form and confidence paved the way for the Dragons to become the first Minor Premiers in the NRL to bow out of the finals thanks to consecutive losses against the Eels and Broncos.
With season 2010 now just around the corner, the Dragons will once again approach the year as one of the teams most favoured to lift the Telstra Premiership.
Their roster is well balanced, with speed to burn in the backline, a smart halves combination and a hard working yet, mobile forward pack.
Fullback Darius Boyd proved to be one of the main revelations for the Dragons last season, consolidating his status as one of the NRL’s best kick returners, notching up over 1460 metres throughout the course of 2009.
His ability to get past the first line of defence was invaluable in allowing the Dragons to constantly set themselves up in good field position.
Test winger Brett Morris finished as the leading tryscorer in season 2009, scoring 25 tries in 24 matches.
His success on the flanks was largely attributed to the service provided by the terrific halves combination of Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby, who at times, had all the time in the world to produce the clinical pass or kick which would lead to a four pointer.
Of course, such time with the football in hand is only possible thanks to the hard work of a Dragons forward pack that proved too strong for the majority of opposition last year.
Michael Weyman, Jeremy Smith, Ben Creagh, Dean Young, Neville Costigan and Dan Hunt all layed the foundations for the Dragons successes up the middle of the park and out wide.
The versatility of players such as Ben Creagh and Beau Scott in particular provided the Dragons with an edge in attack not many teams where able to defend.
There is no doubting the Dragons have the players and game necessary to lift the Premiership in 2010 and signal the start of a dominant era for the Red V.
When placed under pressure though, the Dragons have tended to resort to passive tactics, and often become one of the most error prone and penalised teams in the competition.
Their finals showing against the Eels at Oki Jubilee was the very definition of a side that buckled under the pressure of finals football, becoming too hesitant in attack against a team they had beaten 37 nil a week earlier.
Such lapses in form cannot be repeated if the Dragons are to win their maiden NRL Premiership.
If they can tick that box, then there is no question why the Red V can’t make 2010 the year of the Dragon.
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(22)
Brett McKay said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:35am | Report comment
Love it Alan, it’s only Feb 9 and already you’ve got the Dragons fans in the corner in the foetal position cowering under the weight of expectation!!
On a serious note, I’m having trouble selecting an early favourite this year. Saints would be up there, no doubt, but I wonder how big a loss Justin Poore might be??
alan nicolea said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Brett
I too had trouble picking a favourite but i went for the Dragons despite their horrific collapse. Surely it can’t happen two years in a row under the guidance of Wayne Bennett? I have not disregarded the Bulldogs and Eels by any means and teams such as the Broncos and Storm will once again cause severe headaches and will fight tooth and nail for Premiership success. Poore is a big loss but i feel the Dragons have some great depth in the forwards. I presume either Jarrod Saffy or Dan Hunt will take his place. Hunt in particular produced some stand out performances and looks worthy of a starting position.
Brett McKay said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:35am | Report comment
I can’t argue with that logic too much Alan, no doubt Bennett is key. I’d be quite happy if the Dragons did come through this year, but I can’t split them from the four other tems you’ve named, along with the two other Qld teams, and Souths, as Jay mentions below. My only question mark about Souths though is their halves. If were on forward packs alone, they’d nearly be a lay down mizere…
M-Rod said | February 14th 2010 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
The key to Dragon’s success in 09 was also their downfall in the finals – the formula of disciplined pack of forwards taking the ball up for the first 4 tackles aiming to get position for some adventurous play by soward on the 5th was all too easily read by the end of the season, and became a pattern they were unable to break out of when needed in the finals. Parra and Broncos easily nullified the one up forward running and adopted a freelance style of play that had the Dragons on the backfoot straight away.
The Broncos under Wayne Bennet had the mix worked out perfectly – fast mobile forwards, always running on the look out for opportunities and a confidence that encouraged risk taking with players of class to back it up. Dragons on the other hand show glimpses but still play a conservative, predictable style that hopefully Wayne can draw them out of.
Only other thing I’d say about Darius’ return runs was that he squandered opportunities by not looking to pass to his support when in broken play and gaps all over the field. He has the blinkers on when running and missed offloads to guns like Morris, Soward and Cooper who were in support and unmarked.
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:09am | Report comment
It will be the year of Western Sydney
Eels, Tigers and Bulldogs will fight it out
Not convinced on Soward seems to be a bit like Orford that he crumbles and has no ideas come finals time
alan nicolea said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Mitch
I would not be surprised if that were the case. The jury is still out on the Tigers and Eels in terms of consistency but the Bulldogs for mine look a very safe bet. A fascinating season awaits.
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:42am | Report comment
agree about that, looking at the Tigers squad its a really really good squad lol
Dogs will be a interesting one, so consistant last year, just hope guys like Idris,Morris and Roberts can back it up
Jay said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Dont forget Souths aswell.. they are a real darkhorse in 2010.
