Today I continue my series naming each team’s best ever side. The St. George Illawarra Dragons team will be named, and this article will only focus on players who have played for the joint venture.
The Dragons have won two minor premierships and a grand final, today the best dragons XVII will be named.
1. Darius Boyd- 17 caps for Australia, 23 for Queensland, RLIF fullback of the year, Clive Churchill Medal Winner
Boyd was only at the Dragons for three years but he made the most his short time there.
One of the major reasons for Dragons’ dominance was that they had his ball skills and positional play.
His amazing performance in the 2010 grand final won him the Clive Churchill Medal demonstrates his skill.
2. Brett Morris- 18 caps Australia, 12 for NSW
Morris established himself as the best winger in the world at the Dragons. He is very fast, strong, solid in defence and just an all-round supreme athlete.
Morris was often the lone NSW player in Australian team backlines, showing his elite status as a winger.
3. Mark Gasnier- 15 caps for Australia, 12 for NSW, 2x Centre of the year
Gasnier had to play with burden of trying to live up to his uncle Reg who happened to be an Immortal. Gasnier was the best centre in the world before he left for French rugby. His tall frame, amazing footwork and ability to draw defenders get him in this side.
4. Paul McGregor- 3 caps for Australia, 14 NSW
‘Mary’ proved to be very dangerous ball runner with a size that was uncommon for centres. He was very quick off the mark, which enabled him to score plenty of tries.
5. Nathan Blacklock- 2 caps for Australia, 3x winger of the year
One of the greatest try scorers the game has ever seen, Blacklock is a total excitement machine.
He was the league’s leading try scorer for three straight years. His try in the 1999 grand final may be one of the greatest of all time.
6. Trent Barrett- 15 caps for Australia, 11 for NSW, five-eighth of the year Dally M Medal winner
Barrett made everything he did look so easy. He had the build of a back rower but was just as good in defence and attack. His 2000 season where he won the Dally M Medal was one for the ages.
Barrett played in a great era of halves and still managed over 20 representative caps.
7. Ben Hornby- 1 cap for Australia, 3 for NSW
The Dragons’ most-capped player, Hornby was never the flashiest. However, he was just solid in his game in all facets. He was very consistent in a position the Dragons have struggled finding stability at.
8. Luke Bailey- 4 caps for Australia. 15 for NSW, RLW Player of the year, Prop of the year
Bull Bailey was played like his nickname. He charged at opposition defences, intent on causing serious harm.
9. Dean Young- 1 cap for Australia, 1 for NSW
Young was a tackling machine who was often the leader of the Dragons defensive line. His versatility and toughness made a valuable player for the Dragons.
Young crying with his father after the 2010 grand final will go down as one of the best moments in rugby league history.
10. Jason Ryles- 15 caps for Australia, 8 for NSW
Ryles at full speed was one the most freighting sights. Standing at 194cm and 116 kilograms, Ryles could gain ten metres in his sleep. His career was plagued by injuries which really stopped him from reaching his potential.
11. Jeremy Smith- 22 caps for NZ
For the two years he was in St. George he was truly something special. He possessed ruthless aggression and knew how to use this to bust lines and bust opposition defences.
He was the best forward in the game in 2010. There was always something happening with the ball in his hands. His level of play is something that rarely will be reached.
12. Ben Creagh- 2 caps for Australia, 11 for NSW
Creagh doesn’t get the credit and respect he deserves. He is noted as one of the hardest workers by his teammates.
13. Shaun Timmins- Australia caps 9 times, 9 for NSW, Lock of the year
Timmins was a versatile player who played in the backs and the forwards.
Bench: Lance Thompson, Trent Merrin, Anthony Mundine, Craig Smith
The team is only 16 years old, but there is plenty of quality across the park. They won one grand final and were in one more but probably should have done better with the list they had.
This team is great, but is it the best ever?
David
Guest
Don't agree with this I would go Fullback J. Dugan Wing R. Wishart (he played for the steelers and St George Illwarra Dragons) Centre P. McGregor Centre M. Coyne Wing Coul go either Wendell Sailor or Jamie Ainscough or Nathan Blacklock 5/8 A. Mundine (people don't like him especially ncow but can't take it off him played great for the Dragons) 1/2 T. Barrett P C. Smith, L. Bailey , M. Weyman or J. Ryles H. N. Brown, N. Goldthorpe, M riddell or D. Young P. C. Smith, L. Bailey, M. Weyman or J. Ryles SR. B. Mackay, L. Thompson or C. Fitzgibbon SR. B. Mackay, L. Thompson or C. Fitzgibbon L. S. Timmons or W. Bartrim Interchange M. Cooper Wayne Bartrim or S. Timmons B. Creagh D. Young There was a lot more great Dragons players but these were my favourites.
