While their defence was far from good last season, St George Illawarra’s only hope of defying their critics to have a successful 2022 is to fix their attacking woes.
In the first in a series analysing where each NRL team needs to improve this season, the numbers show the Dragons failed to fire with the ball in hand during a pedestrian first season in attack under coach Anthony Griffin.
They lacked creativity: The Dragons were 11th for points scored per game last year at 19.8, mirroring their finishing position on the ladder with an 8-16 record and a -142 differential.
If you delve deeper into their attacking stats, they were probably lucky to finish that high and it’s not hard to see why they are predicted to finish among the also-rans this year.
They are ranked equal second-last in PlayUp’s NRL premiership market at $41 alongside the Warriors with only the Wests Tigers considered a longer shot at $51.
Last season they struggled to get the ball to the attacking end of the field.
They were 15th in running metres with 1333 per game, ahead of only wooden spooners Canterbury’s 1317 and 14th in tackle busts at 26.3 (ahead of the Cowboys’ 24.9 and the Bulldogs’ 21.2).
They made the most errors (11.7) to be 14th in completion rate at 76%, marginally ahead of only Manly with the Roosters last with 75%.
This resulted in them being second-worst in the amount of times they were tackled in the opposition 20m zone, averaging 24 per game to just edge out Brisbane’s 22.
And on the rare occasions that they got into prime attacking position they struggled to convert those chances, ending up 15th for attacking kicks at 8 per game ahead of South Sydney’s 7.4 (although the Rabbitohs didn’t need to kick that often with the high number of tries they scored through sweeping passing raids).
The Dragons couldn’t even get the ball back when they didn’t score, ranking the worst in the league for forced drop-outs with just one per game.
In the defensive department they are far from elite – their faltering attacking meant they made the second-most tackles per game at 323.9 behind the Warriors (324.2).
This was compounded by the Dragons missing 34.2 tackles each match, behind only Cronulla (34.4) and North Queensland (36.8).
Griffin will again place his faith in captain Ben Hunt to be the fulcrum of the team’s attack in 2022. Veteran hooker Andrew McCullough is a defensive-minded rake while the other two members of their spine will be young prospects still finding their feet at NRL level – fullback Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan or Junior Amone at five-eighth.
The three young Steelers juniors, who have each been re-signed for the next couple of seasons at last, showed enough in their rookie season last year that they are attacking threats.
St George Illawarra will focus heavily on their array of young prospects headed by this trio with twins Max and Mat Feagai in the outside backs also set for more game time.
As part of their roster overhaul they have bolstered their pack with Maroons duo Francis Molo and Jaydn Su’A, ex-Sharks prop Aaron Woods, Manly second-rower Jack Gosiewski and English front-rower George Burgess out of retirement.
Dragons must fire early or it’ll be time to hook Griffin
The club has farewelled hooker Cameron McInnes – who did not play last season due to a torn ACL – to Cronulla, fullback Matt Dufty and controversial prop Paul Vaughan to Canterbury and erratic five-eighth Corey Norman has retired after failing to attract a contract.
Outside backs Jordan Pereira (Broncos), Brayden Wiliame (French rugby) and Gerard Beale (Brisbane Tigers), half Adam Clune (Knights) and front-rower Kaide Ellis (Wigan) have also departed.
Whether this roster revamp pays dividends remains to be seen but if they will continue to struggle if the Dragons cannot find their attacking spark.
Paul
Roar Guru
And where exactly was I rude Mr Harper? This is a professional writer who has made assertions based on apparently looking at statistics and even used the term "delving deeper". It seems he probably looked at some numbers but IMO his conclusions hardly fit what actually happened in the season. And as for delving deeper? I look forward to reading your reply to my original question, Mr Harper.
Blue
Guest
Mentioned Amone before .. really impressed with this guy and good chance he is the key to unlocking St George's attack this year provided the coach gives him a go
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'd take Dufty over Mbye any day of the year
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
And most of that attack was on the back of Dufty
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
favouritism and apparently Dufty didn't listen to instruction... Which is really weird because apparently Hook didn't approve of Norman's short drop outs from the line yet didn't penalise him for that.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
This is a result of the bomb being the easiest way to score a try. When they took the four tackle rule from US football they erroneously dropped the rule allowing only a field goal as the only scoring option on the last tackle. In RL we have safe play for five tackles getting into position to put up a bomb while suspending the obstruction rule. In USF they have creative play for three downs and if unsuccessful then they can kick a field goal as a consolation prize for getting close. In RL we reward the boring bomb and discourage creative ball play.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The unfair draw is a result of having too many teams. Hopefully, when the eighteenth is added, they will have seventeen rounds followed by the top eight finals system. Another problem resulting from too many teams is that there are more losers but still only one winner. With Melbourne, Sydney City and Manly hogging the grand final places, the other teams have to be satisfied with a good year every now and then. I would like to see a knockout competition played on the weekends before SoO to give all the teams something more to play for.
Larry1950
Guest
Not likely to see expansive footy with hook in charge, he’s overseen a conservative game plan as far back as I can remember. Hunt’s short kicking game for himself near the try line is relatively good but his long kicks lack much thought, just hoof it and hope. McCullough won’t challenge the middle defenders much, he’s got good vision but has been losing a yard of pace every season since that GF. At least he’ll lock up the middle with 40-50 effective tackles every game. Wouldn’t think Molo & Woods are going to be much more than journeymen props, Molo strikes me as an Intrust cup standard forward who lucked out to make the QLD side when the selectors were shell shocked & desperate for answers. Bird looks too slow for the centres & too lazy for the back row so that’s also going to be interesting. At least the Feagai twins, Sloane, Sullivan & Amone look to have pace, something the dragons seem to lack in their established squad.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Nice one Paul. In my non-nerd calculations, Dragons can’t attack and can’t tackle.
danwain
Roar Rookie
Amazing
danwain
Roar Rookie
If Dufty was dropped as much for attitude as his rocks and diamonds play style, it begs the question as to why Norman survived in the starting side as long as he did….
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
middle of the pack. The reasons they plummeted below that after round 16 is pretty obvious. The 'deeper issues' you allude to didn't seem to have held them back too badly prior to that. So with a better roster and a healthy Hunt and Lomax the probability of them finishing second last in '22 is slim to none. If that's where the bookies have got them, I'm happy to take some of the bookies' money. :happy:
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
To be fair a lot of the teams playing in the NRL are one-pass hit up merchants. It's p-ss poor coaching.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
To teams playing St George
no one in particular
Roar Guru
to Tonys articles
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Obviously, most teams need to improve their defence if they are to challenge for the crown as well as the attack but doing that won't be enough. It largely rests on the shoulders of the new crop coming thru. Look at the Storm. With all the players they've lost in recent years and longer , nothing is going to happen unless Hughes , Pap , Olam and others step up to be up with the top players in the comp. New players might come in and play well but you need some to excel.
Tony Harper
Editor
I understand you disagree with where the author has chosen to focus his attention but is this level of rudeness necessary, Paul?
Paul Suttor
Expert
There's no doubt the BBQ brouhaha stuffed up their season but they were already middle of the pack - they went from average to diabolical. The unique nature of those suspensions spread out over a few weeks was definitely a contributing factor but they did lose 8 straight so there were deeper issues. If the Dragons stick with the growing pains that will come with these young guys, they can have success again in a few years but this season doesn't look great
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Albo, no spine no chance is the basic rule I believe. At least for consistent success. Cheers
Graham Rush
Guest
The Steelers are alive and well, doing what they have always done. Maybe St George will reappear one day & add to their 15 premierships, in the mean time just expect outstanding mediocrity from Illawarra.