Dragons the new benchmark: Bellamy
Dragons Den News
WINNING FEELING: Dragons players celebrate Tim Lafai's try against Melbourne on Sunday. Picture: AAP
DRAGONS coach Paul McGregor insists his side isn't getting carried away with their 8-1 start to the season… but where's the fun in that?
You've got to hand it to him – most of us would be like Tom Cruise on Oprah's couch.
Not that it matters a great deal. There are plenty of others – including 19000-strong red v faithful who crammed into Jubilee Oval to witness their side's 34-14 win over Melbourne on Sunday – willing to do it for him.
You can add Storm coach Craig Bellamy to the list of converts, the mastercoach labeling the Dragons the team to beat this season.
“What we took from today is – they're the benchmark and we know now, we've got some work to do,” Bellamy said post-match.
“I just said that to the players in there and I hope they take on board because they are the benchmark, without a doubt.
“I think the biggest learning we had from them today, being the benchmark, is we had a lot of ball there late in the first half and they defended their goal-line a lot better than we did.
“They've been doing that all season, we've been doing it for parts of the season, we haven't been consistent at all in that area.
“They've been playing great footy all season and if we we want to be playing footy in September we need to improve.”
The Storm produced an identical 8-1 start on their way to last year's premiership but, while he was flattered by Bellamy's endorsement, McGregor was quick to temper expectations.
“That's nice to hear off a great man and a great coach,” McGregor said.
"We talk about expectation, it's not from the inside. We've certainly got appreciation around what we're doing at the moment.
“To come and play in front of 19,000 people at home… you've got to appreciate that and appreciate what we're building. When you've got belief your attitude is right.
“The main thing at the moment is we have a lot of belief and our attitude is good, it's just about maintaining that and not being complacent in what we do.
"There's no sign of that in the shed at all. That's the beautiful thing about this squad. There's no egos here, wee're just working hard as one.
"We know it can get taken away pretty quickly. We've been pretty fortunate with injury so, as long as we maintain a healthy squad, we'll be OK.
“While ever we continue to work hard and prepare well, keep it pretty simple and play the way we are for one another… who knows? But it's only early.”
The match ended four tries to three and, had Josh Addo-Carr not been denied a try in the lead-up halftime, the match would have had a much different complexion at halftime.
It came after the Dragons shot out to a 10-0 lead after 14 minutes on the back of Euan Aitken's eighth minute try and a pair of penalty goals to Gareth Widdop.
The visitors hit back through Addo-Carr six minutes later and the he looked to have his second nine minutes before the break only to be called back by referee Matt Cecchin, who blew a late whistle on a Dragons ruck infringement in the lead-up.
Cameron Munster also barged across four tackles later but was denied by the bunker after replays revealed a double-movement.
Widdop steadied with his third penalty goal of the half five minutes later to push the halftime margin out to beyond a converted try.
Cam McInnes crossed from close range in the first minute after the resumption before Tim Lafai effectively put the match to bed with his four-pointer five minutes later.
The Storm finally hit back through Addo-Carr with 17 minutes to play before with Aitken left several defenders in his wake en route to his own double at the other end.
Addo-Carr completed his hat-trick five minutes from time while Widdop added two more penalty goals to round out the scoring.
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5383162/dragons-the-new-benchmark-bellamy/?cs=3713
