09 :: R18 Sun :: Dragons 48 Sea Eagles 18 @ WIN W'gong

[gong_eagle]

who gives a sh*t what f**ken c*cksucker Weedler says

 

[Jasdragon]

Its all about the bling im afraid.

I know lucky for them its in QLD.

 

[gong_eagle]

I won't be playing this weekend



AFTER a day of controversy, Manly centre Jamie Lyon has said he won't be playing in Sunday's big match against St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium.
Although Sea Eagles medical staff will give Lyon until the day of the game to overcome the ankle injury that ruled him out of Origin III, he is unlikely to take the field.
Lyon sent a text to The Daily Telegraph yesterday saying: "I'm not playing." >>MORE

SOURCE

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25758739-5006066,00.html

 

[redvscotty]

Oneyedeaglesfan - a fitting name.

 

[gong_eagle]

St George Illawarra v Manly

Greg Prichard | July 9, 2009 - 5:09PM

Sunday, WIN Stadium, 3pm
Referees: Gavin Badger, Ashley Klein
Head to head: Dragons 9, Sea Eagles 4
Last clash: Sea Eagles 38 bt Dragons 3 at Brookvale Oval (Qualifying final, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Dragons $1.45, Sea Eagles $2.65
FootyTAB: Sea Eagles by +1.5 points
This will probably still be a good game, but it would have been an absolute blockbuster had there not been so many key players unavailable to both sides. The Dragons are missing Justin Poore, Ben Creagh, Darius Boyd and Neville Costigan because of State of Origin, and are also without injured trio Michael Weyman, Mickey Paea and Jeremy Smith. The Sea Eagles are missing Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and David Williams because of Origin, and are also without the injured Brett Stewart and the suspended Heath L'Estrange. Sea Eagles centre Jamie Lyon was ruled out of the NSW team because of an ankle injury, which would have prevented him from training for at least the first few days of camp, but is a chance of playing in this game.
The Sea Eagles have won four in a row and six of their last seven. They fell behind against the Bulldogs at Brookvale on Monday night, but came home strongly to win, 19-12. That was a very determined and impressive performance, but it will be tougher on the road against the top-of-the-table Dragons, who have won five straight at their Wollongong ground going back to last season. It is traditionally a very hard ground for opposition teams to win at, but even harder with the Dragons such a force this season.
Both teams have shown an ability to win when they have fielded weakened teams this season. The Dragons whipped the Panthers 38-10 in Wollongong on the weekend before Origin I, and the Sea Eagles were too good at home for the Raiders on the weekend before Origin II. The Dragons deserve favouritism at home, but the Sea Eagles are not without a chance.

Source:
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhq...lawarra-v-manly/2009/07/09/1246732420708.html

 

[Timmah]

LATE MAIL
Despite Manly officials maintaining centre Jamie Lyon (ankle) would be given until game day to prove his fitness, he is not expected to play against St George Illawarra on Sunday at WIN Stadium.
"It's in the hands of the medical team," football manager Steve Gigg said. "The decision won't be reached until Sunday and it will be based on what the medical team and Jamie say.
"It would be great for him to play, but if he aggravated it it could stuff him up for a few more weeks and that could have an impact on us."
Kieran Foran is expected to replace the suspended Heath L'Estrange.

Jeremy Smith is a slim chance of returning from an ankle injury for the Dragons. St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett is yet to finalise his bench after naming both Nathan Fien and Mathew Head. There are also fears Matt Prior, who was not named, has glandular fever.

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhq...en-for-crossman/2009/07/09/1246732428953.html

 

[jpaciocco91]

Let Fein play, cut Head.
Hope J Smith is up to it! Prior already looked sick (and thin), now its worse....hope he gets better!

 

[dragonfire]

damn i hope he doesnt have glandular fever, could be more than just a 2 week stint on the sidelines. I would be surprised if the bench for the Dragons that was named will be what we actually have.

 

[gong_eagle]

Let Fein play, cut Head.
Hope J Smith is up to it! Prior already looked sick (and thin), now its worse....hope he gets better!