Broncos and Storm are always up there… Cowboys and Titans have a solid squad….. Panthers could also surprise..
its going to be another cracking season!
Tinnie said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Panthers are my dark horse, the closer you look it’s hard to discount any team though if they can pull it together as we’ve seen the Panthers, Tigers & Eels do in past years.
I still have a feeling one of these years Canberra are going shock everyone with a blistering run into the eight, the talents there, every season they go through these patches knocking off a few of the top teams in a row, only to stumble again to miss the 8. Very hot and cold, but when they’re hot…..
Then theres the Roosters, hard to discount any team couched by Brian Smith, may not happen over night but i can near guarantee that teams gonna be moving in a positive direction within the next two seasons.
Mick from Giralang said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:37am | Report comment
They key for Saints will be Soward. He largley had a great year but when the pressure was on at the back end of the season he wilted. I get the feeling he is mentally fragile.
Tinnie said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Sorry Mick gotta disagree with you buddy, the key once again is gonna be in the forwards. The teams that were able to stall the momentum of the Dragons forward pack and pressure the halves were the most sucessful. If the forwards arent steam rolling the opposition, the saints are struggling. I’m not sold on Soward for the exact reason you mentioned, when the Saints have all pistons firing he’s great, when the Saint’s are on struggle-street he is quite ordinary.
Mick from Giralang said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Yep good point about the pack, no half back in the world can dominate without go forward. I like Soward (he’s had to survive some tough personal issues) and hope he goes on to have a good year .He credited Sailor with helping him believe in himself last season — he’ll have to survive without him this year.
Andrew Watson said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Saints will feature in the Top 8. Too much Discipline week in, week out from the master coach to not be there.
My concern was not so much how they handles the pressure of finals football, but they didnt seem to go up to another level. The NRL is 2 comps in one. The week to week grind and then its starts again come finals time. Do they have an X factor to unleash come finals time? The Melbourne’s, Brisbane’s and Parra built in the last 4 weeks of the premiership and it was obvious to me those 3 were going to feature with the Bulldogs (due to the draw) in the 2 weeks of the comp.
Can they win the premiership? I think not, and the Titans are in the same boat. They both remind me of the North Sydney Bears in the 90’s. Great week to week, but nothing come finals time…
MyGeneration said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Gotta say it’s a bit early for this kind off stuff, although it will be good to see the Dragons’ odd ridiculously short as usual so I can back against them. In the era of the salary cap and no team having a lot of depth, I like to see how teams respond to a few injuries before getting too excited. Other than that, obviously the Mighty Seags are better than everyone else and are morals to go through the season undefeated (not counting trial games)!
Andrew Watson said | February 9th 2010 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Manly is my tip for the Wooden Spoon
Norm said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:47pm | Report comment
I’m relieved to hear that Andrew as I feared the Roosters would do a back to back.
Andrew Watson said | February 10th 2010 @ 8:09pm | Report comment
Norm, Roosters are specials. Dont underestimate the influence of Politis. When he speaks…people listen.
The chooks react well to a ’shake-up’. Further more, they have bought well. Their best buy was Brian Smith. Most people think Smithy brings discipline, but the real thing Brian delivers is CULTURE.
Ryles, Hargreves & Carney are a great fit when you have guys like Anasta, Pearce, Myles, Perrett and those young backrowers/props like Symonds and co.
A good Culture and Professionism will see the tri-colours make vast improvements this year. I think they will finish 6th to 8th…
Andy said | February 10th 2010 @ 7:04am | Report comment
Forget st choke, my picks for the premiership would be melbourne, parramatta and manly especially if the replacement half can kick better than orford and with lyon at 5/8, also if stewart does not go to jail there is no reason why they cannot win the premiership.
Andrew Watson said | February 10th 2010 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
Andy, it takes alot more than class on the paddock.
Half of the Manly team play for Penn, the other for Delemge. Until this is sorted, you will have a long season. The off-feild drama only started to hit the team last year. Wait for the drama to hit the headlines early this year.
My prediction of Manly for the wooden spoon wasnt delt litely, but they will have some competition. They will be in the running with Newcastle. If Rick Stone cant pick the team he wants, then they are also in for a long year…
Hasler will be the first casualty. Bozzo wont be able to save him this time. From there, its gonna go downhill quickly…
MyGeneration said | February 10th 2010 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
Andrew, after seeing your statement “Rooster are specials”, I know you are in a dream world. Don’t wear out the keyboard sleep-typing. Manly have never had the wooden spoon in their cutlery drawer, and it won’t happen under Master Chef Hasler!
Andrew Watson said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
Thought it was better tapping away here than watching ’so you think you can dance’ with the missus.
62 years and no wooden spoon? Pretty impressive!!!
Yapping about the Chooks is simply a distraction from telling everyone how good the Tigers are gona go this year
MyGeneration said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:41pm | Report comment
Will definitely be more wary of the Tigers than the Feather Dusters…