St George Illawarra will be desperate to end one of rugby league’s most famous hoodoos on Saturday afternoon when they travel to the nation’s capital to face the besieged Canberra Raiders.
No matter where the two teams are on the premiership ladder, and no matter the venue, the Raiders always seem to lift when they play the Dragons.
The Raiders have only lost to the Dragons once since 2001, when mid-season import Jamie Soward scored 22 points as the Dragons thumped the Raiders 58-16 at Wollongong in July 2007.
Other than that, the closest the Dragons got was a 21-all draw at WIN Stadium in 2002.
They thought they had done enough when Jamie Soward kicked what appeared to be the match-winning field goal in Round 20, 2011, only for the Raiders to score the match-winning try straight from the kick-off.
Their latest bid to end the Canberra curse will feature three ex-Raiders wearing the Red V on Saturday afternoon: Josh Dugan, Joel Thompson and Bronson Harrison. The trip to Canberra will also be the first for Dugan since he was sacked by the club in March last year following a series of repeated breaches.
Dugan’s form has improved since Paul McGregor took over as head coach towards the end of May, earning him State of Origin selection on the back of scoring a hat-trick in the Dragons’ 30-0 thrashing of Cronulla in Round 13.
Although the Dragons have lost their last two matches to further drift away from finals contention, the team has improved on a whole since the sacking of Steve Price in May, and there are calls for McGregor to be given the full-time role ahead of the 2015 season.
The Dragons’ most recent win in Canberra came in a year where they failed to reach the finals, as opposed to the Raiders finishing fourth under the coaching of now-Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga.
Additionally, Trent Barrett won the Dally M Medal that year after moving into his more comfortable position of five-eighth following Anthony Mundine’s shock defection to boxing midway through that year.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have had it tough this year, and will miss the finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1985-86. They are also in danger of claiming the wooden spoon for the first time since their first year, 1982.
Coach Ricky Stuart is also in danger of becoming the first coach since Tommy Raudonikis in 1998-99 to claim consecutive wooden spoons, having finished last with the Parramatta Eels last year.
Only the Cronulla Sharks’ poorer percentage is keeping the Raiders off the bottom of the table, and their showdown next week may well decide who claims the NRL’s most unwanted prize for season 2014.
But this week, the Raiders can only focus on what’s in front of them as they return home for the first time since suffering an embarrassing 54-18 loss to the New Zealand Warriors in Round 21.
For the Warriors, who have remarkably improved under the coaching of former Canberra favourite son Andrew McFadden since he replaced another former Canberra identity in Matthew Elliott, it was their first win in the nation’s capital since 2001, and first at Canberra Stadium since 1997. Surely it served as inspiration for the Dragons.
It’s time for the Dragons to draw a line in the sand, like New South Wales did to end their long losing State of Origin drought to Queensland. Or as Hawthorn did to defeat the Geelong Cats, after 11 straight losses between 2009 and 2013, to reach last year’s grand final at their expense. And the Waratahs when they ended a decade-long hoodoo against the Crusaders to win the Super Rugby title earlier this month.
Will the Raiders, despite their woeful season continue their dominance against the Dragons, or will the tide finally turn?
The eye
Guest
It'd be interesting to see a chronicle of hoodoos..written by a guru..
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Runciman should have always been in the centres with Morris outside him but I think it looks unlikely he will be back this season. Putting Runciman in the centres in defence only and Beale there in attack was a failure. Beale at fullback is an experiment which we might as well try because this season is already over even if they win the next 4 games unless they can win all matches by very big scores. Quinlan has worked hard all season and has paid the cost for being too small. Dugan at centre is still an experiment so far as I am concerned and it could be that we will see Dugan and Beale swapping positions during the game. The Dragons have got rid of the Steve Price curse already this season and the Canberra curse will also go.
kevin dustby
Guest
its strange to have such a hoodoo against such an average team as the raiders
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Parra broke their Stadium Oz hoodoo recently, so there's a precedent.
George Walton
Guest
As long as dugan tanks it the same as he did in his last game for the Raiders, I'll be happy. He got injured or hurt in almost every tackle on the beautiful surface of Bruce Stadium, so I hope to see more of that! Dugan is a great player, and it's the kind of situation that will empower him, so I truly hope the teammates that he disrespected last year deal with him forcefully.
Muzz
Guest
Hey Charles, man this Raiders curse thing is full on ! Lets see what happens now that Ricky is in-charge.I hope Ricky doesn't curse the curse if they lose.
Charles NSW
Guest
Put your money on the Dragons Muzz! They will win this!
Muzz
Guest
Who are you tipping, Felix?
Felix
Guest
As a punter and a tipster, I also care.
NRL /Steelers/dragons
Guest
Let's hope Beale does a better job at fullback. But I doubt it. His defence is the biggest issue for me. I'm hoping he is dropped when Runciman is back. Dugan at fullback, Mata'utia and Runciman as centres. The future!
Charles NSW
Guest
As a fan I care! It will be great to beat the Raiders and get that hoodoo off our back. I think McGregor has strengthened the backline by having Mata'utia at centre and Beale as fullback. Beale has always felt that was his best position so it would be a great opportunity to see what he can do. In regards to McGregor not being the coach that would be really sad. He is really showing some great potential!
ParraProud
Guest
Who cares - both these teams will have different coaches this time next year. But for what it's worth the raiders will win, the dragons struggle against bigger forward packs and Milford is due to have a big game.
Charles NSW
Guest
The coach can only work with what he has. Dugan can do both positions so that is a plus. If Beale is now the fullback it will be interesting to see how he goes.
The eye
Guest
Quinlan got punted which is good,can only hope having Beale there is a dummy and Mary will return Duges to his rightful position of No. 1..
Charles NSW
Guest
A great opportunity for McGregor to show his coaching ability He has the team and must make sure his team win this one!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Surely this time.
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
Sadly as a Raiders fan i'm pretty sure that Josh Dugan will somehow play a role ending the hoodoo. My personal highlights over the last five years or so of the hoodoo - Joe Picker scoring a 40m breakaway try in 2010 featuring a massive palm off on Jamie Soward and replays showing David Furner riding him home like he was on the Melbourne Cup winner - the Dugan try as time expired in 2011 after the Dragons fan bus broke down near Goulburn meaning their fans showed up just in time to see them take the lead with the field goal only to lose the game moments later - the 2008 game where Alan Tongue backed up from busted rib cartilage the week before and drove to Tamworth the day before the game to attend a funeral and was still awesome. Game also featured Colin Best - who would win winger of the year that year despite playing his best football at centre - torching incumbent NSW centre Mark Gasnier for the game winning try
Jono
Guest
How the Dragons managed to lose to the Raiders in 2011 I'll never understand as I was sure the "hoodoo" would be broken then given how terribly the Raiders were playing. You'd think the Dragons have to win, though back in 2011 they faced a Raiders side that was 2nd last and only had 5 wins as well...history shouldn't repeat itself.