:lol:

 

[gong_eagle]

Everybody loves the Dragons


BY TIM BARROW
11/07/2009 12:38:00 AM
The Dragons really are the hottest ticket in town.Flying high at the top of the NRL ladder, St George Illawarra's Red V membership has surged to a club record 10,600 and ticket sales for tomorrow's clash with Manly at WIN Stadium are the best so far this season.
More than 11,000 tickets have been pre-sold , even without a cast of State of Origin stars who are missing from both teams.
Full coverage of The St George Illawarra DragonsThe Dragons merchandising sales - including the Steelers-style red jerseys they will wear in the Illawarra heritage round game tomorrow - have also gone through the roof. more >

source
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/

 

[gong_eagle]

Dragons, Sea Eagles and a golden ticket


BY TIM BARROW
11/07/2009 12:42:00 AM
A golden ticket to the NRL finals awaits St George Illawarra tomorrow.Victory over premiers Manly at WIN Stadium will not only cement them as premiership favourites, but also mean a guaranteed berth in the play-offs, nine weeks before they start.
The ladder-leading Dragons will move to 28 competition points by overpowering the Sea Eagles, but that will automatically turn into 30 after next weekend's bye.
Full coverage of The St George Illawarra DragonsLast year the Warriors, on their stunning march to the preliminary final, finished eighth on 30 points with a for-and-against of -65.
While there will be 15 regular NRL players missing from tomorrow's clash because of State of Origin, injury, illness and suspension, Dragons winger Wendell Sailor declared there will be no shortage of incentive.
"The Sea Eagles will also be without their Origin players, it will still be a very tough game," Sailor said.
"Having been away on representative duty a lot when I was at the Broncos, I like to try and lead from the front when we're missing guys like Justin Poore and Ben Creagh.
"We have the bye next weekend, so we know it will be a massive reward for us to have a break, knowing we can come back refreshed in the push towards the finals," he added.
The Dragons will be without NSW stars Poore and Creagh, as well as Queenslanders Darius Boyd and Neville Costigan, second-rower Matt Prior (virus), Michael Weyman (ankle), Mickey Paea (virus) and Jeremy Smith (ankle).
Manly are missing Origin players Josh Perry, David Williams, Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart, as well as hooker Heath L'Estrange and Brett Stewart (knee) and could be without Jamie Lyon (ankle).
Dragons-Manly match guide in the Mercury's weekend edition.

source
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/dragons-sea-eagles-and-a-golden-ticket/1564956.aspx

 

[gong_eagle]

Dragons ready for in-form Eagles


BY TIM BARROW
11/07/2009 12:40:00 AM
Manly were the irresistible force, a team chocked full of star talent, self-belief and a determination to right the wrongs of their 2007 grand final loss.They walked off Brookvale Oval that Saturday night in September after demolishing the Dragons 38-6, with a sense something special was about to happen.
St George Illawarra had been full of optimism after announcing themselves as contenders earlier in the season by winning seven straight games, only to fall by the wayside when it counted.
In the away sheds, prop Jason Ryles, now in France playing for Les Catalans, couldn't talk after the game for fear of bursting into tears.
A deflated coach Nathan Brown spent time with his players, knowing it was his last game in charge of his beloved Dragons before the Wayne Bennett regime took over.
Manly's march to the title was complete three weeks later when they beat Melbourne 40-0 in the grand final.
It was a perfect farewell for Steve Menzies and Steve Bell.
Brett Stewart was at the height of his powers and halfback Matt Orford was in superb touch.
But much has changed in the months since Manly's crowning.
Stewart - one of six Australian Test fullbacks to come from the Illawarra - is facing sexual assault charges after a boozy afternoon at the club's season launch and hasn't played since round six because of a knee injury.
They have been forced to overcome a horror start to the year, clawing their way back into the top eight.
But after an impressive victory over the Bulldogs on Monday night, the Sea Eagles have sent a message that their premiership defence is back on track.
So even without their State of Origin stars Josh Perry, David Williams, Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough and probably Jamie Lyon tomorrow, the belief within Manly remains.
Brett Stewart will have another scan on Monday and there is confidence he can return to play the grand final rivals Melbourne in round 24, providing a major boost for the club.
St George Illawarra have been laying the platform for a title tilt on the back of a rock solid defence and a consistency not seen during the Brown days.
The Dragons - who will also be without several big names tomorrow - have proven they can play without them by belting Penrith at WIN Stadium before Origin I.
Which is why, even with a lack of star power, tomorrow's clash at WIN Stadium will be a major challenge of self-belief for both clubs.

