St. George Illawarra Dragons’ coach Wayne Bennett (centre) with Jamie Soward and Dean Young celebrate thier teams win over Sydney Roosters during the NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Oct. 3, 2010. Dragons defeated the Roosters 32 to 8. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
St George Illawarra Dragons have turned on a five-star second half performance to win the merged entity its inaugural premiership, end a 31-year wait for the Kogarah based half, crown Wayne Bennett as the game’s greatest ever coach and kick-off an almighty party at the two Leagues clubs and plenty of pubs in between.
Bennett must have earned every dollar he’ll ever get from the Dragons during half-time when he turned around a side that was in danger of frittering away a golden opportunity to take the crown.
The game had started well enough for the team with the Red V when Mark Gasnier pounced on a Jamie Soward kick to open the scoring but a string of errors and some leaky defence suddenly put the Roosters on the front foot and in front on the scoreboard.
However, the two tries in quick succession to Braith Anasta and Mitchell Aubusson would be the last time the Roosters troubled the score board attendant.
That wasn’t the case for the team that everyone had labelled boring and conservative in the run up to this match as they piled on 26 unanswered points.
The Dragons attack punished the inexperienced Roosters right hand side defence of Kane Linnet and Joseph Leilua as Jason Nightingale enjoyed a field day ending with two tries.
But in the end it was the Dragons forwards that laid the platform. Conversely when the Roosters needed their pack to plough it forward on their own steam and not rely on field position via penalties or errors they just came up with nothing.
With no go-forward Todd Carney was forced to crab across field and the Dragons just weren’t going to let that cut it, especially as the track got heavy.
Once they wore them down the Dragons were ruthless. Dean Young crashed over with a pet play, game over.
Then Nathan Fien wrapped up with an almost comical effort.
It won’t matter to any Dragons fan but it became clear that the Gasnier return wouldn’t be without its consequences with their two best forwards from today Jeremy Smith and Neville Costigan both heading elsewhere in 2011.
As for their coach Wayne Bennett, it says something about a coach that ever since he took over at the Dragons it seemed like it was only a matter of time before he won them a comp.
Rugby league was full of rumours last week but Cowboys fans must be praying the one that was true was that Bennett would head to Townsville after his deal with the Dragons ends.
For Brian Smith, well the wait continues….
Those watching on the box were greeted by Ken Sutcliffe who told them within his first 30 seconds that the two teams were battling it out for “club rugby’s biggest prize” before adding “in the game of rugby league” just to make a complete dog’s breakfast of it.
Sutcliffe looked far more comfortable when he shifted into shamelessly plugging a sponsor when announced with incredible excitement that the game would be broadcast in 3D down the Eastern Seaboard, which would be “three times the fun”. I’m not quite sure how we came to that conclusion given the rest of the viewing audience were managing to make do with two-dimensional pictures.
God knows what he thinks of anyone who listens to the game via the radio these days.
Finally, I had to laugh when I thought about those rugby league fans who consider John Williamson as a good choice for the “young people” when the Justice Crew kicked off the entertainment.
Moaning about the entertainment at Grand Finals is almost a national past-time and I reckon it would almost be worth wasting four hours of my life listening to talkback radio just to hear what they made of it.
Hopefully they may have been satisfied by Dan Sultan’s efforts on vocals although he remains the only singer I’ve ever seen cover Mick Jagger while simultaneously fulfilling the criteria of “business casual”.
But that’s all about the window dressing, at crunch time the Dragons were too good, as they have been all year.
Susie
Guest
So what - The Mighty Dragons were victorious, they wanted the Premiership more than the roosters - why are some fans so hateful - I am, will be, & always have been a one eyed Dragons supporter, however I can see good players & good plays in other teams - if some of the Norms would get off their butts & try to do what all (not just Dragons) players & coaches etc do - work hard - they may be able to see a team that is proud inspired & true & deserving of a good win - they played well all year so get a life and just be faithful to your team & give credit where credit is due
The man
Guest
Nightingale has been great all season, however wingers don't win the big ones by finishing tries - it was Boyd (and Hornby) in defusing the countless bombs launched by the Roosters return to the early 80's strategy that played the major role in turning the game.
