After a season as serious contenders, a familiar feel has returned to St George Illawarra – the feeling of springtime.
The sensory hallmarks of this period are well known- it’s the sound of birds chirping, flowers blooming, and Paul McGregor re-emphasising the extra year to run on his contract.
While most of us equate springtime with smelling daisies and fist-fighting magpies, it is also the second and most critical phase of the Saints Equinox.
This is when the sun crosses the Earth’s equator following the autumnal harvest, before beaming down on Wollongong until the Dragons are totally cooked.
But as a staid springtime splutterer, many were unsure if the 2018 version could enjoy their usual bumper spring after spending the year dogged by premiership favouritism.
Many doubted it would arrive with the side particularly unstoppable prior to Origin, with their form so encouraging that some fans genuinely believed they weren’t being catfished again.
There was scepticism that not even the looming threat of Origin could derail the side, with concerns arising this elite crop of Dragons could even improve from the reduced psychological pressure of playing in the interstate furnace.
Basically, we just assumed McGregor had tinkered with his conditioning regime and abolished the part where he front-loads for Anzac Day before tapering until November.
But with five losses in their last six matches, it’s safe to say the Saints have finally rediscovered their groove.
Sure, we held our fire out of respect after their incongruous Round 19 triumph over North Queensland, but then came the honesty sessions, road camps and desperate cries for help through hairstyles.
Finally, all of their hard work culminated with a 40-4 denuding at the hands of Parramatta.
After the Dragons promised the world and delivered a Jarryd Hayne hat trick, their tortured faithful were finally put out of their misery. The exile of top four contention was over.
With McGregor’s team tracking again for a ninth-place finish on the midnight hour at the hands of an also-ran, fans could finally celebrate in traditional fashion by calling for McGregor’s head in favour of something fresh, like Wayne Bennett.
So while the attempt to arrest the failure drain could eventually send McGregor crazy, or to Penrith, it has become unfortunately apparent that springtime will invariably arrive every year.
He cannot deny the cosmic patterns of the previous 800 billion years, a period incidentally the same as one of his daily time trials.
The Barry
Roar Guru
But it Sims unlikely...
The Barry
Roar Guru
They Vaughan to improve in a hurry...
The Barry
Roar Guru
For whom de Belin tolls... ??
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dragon fans are Aitken everywhere at the moment...not a Lafai to be heard.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Good one Barry haha
JVGO
Guest
Look I'm a Sharks supporter but the mocking of the Dragons is getting out of hand. Go easy. 8th or 9th is pretty credible for a team from Illawarra in my book.
Matt H
Roar Guru
They were in the Hunt for a while though, but now they just look Frizelled. However, I see that for this game they are looking to Mann up.
Julian King
Roar Guru
The Tigers favouritism may arrest that slide, Dane. Just like the Dragons, they don't cope well with expectation.
Paul
Roar Guru
I heard a vicious rumour Toovey and/or Hasler were possibilities when Mary goes? That too won't be tolerated.
Mike Gordon
Roar Rookie
‘Tis a scratch...a mere flesh wound...come back here I’m not finished with you yet’ boasted the Black Knight. If only the Dragons showed an ounce of his pluck. Cumon Saints slay those Tigers
DP Schaefer
Guest
Thank you Dane, As a Dragons supporter you helped me make sense of it all.. lol
Woody
Guest
I don't know what was more impressive, tbe flowery language or the verbosity. Perhaps the bored inanity.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He needs to stop dragon his feet...
Forty Twenty
Guest
Finishing ninth will at least give the Saints more time to freshen up for another dominant Autumn in 2019. Any attempts to offload Mary in the vicinity of the Northern Beaches won't be tolerated.
kk
Guest
Good morning Dane, There are some of us who had to endure eleven years of Norman rule. The football gods recently granted their leader immortality. There was a price for doing so. The gods pressed the freefall button putting the Dragon season beyond recovery. The excuses of Origin and travel stress became background noise. Moe ski time for Mary coming. Oops! The freefall zone has company. It's drizzling Dragons and Rabbits. Hello Mojo! And there are those who will seek solace in the words ' It's only a game' Bye Bye Mojo!
Wayne Turner
Guest
The Dragons coach needs to go on his Mary way.
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
Sad but true. Our hopes were riding high, now exposed as the delusion it really was. You would think years of supporting NSW during Origin would prepare you for this, but it doesn't. I return to my mundane life, with only the memory of Jeremy Latimore whacking Cam Smith in the goolies to bring me comfort..
Paul
Roar Guru
You're not a closet Dragons supporter are you Dane? I thought you let my boys off pretty lightly, given their recent performances. Sadly, a Dragons late season meltdown is becoming as predictable as night following day. I still have hopr Mary can do something to lift the side but when a finals bound team is NOT odds on to beat a side, struggling to make the 8, that hope is fast disappearing.