After six rounds, the St George Illawarra Dragons remain the only undefeated team in the NRL, and their hot start can be attributed to the high expectations surrounding the club following the arrivals of recruits Ben Hunt and James Graham.
The pair’s impact has been instant, with the club sitting atop the ladder ahead of tough clashes against the Warriors and Roosters in the next ten days.
They have already beaten bitter rivals the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks twice, as well as the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The clash against the Warriors in Auckland this Friday night will be the first genuine test of the Dragons’ season, with the Kiwi club having had their undefeated start to 2018 ended by the Broncos last week.
Prior to that, the Warriors had recorded their own best-ever start, winning their first five matches including defeating the Rabbitohs and Roosters on both sides of Australia, as well as a struggling Cowboys outfit at home in Round 5.
Had the Auckland side beaten the Broncos, this Friday night’s clash would have seen the only two undefeated teams go head-to-head in what would have been the unlikeliest of potential grand final previews, with both teams having missed the finals in 2017.
Instead, the Red V have a chance to open up a four-point buffer at the top of the ladder, though the Panthers and Wests Tigers do have winnable matches against the Sharks and Knights respectively later in the round.
So, what is exactly behind the side’s best ever start to a season since the merger came into effect in 1998?
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You’d think that it’s their two big-name recruits – Hunt and Graham – who are already proving their worth and playing to the price tags attached to them.
But there are others playing their roles, including fullback Matt Dufty, NSW representative Tyson Frizell and potential future Origin teammates Jack de Belin and Paul Vaughan.
Hunt’s partnership with captain Gareth Widdop in the halves also gives the club their most stable halves since Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby earlier this decade.
Every player in the starting side, except Graham, has scored at least one try, highlighting the evenness.
After starting 2017 as the short-priced favourite to be the first coach dismissed, Paul McGregor won the backing of the board after their impressive start to last season and signed a contract extension which will expire at the end of the 2019 season.
The six-match winning streak is his second of this length, after another six in the early part of the 2015 season – the year they last made the finals.
Against the Warriors on Friday night, they will be shooting for their seventh straight win – which would mark the first time since 2011 that they have won as many matches in succession.
They also only need to score six points to become the quickest side this season to crack 200, while the 80 they have conceded is equal second-best with the Panthers (only the Wests Tigers have conceded fewer, with 67).
The last side to start a season so impressively were the Storm, in 2013, as they won their first seven matches of the season before eventually finishing third and bowing out of the finals in straight sets.
They also won their first nine matches of the 2012 season before eventually going on to take out that year’s premiership.
Last year, the Dragons won eight of their first 12 matches, however injuries and poor form saw them eventually stumble down the ladder, finishing ninth after losing to the Bulldogs in the final round.
While it was a bitterly disappointing finish to the season after such an impressive first half, it was still a good result given the low expectations laid on the club at the start of 2017.
However, with the arrivals of Hunt and Graham, as well as lessons learnt from their capitulation in the second half of last year, the expectations are high, and the club are living up to them.
Ben Hunt (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
They were faced with a first-up clash against the Broncos, a team they had previously struggled against for the most part of the last decade, with only one win against the Queenslanders dating back to 2010.
However, buoyed by home-ground advantage, and most likely Hunt having a point to prove against his old club, the Dragons won 34-12 to keep their opponents winless at Kogarah Oval since 1998.
Now the challenge is to maintain their form on a consistent basis and, who knows, it could end with a premiership many considered unlikely three years ago.
The Origin period, in which the club is likely to be the hardest-hit, given the number of players that are in form, will also prove to be a challenge, with Hunt likely to inherit the Maroons’ number seven guernsey vacated by Cooper Cronk.
Tyson Frizell is also certain to be absent during this period, and if Jack de Belin and Paul Vaughan can maintain their impressive individual form, both also look set to be selected by new Blues coach Brad Fittler.
But that all lies ahead – before then, this Friday night there is a tough clash against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland to look forward to, before the annual Anzac Day clash against the Roosters, in which the corresponding fixture last year led to their slow fall down the ladder.
