News is filtering through that Jamie Soward is leaving the Dragons early, before linking up with the Panthers in 2014. According to people that know things, it’s a matter of if, not when.
The Soward era, for all intents and purposes is over.
And no one at the Dragons, no players, coaches or supporters, seems to care.
It’s kind of understandable. Jamie Soward is incredibly selfish as a player, and had been killing time this season until he could get to Penrith.
He’s been playing poorly ever since Wayne Bennett left for Newcastle, and he just seems to be inherently unlikeable (although, “The Cat in the Hat” is one of the great rugby league nicknames).
However, when Soward is firing he is a very good player. His long kicking game is second to none, his long passing game is effortless and when he wants too his speed and light stepping can be a nightmare for any opposition.
The Dragons will miss Soward, weather they want to admit it or not.
Gareth Widdop is an excellent purchase for them, but a Widdop-Soward halves combination is far more preferable to a Widdop-Fien or Widdop-Drinkwater combo.
This is assuming they don’t sign Sam Williams. I pray daily to a variety of gods that Williams stays in Canberra. He’s going to become a very good player.
Soward has scored more points for St George-Illawarra than anyone else, played three games for NSW in 2011 (and if Bennett stayed at Saints he would have played more), almost won the Dally M in 2009 and played a big role in Saints winning the grand final in 2010.
So why have the Dragons faithful turned on him so vehemently?
Yes it must be frustrating to see a player care more about himself than the team, but has he already exhausted all his credit from the Bennett years?
While Soward must take some of the blame for the way the Dragons have performed over the past two seasons, and the way he has performed personally, he seems to have copped the brunt of the fallout behind the decline of the Dragons as they transitioned from Bennett to Price.
Soward has suffered greatly from a mass exodus of much of the pack that were so dominant during Bennett’s tenure, and they have never really been adequately replaced.
Jeremy Smith, Neville Costigan, Justin Poore, and Beau Scott are all gone.
Michael Weyman is as injury prone as he was in his Canberra days.
His fellow playmakers have all left. Ben Hornby, the rock on which the side was built, was put out to pasture when his time ran out.
The other creative player at the Dragons, Darius Boyd, followed Bennett to Newcastle. Gasnier is gone, Cooper is crocked, the only real weapons he has are Morris and Nightingale, and they are more adept at finishing chances than creating them.
It takes a very special player to successfully be the sole attacking threat for a football team. Better players than Soward have failed at the task.
It was easy to snicker when Soward signed for Penrith, but I expect him to be a success next year (if he gets there).
The key to getting the best out of Soward has always been about getting him focused and putting him in an environment in which his ego is either satiated or can be controlled.
Bennett was able to do so, probably because he is Wayne Bennett. Ivan Cleary was able to get the best out of the New Zealand Warriors, the flightiest, laziest and most enigmatic squad in the NRL. If Cleary can do that, then getting Soward to fire will be a cakewalk by comparison.
He’ll play behind a pack with Lewis Brown, Elijah Taylor, Sika Manu and Tim Grant. He’ll have Matt Moylan chiming in to take the pressure off, and he’ll be a mentor to the promising Issac John. He’ll be the boss, the big man on campus, but have enough of a supporting cast that the team will not live and die by Soward’s performance.
It’s perfectly understandable for Dragons fans to hate the way Jamie Soward quit on the club.
But they can’t forget his contribution to their latest era of success. In the end, his personality has made people forget his talent, and for him to slink away like this is a sad ending to his time at the club.
Jason
Guest
I'd love to see Sam Williams at the Dragons, he's not gonna get any game time behind Campese and McCrone at Canberra so they should do the honourable thing and let him seek out greener pastures.
Shauno71
Guest
As long as he continues to refer to himself in 3rd person. Everyone loves that...
Devout Saint
Guest
Yeah I hope we get Williams too. He looked good at the end of last year for Canberra. I think Widdop will go alright too, but my biggest concern is that I don't think that Kyle will get a fair shot at playing 5/8 for us in first grade. I have big wraps on Kyle and so do Saints players and coaching staff. He was promoted to the first grade squad aged 18, but has only played one game and 6 minutes at 5/8. He should have been our 5/8 since 2011. I think he is one of the worst examples of mismanaging a player's career I have ever seen. He has spent more time on the bench and coming on playing hooker than he has spent playing 5/8 since 2010. To top it off we have had SCARED Soward blocking his path. I fear that he could be what Thurston is to Canterbury, one of our biggest errors ever. Time will tell. I have heard from 2 different sources that we are getting Josh Morris back next year, one of those sources was Matty Johns on one of his shows in Foxtel last week. But the catch was that Canterbury were getting Folau and now Canterbury are bauking at Folau's 800K a season asking price.
Mr Taylor
Guest
I would have to agree apart from Jamie's goal kicking and kicking in general play (which has been quite average of late) he does not bring enough to the table in regards to taking the line on also in committing defenders and passing late to open up the defense. have the Dragons suffered by not having a regular half? yes they have but they have suffered more under Sowards lazy and predictable play they have become a team that relies on kicking to the corners to score our points not only will they struggle to make the eight trying win football games with such tactics it is also incredibly predictable and from a fans perspective quite boring. I think Sam Williams would be a fantastic signing from what i have seen of him and compared to how Soward has been playing the last couple of seasons it will be a breath of fresh air having a half willing to take the line on the points will flow from that.