source
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/dragons-ready-for-inform-eagles/1564938.aspx

 

[_Johnsy]

Dragons 28 Manly 18

 

[jondy]

Johnsy I am sure Wayne would be unhappy to concede 18 points

 

[thommo4pm]

I'll be happy to only concede 18 tomorrow.

This is going to be very tough for our boys...Manly's bench looks better than ours does.
I hope Fien comes on and tears it apart from dummy half for us.

 

[effnic]

Dragons 30 Manly 10

 

[Downie]

Dragons 30 Manly 10

Ye of little faith.

 

[effnic]

There is faith and then there is blind faith.

 

[gong_eagle]

Dragons won't be fooled by Sea Eagles

Greg Prichard | July 11, 2009

St George Illawarra v Manly
WIN Stadium, 3pm
What the Dragons say
They're looking at Manly as the premiers and a team that has won six of its past seven games, not a team that will be missing a lot of star players for this encounter. Second-rower Jarrod Saffy reckoned the Sea Eagles were still the competition benchmark. "Certainly, when they're back to playing the football they did [against the Bulldogs on Monday night]," Saffy said. "They've shown glimpses of the form they were in last year, and they've shown they're contenders."
What the Sea Eagles say
Coach Des Hasler says player unavailability due to State of Origin doesn't mean his team will lose momentum. "No, we'll go down to Wollongong and give it everything we've got," he said. "It'll be a stiff challenge, but they've got some players out, too."
What Prichard says
There are, unfortunately, a lot of key players out of both sides because of State of Origin commitments and injuries, but that doesn't change the fact there are two vital competition points up for grabs. The Dragons are chasing the minor premiership, and the Sea Eagles are trying to consolidate a position in the top eight. It probably would have been a bit of an arm wrestle anyway, with so much at stake, but the Sea Eagles are likely to try to make it even more dour now that they are the team worst hit when it comes to missing good attacking players. Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, David Williams, Jamie Lyon and, of course, Brett Stewart, can all do something special with the ball in their hands, but none of them will be there. The Sea Eagles are going to have to do a tremendous job in the forwards to get the win because the Dragons have the better back line on this occasion and might need only to break square up front to emerge victorious.
For the Dragons to win
No need to stray from the controlled style of play that has been very effective for them. They won't take too many chances early, and will instead concentrate on getting to the end of their sets and trying to establish a pattern of forcing the Sea Eagles to play off their own line. The Dragons are experts at taking advantage of mistakes, and will seek to put the opposition under the sort of growing pressure that tempts risk-taking.
For the Sea Eagles to win
The Dragons have the best defence in the competition, and the Sea Eagles don't look to have a lot of points in them anyway, given the players they have out. So the Sea Eagles are going to have to be at their most patient and not make it even more difficult for themselves by making mistakes that gift the Dragons valuable field position. Manly need to pick the right times to push the envelope, hopefully come up with two or three tries while defending their backsides off.
The X factor
Tony Williams. If the Sea Eagles are going to win, they are probably going to require something very special from two or three players during the course of the match. Williams is a massive unit. If he could come up with a try through sheer brute strength, it might ease the pressure on the rest of the team.
What the bookies say
They reckon the Dragons have the edge at home. TAB Sportsbet has them as $1.45 favourites, with the Sea Eagles at $2.65. The points start is 6½, at $1.90 either way.
Late mail:
Both teams are unchanged, from one to 17.

SOURCE:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/...d-by-sea-eagles/2009/07/10/1246732472218.html

 

[Terry-Randal]

If manly had their origin players i would tipp then but now i will give it to the dragons. But dragons will be no match for manly in the semis when all their stars and brett stewert return. What a shame a dead rubber origin can wreck such an important game the nrl board is a joke.