Articles

[getsmarty]

McGregor wary of Warriors bounce back factor

• 
  Mitch Jennings

Dragons Den News

TOUGH NIGHT: Dragons coach Paul McGregor is wary of the Warriors bounce back after they suffered their first defeat of the season to the Broncos last week. Picture: AAP

IT’S taken the sting out of the PR sales pitch, but Dragons coach Paul McGregor believes New Zealand are a more dangerous proposition after suffering their first loss of the season last week.

Friday’s clash in Auckland was shaping as a blockbuster between two undefeated sides before Brisbane shocked the Warriors at home last week.

It’s robbed fans of a mouth-watering showdown between to undefeated sides but McGregor said he never bought into the narrative.

“Everyone was speaking about it but that’s the perspective of the fan more than anything else, not as a coach,” McGregor said.

“Obviously we’re playing a quality side, they’ve got a lot of Internationals, they’ve won five of their first six. They’re pretty well and International spine.

“[Blake] Greeny’s gone over there and really played with a lot of composure and directs the team around. [Shaun] Johnson’s one of the best open footy players you’ll ever see, along with Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] so we’ve got to limit their opportunities in [good] field position.

“I’m expecting a very physical team, a forward pack that runs hard, they lead the competition in off-loads.

“They’ve been challenged by their coach that they lacked energy last week so it’s definitely a big challenge.”

The Dragons remain the only undefeated team following their 40-20 win over Cronulla last week, with their 6-0 start the longest winning streak of McGregor’s coaching tenure.

They’ll also head into Friday’s match having used the fewest number of players through the opening six rounds of a season since the North Sydney Bears’ 7-0 start to their 1994 campaign.

With almost half his side also in contention for representative call-ups, McGregor said it’s important his side ride the good fortune as deep into the season as possible.

“You want to put a gap on teams when you’re winning,” he said.

“It’s very important to start the year well, it doesn’t matter what anyone says. A healthy roster definitely gives you confidence going into each week. It’s important you take advantage of that.

“People are saying we’re peaking too early or whatever they want to say but, if you’ve got a healthy roster, and you’re winning games of footy, it certainly helps throughout the year when you won’t have a healthy roster and you’ll have people away, possibly, through rep footy.

“People can talk about what we’re doing all they want but we’ve got a vision and we’ve got to have discipline around that and the standards we set.

“We didn’t show the Sharks out best [last week] so we need to show the Warriors our best on Friday night.”


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5350005/dragons-wary-of-backlash/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Representative rewards on the horizon for St George Illawarra stars

• Dragon's Den
  
  
  
  Galaxy of stars: Dragons halfback Ben Hunt will be in line to play State of Origin for Queensland. Picture: AAP Image
  
  St George Illawarra could have as many nine stars unavailable if Dragons players are rewarded for their blistering start to the season with representative selection.
  
  St George Illawarra maintained their perfect start to the season with a 40-20 win over fierce local rivals Cronulla in their derby clash on Friday night.
  
  The Dragons are top of the NRL table with six wins from as many starts, leading to a number of their players being spoken about to play representative football.
  
  Queensland will defend their State of Origin title against NSW starting with game one in Melbourne on June 6. They then play in Sydney on June 24 and Brisbane on July 11.
  
  Tyson Frizell and Ben Hunt are likely to be chosen for the Blues and Maroons respectively. But St George Illawarra’s incredible start to the campaign has a number of players including Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, Cameron McInnes and Euan Aitken being mooted to be part of new NSW coach Brad Fittler’s fresh start at the helm.
  
  Dragons trio Gareth Widdop, James Graham and Jason Nightingale all also in the mix to play for England and New Zealand in their historic Test match in Denver on June 23.
  
  But with around six weeks to go before the teams for Origin I are chosen, McGregor said he is happy for his players to be rewarded as long as their focus remains on the red V.
  
  “I think for anyone to be successful in anything you need a purpose. And if you’ve got a purpose then you’ve got to have a passion for that purpose. Then you’ve got to be disciplined around that passion that you show. And I think the guys have got that,” he said.
  
  “So if my players are successful because of the passion they’ve shown and the purpose they’ve got you’ve got to reward it.
  
  “At the moment I’ve told the guys it’s about our team. It’s got to be we before me.
  
  So if my players are successful because of the passion they’ve shown and the purpose they’ve got you’ve got to reward it.
  
  Dragons coach Paul McGregor
  “If they’re playing well in four or five weeks time they’ll get the rewards. But if their team and their form drops off, before they’re picked in Origin they’ve got to play consistently for a long period of time.
  
  “And then they’ve got to replace current Australian players in their position.
  
  “So to do that it’s about playing well for a long period of time, not just six weeks of the competition.
  
  “At the moment they’re doing that.
  
  
  https://www.theleader.com.au/story/...epresentative-rewards-on-the-horizon/?cs=3833

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons' bubble won't burst: McGregor

Coach Paul McGregor is happy with the way the Dragons are shaping up in the NRL. (AAP)


St George Illawarra are in good health ahead of their NRL clash with the Warriors despite reports of illness in the group, Paul McGregor says.

Updated Updated 3 hours ago

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor believes the doubters waiting for the Dragons' bubble to burst may be in for a rude shock.