Gob Bluth
Guest
Did the AFL have Julie Anthony again? Big deal, who really cares about the anthem. The sort of people that are, are also excited by the entertainment lineup during lunch times at their local RSL.
Droppa
Guest
What about the National Anthem ? fair dinkum they love butchering it The AFL had Julie Anthony & we get that,its always amazed me how bad the GF entertainment is considering its a multi million dollar media company that owns half of the comp. also a 5.30 Sunday arvo kick off is stupid,it's just wrong. GO THE DRAGONS
TammyS
Guest
The Presets would be awesome and they're league fans too or bliss n eso, hilltop hoods or temper trap. Ive seen them all live and they're all amazing There are a lot more decent Aussie musicians(like the ones above) they should've gone for
Stu
Guest
As a neutral I hope a certain irony has not been lost. The Dragons.."chokers" beat a club that has lost how many grand finals? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
JohnB
Guest
That's sort of how I took the comment - I think he was surprised that they'd get anyone to do covers of anyone at what's a major event, and wasn't saying it in an "everything's better in the US" sort of way (entirely). Taken on that basis, I think it's a fair comment.
punter
Guest
The Dragons were awesome. I thought back to the Broncos first GF wins under Bennett in 92 & 93 both against the Dragons. I remember, being a Dragon fan, thinking back then, if the Broncos goes to another gear we must go with them to stay in the game, we couldn't in 92 & 93. I thought the same with the Dragons this final series, when they went to another gear, not many teams can live with them.
BennO
Guest
It was disappointing though, from an oz music perspective that we got You Am I to perform covers of the stones. We've got an incredible local music scene and the NRL pays one of the most respected bands in the country to do 30 year old English covers? I reckon one of the best moments from Origin in the last few years was when they got Grinspoon to play their song, Champion, live as the teams got ready to come out onto the field. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OBn_6Mxnto You might not like the song, but how's the atmosphere! The players and the crowd must have been psyched.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Good point about Boyd he didnt really do that much..
M1tch
Roar Guru
If had been the Supetbowl the players would be playing on astro turf and being wearing pads..
M1tch
Roar Guru
maybe the NRL just doesnt have that sort of money from 01-07 I'd right off pre game entertainment as they were night grand finals..
M1tch
Roar Guru
lol, seriously dude you cannot say RL fans are paranoid if here you are starting another code war!
NickF
Guest
It;s time the NRL bit the bullet and forked out the money for AC/DC to record a rugby league anthem, and get them to play at the GF.
Gob Bluth
Guest
I love how the maths are dodgy when they aren't what you want. You aren't employed by Joe Hockey are you redb?
Gob Bluth
Guest
It would take an American to point that out. I hope you pointed out that had we been watching the Super Bowl we might have got the Rolling Stones we would also have got a lot of obese men in helmets playing on of the most boring sports ever devised and it would have taken four hours...even worse you would probably had to put up with more Americans.
NickF
Guest
I really don't know why, in a rugby league section of the Roar, anyone cares what AFL does in comparison. I don't care about AFL, they can do what they want. The NRL has been great this year, I watched it and wil continue to watch it. My Dragons won. As they say on FBI radio's "Fire Up" rugby league show...."AFL, whatever that is." Let's stick to the topic that matters here.
Brett McKay
Expert
why why why must every thread turn into another bloody league/rules pissing contest?!?!? :mad: can't we just keep debate on topic?!?!
JohnB
Guest
An American I watched the game pointed out that if it had been the superbowl, it would have been the Rolling Stones playing, and not someone covering one of their songs.
Brett McKay
Expert
Jeff, I did notice that, but then they also mention several times - and Gus said the same earlier on the Sunday Roast - that they'd been recieving emails all week "reminding us not to forget Illawarra", so it was curious that they spoke both of an all-Sydney GF AND not forgetting Illawarra!!