St George Illawarra coach Steve Price says his players produced their worst performance of the season in Friday’s Anzac Day defeat by the Sydney Roosters.
Price’s team went down 34-14 in front of a crowd of 38,784 at Allianz Stadium and although the premiers were impressive for most of the game, the Dragons didn’t help themselves with a disappointing performance.
After halftime the joint-venture completed just 64 per cent of their sets and missed 17 tackles to move to 4-4 for the campaign having won their opening three matches.
Price was pleased his side went in at the break trailing just 18-8, having been on the back foot for most of the game.
“Our skipper Ben Creagh was our best today, he really led us,” said Price.
“We knew what we were going to get from the Roosters, but we had a lack of discipline in the first half and that really hurt us.
“There were areas of our game that we were doing really, really well earlier in the season that we weren’t too flash at today.”
Price pin-pointed the Jake Friend try just after halftime, when he kicked and regathered to score, as the nail in the coffin for his side.
“We want to be a benchmark footy club and we weren’t today. Parts of the game were positive but parts I was very disappointed with,” he said.
“That try early in the second half really hurt us.”
Charles NSW
Guest
I understand your frustrations Walter, the Saints have to be better than this! The players are trying but there are a number of issues that need to be addresed which the coach must correct. Sacking him may not be the answer. The coach and the players are all learning together as a new team and it will take some time to iron out their problems. It will be interesting how he will fix the right side defence which is leaking at the moment. He sees potential to have Green there so he needs to make sure the mistakes are corrected, if that is what he wants!
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Charles, The Dragons now have no hope with a long slow down hill slide to the bottom of the field. Price seems stuck on his centre choices none of which have displayed any great passing skills which leaves Morris and Nightgale only chasing kicks. Now I am noit saying that Beale is not worthwhile but maybe we should switch Morris to centre closer to the ball. Green is just that green and lost in the centres. Runciman is the obvious choice but Price must have some problem with him. Price should go now and the Dragon come up with an experienced coach.
Charles NSW
Guest
The Dragons still need a lot of work there is no doubt about that! They need to stop their silly penalties and poor defense for a start. They need to get back to the basics.They need to vary their attack such as kicking grubber kicks to the line instead of kicking to to the corners with the high kicks.