Ken
Guest
Not really sure what point you were trying to make, I believe you were trying to point out a flaw in my reasoning. If we were doing this for some of the older UK clubs of course, you would have to decide whether to make a distinction between when they were playing under RU vs NU/RL. Of course my point was that the game played today is very different to the one played even a few decades ago, yet alone 100 years ago - you are happy to ignore that actual change in the game being played but are concerned about ownership structures.
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
Perhaps Boyd is the best fullback the St George Illawarra Dragons have ever had. Objectively, I believe Dugan will surpass him if he stays at the Dragons for a long time. Be that as it may, I still don't want Boyd in the team (call it sour grapes - I don't care). So I'm going to change my team around a bit. I'll move Barrett to 7 (where he won the 2000 Dally M medal), Soward to 6, and Hornby to fullback where he played half his career.
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
I don't think Boyd deserved the Churchill medal either - I would've given it to both Hornby and Nightingale ahead of Boyd.
tim
Guest
And they play rigby union too. Rugby league is only an "admin technicality." If it wasn't for Illawarra, the red V may not be there in any form.
Ken
Guest
Ah... 1921 that would be.... talk about ruining my own point.
Ken
Guest
Boyd was pretty useless in '09 and '11 - but in 2010 he was the best player in the team.
Ken
Guest
What about the other 80 years? Bit of a waste of time only focusing on the post 99 team due to an admin technicality. Ownership structures, private/public ownership structures, name changes, wholesale rule changes, different competitions - no team can claim a pure progression back before 1998 at best. Might as well focus on the footy, as some official NRL merchandise I have states 'St George Illawarra Dragons, since 1922'
matth
Guest
Well you would hope so
matth
Guest
Who cares who Boyd was trying to impress. He delivered the under-achieving Dragons a minor premiership and then a premiership (with Bennett and Soward). Why the sour grapes? Without these three the JV would still have no premierships and harking back to how good it was in the sixties.
Lachlan
Guest
I'd probably put Hornby at Fullback instead of boyd and possibly put Soward in the halves.
Lachlan
Guest
If you're going to include people who player one season, why not include Fitzgibbon and Luke Patten. As good a player as Mackay was he did only play one season, and it was the end of his career.
Luke B
Guest
The st. George dragons team will be amazing
MikeTV
Guest
What about: * Brad Mackay - 12 caps for Australia, 17 for NSW (8 seasons for St George, 3 for Illawarra, 1 for St George Illawarra)
Lachlan
Guest
He didnt deserve his clive churchill, much like Thurston. Like the Dally M awards, it seems to always just be awarded to the flashy players.
maximillian
Guest
Boyd definitely should be fullback. In his 3 years at the dragons he won a premiership, 2 minor Premierships, a WC Challenge, a Clive Churchill Medal, DallyM Fullback of the year, RLIF Fullback of the year, a Spirit of Anzac medal & many more accolades. He often comes across as quite aloof & his persona negatively influences peoples perception of his on-field ability, but he was often the dragons best player so deserves selection IMO.
At work
Roar Rookie
@superstar superhuman - Excellent point on Boyd, great player but the only reason he gave a crap was to impress Wayne. And as much as Blacklock annoyed me with his (lack of) defence, I'd have him in ahead of Nightingale
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
1. Dugan (Boyd played for Wayne, not the Dragons) 5. Nightingale 3. Gasnier 4. Cooper 2. Morris 6. Barrett 7. Hornby 8. Bailey 9. Young 10. Weyman 11. Scott 12. Creagh 13. Timmins 14. Thompson 15. Ryles 16. Merrin 17. Blacklock Mundine and Boyd should be no where near this team. I'd have Widdop, Marshal and Soward all ahead of Mundine - he played for himself, not the Dragons. Boyd's the same except he played for Wayne.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Niall - during the season I dusted off my origin DVDs. McGregor was brilliant all the way through the 90s. I'd either forgotten or never realised how good he was. He could do it all, big, fast, good step, good at setting up his outside man, good defender.
jamesb
Guest
Mundine only had 18 months at the merged entity whereas with Hornby, he was not only a long serving player, but a premiership winning captain to boot.