CJ
Guest
McGregor seems like a sensible and smart coach and someone the players will respect. I think he will get the best out of the team. Whether or not they win the comp is another matter. I just don't see massive talent in their roster.
danwain
Guest
The rabbits are no doubt the best team we have played this year, even though the dragons looked well in control of the game you always seemed the rabbits would stage a comeback. Dragons tired in the second half off the back on playing in 34 degree heat the previous weekend and a 5 day turnaround to boot. Dragons have a points differential of 114 and have scored 194 points, that's not luck mate. They have a big strong forward pack, clever halves and strike on both sides of the field. Still think it's way too early to talk premiers but good experience may set them up for next year.
KenW
Guest
and the Sharks are really only there because the Dragons have beaten them twice.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
That is Funny, Nat... Round 10 is against my Rabbitohs, that game will be a cracker. I just hope the refs don't ruin it for either team. A free-flowing game without Penalties will favour Souths!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
That is true LachyP, If you are in front you are more inclined to take the 2 points. Yes, the Dragons are second for metres gained, the Rabbitohs are ranked No.1 in that department.
LachyP
Guest
There are a couple of reasons they have kicked so many penalty goals. One is that there have been a lot of huge number of penalties this year with the referees cracking down on offside. Another is that the Dragons have been playing from in front, when you are 6 or more points behind you are less likely to take the points on offer because you are chasing points. A third is that they are making big metres, dominating field position in a lot of their games and as such when they get penalties they are in positions they can turn them into points.
LachyP
Guest
If you opened your other eye at any point you would realise that the scoreline massively flattered South Sydney in that game. The Dragons were much better for the vast majority of the game including a couple of tries disallowed by the video referee. They gave up a couple of tries late which made it look closer but they were also coming off a 5 day turnaround and looked a bit fatigued and a touch lazy near the end. With a full 7 days rest for the second game South's won't even get a look in and you'll be running through a new list of excuses. Also the St Merge stuff is petty rubbish showing your lack of class.
Dodgy dragons
Guest
Mary is using his interchange a lot better this year and the team seems to have a different aura about them with the addition of Hunt and Graham. He isn’t doing the double changes of the props at the 20 min mark like last year where we lost a bit of the forward ascendency, and he is rotating Sele, Leilua, and Latimore on bench, (2 in, 1in reserves) and they are a great foil with Au Mau and Mann. I was a bit worried before the season about our depth, but Host who goes alright can’t get a lookin and Lomax who will be the next Gasnier can’t even make the 19 every week. As with every team, injuries will be the killer, but I think we have enough depth to cover, even if one of the big names goes down for an extended period. As for the penalties 3 hats, we will take them if you are stupid enough to give them. And if Inglis gets a blister on his big toe, youse are goooone!!!!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Not the only reason but it is strange that they have kicked 15 Penalty Goals in only 5 of their 6 games, they didn't kick any against the Knights. That is the very reason Trys were changed from 3 points to 4, in 1983, way too many penalty goals! In 2 of their games this season they kicked 3 Penalty Goals in each game and won those games by only 4 points. The bottom line is they should be 4 wins and 2 losses. I have no issue with the other 4 games. In both of those games, Sharks Rd 2 and Rabbitohs Rd 5 plenty of 50/50 decisions went their way that led to roll-ons. In the Souths game, 2 passes were ruled forward, replays showed they were good. Also, 2 knock-ons went against Souths but again replays showed knocked backwards, the commentators went off about the deficiencies of those 2 blind bats! They do get a hell of a lot of 50/50 decisions go their way. That is a fact. Even in the Broncos game in the first 10 minutes decisions were in their favour were pretty dodgy. Led to a massive roll on. The Panthers and the Tigers also seem to get favourable treatment. I am a Retired referee, I can see plenty that the average fan misses.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Nice try Pedro but NO CIGAR for you mate. That Video Ref decision to disallow that try was SPOT ON MATE. Read the bloody rules again mate. Your lead Runner/DECOY made contact with a defender and stopped in the line. Under the Laws of the Game, they do state it was an illegal play! A correct decision it was NO TRY. The problem is that 99% of people like you do not know all the Laws of the game. Referees like me do know all of them. Obstruction The indicators for an obstruction include: 1. (a) ‘Block’* or ‘Flat’ runner[s] (who do not receive the ball) must not stop in the middle of the defensive line (b) ‘Block’ or ‘Flat’ runner[s] (who do not receive the ball) must not run at (chest or outside shoulder of) defender[s] and initiate contact (c) The Referee or Review Officials can determine the significance of contact initiated by the ‘Block’ or ‘Flat’ runner[s] (who does not receive the ball) in impeding a defender’s involvement in a try scoring play Note: Adam Reynolds was run into by the decoy, the initial contact was made by the Dragons player. Gus Gould is one of those 99% of people. Don't go on what that fool Gus Gould says, he gets so many things wrong He must have been belted around the head way too many times as a youngster! ************************ WHO is your Hooker again? McInnes is a top bloke and solid defender but that is all. That's right a junior of ours that couldn't stay in first grade due to Damien Cook.who we pinched off the Dogs because your rabble of a Management couldn't identify great talent if it jumped up and bit them on the A$$ You have our DREGGS! Yes, he is so slow his nickname was turtle coming through the ranks.