Devout Saint
Guest
I like the cat in the hat nick name. lol Now Nick. Soward is too AFRAID to play tackle footy. He hardly ever even gets touched. He hides in defence. An article last week said that he misses 1/4 of all tackles he attempts to make. The worst thing is that he supposed to be a playmaker. but he is too AFRAID to go to the line and commit defenders bdfore throwing a good late ball to put his runners through a hole. so every pass or kick is far enough away from the defensive line to make sure that he can not even get touched after he passes or kicks the ball. no grubbers in goal for repeat sets as one has to be close to the defensive line to put a grubber in goal and even get hit just as one kicks it and getting hit is not a part of Sowards game. Soward will not straighten up the attack and create room for his runners. Soward even made Gasnier look average. He is also too afraid to take on the line, because he is afraid of getting tackled. He will not throw a dummy and go himself alah Thurston because if the defence doesn't fall for it he gets hit. No double pumps either. All he has got is his kicking game and that is over rated anyway. Take away his kicking game and he has got sweet FA. Watch and learn next year Nick and all the other Soward lovers.
seven dollers worth
Guest
He is better of going away for a while.
Football_illiterate
Guest
ha!! a supportive and professional environment.. what do you think soward would do to get a piece of this mythical supportive and professional environment??
Sunil
Guest
Whats the difference between what happened to Jamie and what happened to Reni Matua? Both were told they weren't wanted next year and its fine for Reni to skip a match and weigh up his future yet Jamie is meant to cop it sweet. I can't remember a more passionate dragons man than Jamie. I think he was owed a much better send off and whatever happens with Price, the way he handled Jamie will leave a stain on his name forever.
The eye
Guest
When I first heard it ,petrol seventy cents a litre made me giggle.
Nick Campton
Roar Pro
It's one of my favourite nicknames, right after Phil "Whatsapacketa" Sigsworth
The eye
Guest
Pleasure,regarding Dugan I was naturally talking like you were with Moylan,the future and what COULD be..cat in the hat line is funny,more so as a panther
Nick Campton
Roar Pro
I'm sure there are a lot of Saints fans who still rate Soward, but most of the ones I spoke to were glad to see the back of him. I think "prickly" might be a nice way to describe Soward and Price's relationship! Thanks for reading
Nick Campton
Roar Pro
Mate he's only played 2 games with Dugan. Dugan does have more to his game, but they weren't given any time to develop a combinations. Merrin is a great player, one of my favourites, but he's been playing a lone hand in the forwards for most of the season (Weyman just can't stay on the field) Thanks for reading
Clark
Guest
If I remember correctly , in the game NSW won he set up the match winning try for Mini by taking on the line, amazing what happened when he actually decided to do I. Personally I reckon it's quite unfair on the guy how it's all worked out for him. Dragons have made the wrong choice in not extending this Sowards contract, who gave his all for the Red V when the obvious problem is that they don't have a #7 (fiens a good player but he isn't a halfback), quite disappointing how it's all going to end but in saying that, it will be interesting to see if he can get back to his best at Penrith
oldcodger
Guest
Not a Jamie Soward fan ! But he is a type of player who could bounce back. Playing for a new club
jack
Guest
Jamie Sowarth has got what he deserves his preformances of late have been very ordinary how he ever played state of origin is beyond me, good luc panthers jack
The eye
Guest
He'll play behind Lewis Brown,Elijah Taylor and Sika Manu..big whoop,currently behind rep.players Merrin ,Creagh,Weyman and young guns Rein and Frizelle..Matt Moylan chiming in ? Think J. Dugan has a little more to his game..At the end he wasn't even kicking goals anymore and his general kicks in play were a shadow of what they were in the days of Benny.Good luck to him but glad he's not joining my club
Chris Wright
Guest
Well this article is a little off when it comes to the facts. Jamie Soward is well liked at the Dragons by most of the fans (not all). He is forever linked to the 2010 premiership. Soward also desperately wanted to stay with the Dragons, the Penrith offer was made pre-season but Soward hung on waiting for an offer from St George Illawarra. That offer never came. Steve Price has had a prickly relationship at best with Soward, a situation created by both parties. In the end Price and the recruitment team saw a future with Gareth Widdop at the center with either Josh Drinkwater or Sam Williams along side. No offer ever came Soward's way and when it became obvious it was not coming, only then did he sign with Penrith. Good luck Jamie, we Dragons fans will always remember you fondly.
Far Cough
Guest
Sounds more like a sour grapes article from a typical Raiders tragic to me, I wouldn't give up my day job rookie. Most dragon fans ARE sad to see Soward leave but are more excited to see Widdop arrive, many of us will never forget what Soward did for us in 2010 in our Premiership year, when you're blokes had their EPIC CHOKE to the West Tigers at your home semi lol What I'm hearing is Williams is a done deal to the dragons from next season so suck it up Princess and btw thanks for discount Dugan he appears to be working out quite nicely now he is in a supportive and professional environment.
brett the manly fan
Guest
I hope sam williams stays at canberra........i though they had resigned him...plus the dragons already have drinkwater