The New Zealand Warriors have consolidated their top eight spot with an 18-12 win over the Dragons at WIN Stadium.
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Final score
Dragons 12
Warriors 18
The St George Illawarra Dragons are looking to consolidate their top-four spot when they host the New Zealand Warriors at WIN Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
The Dragons’ recent form has been patchy, with only two wins from their last five matches. Those victories were against Parramatta and the Cowboys, while they’ve lost to the Storm, Roosters and Tigers.
That slump leaves them sitting in fourth spot, with Penrith, Cronulla and Brisbane breathing down their necks.
Still, coach Paul McGregor has named the same 17 that lost 36-18 to the Roosters last week at Allianz Stadium.
The Warriors are also desperate for two points after having just one win, against the Broncos, to show for their efforts over the last five weeks. They’ve lost to Cronulla, Penrith, the Storm and the Titans during that time.
They are currently sitting in eighth spot and need to return to the winners’ list to shore up their hopes of playing finals football for the first time since 2011.
Coach Stephen Kearney has bolstered his team with the return of hooker Issac Luke and second-rower Tohu Harris from injury, as well as lock Adam Blair from suspension.
Prediction
The Red V to sneak home by 4 in a tough match.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEST).
Renegade
Roar Guru
The club has won 1 premiership.... regardless of that - what a team did in 1950s doesn’t really translate to the current squad (who have tasted 1 game of finals football in 8 years) now does it?
BrianS
Guest
Dragons are just making up the numbers, i have said this from the first time people were saying there GF material !!
Glenn Edward Atkinson
Guest
Perhaps you might keep that bad mouth of yours on hold for the time being, Renegade. I'm not an expert like you but if I were Mary I would give the players a refresh away from football this week as they have all played just about every game this year with a lot of Origin as well. Get Widdop and Hunt running right into the line when they come back and use their forwards who are agile and fast more up the middle which worked well early in the season. They need to get players into the contention area on the end of kicks as they are good scrappers for a loose ball. I'd get Kurt Mann more involved because his enthusiasm and speed is infectious. And keep the attack straight, like they did earlier, not across the field without penetration. No harm in bringing up youngsters like Lomax and Leilua and maybe give Aitken a rest for a week- he seems out of sorts at the moment. You may be right about the outcome but please don't tell a club that has won 16 Premierships that they lack finals experience! SAINTS!
Lewl
Guest
Hi Kenw, I'd like to introduce to you the Melbourne Storm. If you think the Warriors got away with murder, I imagine you'll be ready to lynch someone after watching this new, exciting team! ps. offside (the dragons were all day)
Lewl
Guest
Compared to the Dragons spending 80% of the game offside?
Sylvester
Guest
Double whammy of having Sutton as ref two weeks in a row and getting just one penalty in the second half (with 3 min to go). I take it he's given up and is trying to get fired...
Wayne Turner
Guest
I like the Cowboys but once they made it to the GF last year,it was so predictable the Storm was going to win easy.Cowboys finished 8th for a reason then,and the fact they got to the GF was a huge over achievement.
Peter
Guest
Pity that you couldn't see your wáy clear to give the Cowboys any credit for their terrific run of wins to get to last year's GF, regardless of the score in the last game. Wouldn't want you to be "bored", poor dear!
Wayne Turner
Guest
With the Dragons roster,imagine if they had a good coach....
Wayne Turner
Guest
Starting to get player's back from injury.Maloney's semi experience will be a plus,along with their great forwards.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Penrith??
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
The Dragons can’t compete with most of the other teams in the eight so they won’t be a factor in the finals.
Stu
Guest
Must be. View from the hill must have been terrible. We had one penalty in the 2nd half when you were playing a 5m defensive line. You had the 50/50's and plently of just poor decisions in your favour, all the territory and all the ball. Unfortunatly for the Dragons they look to have peaked too early again
Wayne Turner
Guest
The battle of the pretenders. ONLY four teams can win the comp this year:- Storm Roosters Souths Penrith Every other team in the top 8 is making up the numbers in the semis - A team out of that 4 might do a Cowboys like last year,with an easy draw in the semis.But then get beaten by one of the 4 mentioned in a boring 1 sided grand final.Hopefully no team will do a Cowboys this year though,cause it makes a boring 1 sided predictable GF.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I don’t think today’s loss has anything to do it.....called them gone after May in line with every other season.... the only games they’ve won since May are against bottom 4 teams....all that aside, they don’t have the finals experience to be a factor anyway... so yes I will bad mouth them ? haha
Renegade
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call John!
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t agree more Scott. I’d bring in Lomax and hopefully Nene McDonald and give Aitken a spell aswell. Very frustrating as supporters as we know how well they can play and they are so far off it atm. I don’t know if they need a spell from training and forget about footy for a week or the law laid down and flogged. I’d be tempted to make them watch the first 10 rounds of the season every training session this week, because they obviously can’t remember what worked for them earlier in the year. The halves don’t seem to have a plan when we are in the red zone, the amount of times I’ve seen McInnes at dummy half with his hands up looking to see what play they are going run the last few weeks is unbelievable, so deflating after such a good start to the year.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Storm beat the Warriors 12-6 a fortnight ago and until last night folks wanted to call it all off and just give them the trophy...Saints got beaten by six by the same side and based on last years results same folks say they must be gone...I wouldn’t be bad mouthing any of the 8’s chances,it is that close...
Stu
Guest
We've won in Perth, Canberra and the Gong. Places we never normally win (despite Jamie Sowards assertion that the warriors need to learn to win on the road). Hoping they turn it on at Mt Smart for us over the next month.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Dragons weren't exactly hurting for favourable calls Scott...