Matt
Guest
If Warriors win next week, Dragons will be 6 from 7, the same as in 2017, where they didn’t even make the finals. They were just as good this time last year so how can anyone trust that they can keep it going through 2018.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
You blokes have only played 1 decent team so far this season, the Rabbitohs. The others are pathetic!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Nat, I don't have much of an issue with that but against the Dragons at Kogarah, ONLY 1 of those Penalties was warranted not 3 of them. 2 right in front and 1 about 20m in... In the second half, I saw on at least 3 occasions the Rabbitohs should have been awarded a penalty and right in front but NO Chance the ref just wouldn't give them, even though the pocket ref did say Penalty... Oh well, the Mergers will get smashed when we play them at ANZ.
Pedro the Saint
Roar Rookie
Ahh 3 Hats ... how are you ol' mate. Your reputation is still riding high. Let me give you the write of reply after i respond to your BS comments. In the Souths game we had a nice call go against us on an obstruction rule - yes the call went your way, but had we been awarded that try i think we would have opened up the throttle a little bit more. You have a good team - a good forward pack, a great hooker from St George in Cook, we bought turtle legs (as you labelled him) McInnes from Souths and he has been the form hooker in terms of consistency. On the ladder - the rabbits, Broncs, Titans, Knights are all square on 6 points and i think they all have quality within their side... Saints deserve the current spot on the ladder.
Albo
Guest
I think the Dragons have had the perfect start to the season and all is going along swimmingly for them. They have a very good and well balanced side , boasting a strong & consistent pack and plenty of strike force across the backline. But I will still reserve my judgement on their September chances for a few more matches. My doubts are around their depth should they suffer some significant injuries...... to date they have managed to avoid any at all. But should they lose Hunt or Widdop or both for a period of time, who is their back up ? Can one of them run the show effectively like Maloney seems to be doing without Cleary at Penrith ? But should they stay injury free all season, like the Sharks generally did in 2016, they could well repeat that same sort of final outcome.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
It's not a dominant display so far, like the Storms season last year, but they are certainly playing a step above at the moment. Sure a few too many injuries took out the Sharks last week, but every time we scored the Dragons answered, and well. I would be shocked if they were not there at the pointy end of the season, but then again I said that last year as well. I don't see Hunt doing too much, but Widdop is playing out of his skin this year.
Nat
Roar Guru
I can't see them getting flogged purely by the points they can score alone.
BigJ
Roar Guru
what real expectations are the Dragons under??? no one would of thought six months ago that they would be undefeated after six rounds, so expectations exceeded.
Dirk Diggler
Roar Rookie
Wow talk about the tall poppy syndrome......let's give them their due. They seem to have everything working at the moment, productive forwards, great edge runners & a very good spine. This team isn't that different to last year except for McInnes playing 80 minutes, Hunt & Graham. No injuries yet either. I really like what I see, and would like to see how they fare after some tough games coming up. They could conceivably win the next 5 but I doubt it. I see Warriors & Storm as the danger games. I agree that McGregor then needs to prove he can manage the players during Origin and have them ready & motivated come finals time. If they flame out early bye bye Mary!
George
Guest
The Dragons have only played one of the bottom 6 teams on the ladder. This makes their start to the year even more impressive.