The unbeaten competition leaders flew out for Auckland on Wednesday brimming with belief as they look to extend their best-ever start to an NRL campaign in Friday night's top-of-the-table clash with the Warriors.

But the Dragons have been "April premiers" before, only for similarly encouraging starts to to end in tears.

McGregor's men won six of their first seven last year before losing 11 of 17 to miss the finals.

In 2015, the Dragons won eight of their first 11 before limping into the playoffs in eighth spot and bombing out in week one.

McGregor, though, believes his "healthy" class of 2018 is different - and ready to keep the record streak rolling.

"A healthy roster definitely gives you confidence going into each week," he said as the Dragons eye a seventh straight win.

"So whilst we maintain that healthy roster, it obviously gives you good cohesion across the board. You get a lot of repetition in at training, which is important in this game.

"People can talk about it all they want. We've got a vision and discipline around that and standards around how we play.

"Each week we're learning to play a different way to win, which is pleasing."

Mathematically, the joint venture outfit likely only need to win six or seven of their remaining 18 games to make the finals and McGregor is refusing to play down his side's sizzling start to 2018.

"It's very important to start the year well. It doesn't matter what anyone says," he said.

"Everyone can say 'oh, you're peaking too early" or whatever they want to say.

"But if you've got a healthy roster and you're winning games of footy, it certainly helps throughout the year when you don't have a healthy roster and you'll have people away possibly through representative footy."

In an ominous warning to the Warriors, who themselves won their first five matches before falling to Brisbane 27-18 on Saturday, McGregor is demanding better from the Dragons than their 40-20 dispatch of Cronulla last Friday night.

Preserving themselves for the short turnaround before Wednesday's Anzac Day blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters won't be accepted.

"We'll go out and play our best on Friday night because we didn't show the Sharks our best," said McGregor, who laughed off talk that a nasty bug had swept through the camp this week.

"We need to show the Warriors our best on Friday night and, if we do that, we'll give ourselves every opportunity.

"Then, after that, we'll refocus on obviously the game on Anzac Day, We obviously all know what that's about."

Source: AAP


https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dragons-bubble-won-t-burst-mcgregor

 

[getsmarty]

Coaches Corner: Why the Dragons are dominating
Steve Turner and Matt Elliott look at what the Dragons are doing so well ahead of their blockbuster clash with the Warriors

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/18/coaches-corner/

 

[getsmarty]

Widdop's 100th game in the Red V
NRL.com looks back at some of Gareth Widdop's best highlights with the Dragons

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/18/widdops-100th-game-in-the-red-v/

 

[getsmarty]

Coaches Corner: Why the Dragons are dominating
Steve Turner and Matt Elliott look at what the Dragons are doing so well ahead of their blockbuster clash with the Warriors
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/18/coaches-corner/

 

[getsmarty]

McGregor setting a high standard

• 
  Mitch Jennings

Local Sport

TASKMASTER: Paul McGregor is setting a high bar. Picture: John Veage

WINNING with a 20-point cushion would please most people, but Dragons coach Paul McGregor says he’ll be looking for a considerable improvement from his side against the Warriors on Friday.

Last week’s 40-20 victory over Cronulla was the Dragons’ sixth in a row, but came as the Sharks battled a hefty injury toll and followed a scrappy second-half display against Souths a week earlier.

“Every game, whether you win or lose, you’ve got to learn from, and each week we’re learning and we’re playing a different way to win which is pleasing,” McGregor said.

“I was very happy to take the two points out of last week’s game, and I was impressed with the scoreline, but we had some work-on’s from the game that we weren’t impressed with.

“We dropped our standards a touch. Our discipline was not where we needed it to be and we let in 20 points so the guys have a really good focus on what they have to do better than last week.


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5353083/mary-setting-a-high-standard/?cs=302

 

[getsmarty]

KICKOFF: Sims has plenty to offer Origin arena

• 
  Mitch Jennings

Dragons Den News

PUTTING HIS HAND UP: Tariq Sims' form is bringing him closer the elusive NSW jumper he seemed destined for when he burst on the scene with North Queensland seven seasons ago. Picture: Adam McLean
“Pick them all,” was Phil Gould’s cry as the Dragons did a job on Cronulla last week.

Gus is of course partial to hyperbole while in the midst of a call but, the way the Dragons are currently playing, it was only a slight exaggeration.

In fact, the Dragons appear to be winning with such methodical ease at present, questions about rep football are all that coach Paul McGregor is fielding.

He’s made no secret of the chats he’s had with NSW coach Brad Fittler and the message is clear: Freddie’s wiping the slate clean and will be picking players on form.

Having started 6-0, the Dragons rightly have a host of players in contention. Tyson Frizell is – deservedly – a walk-up start, Jack de Belin's selection appears equally fait accompli, Cam McInnes is the form NSW No. 9 and Paul Vaughan is knocking on the door.

All make strong claims but, by far, the most interesting selection proposition is Tariq Sims.

If you’d walked into a pub five years ago and said he’d still be chasing an Origin debut at the age of 28, they’d have cut you off at the bar.

At North Queensland he was cutting swathes through rivals, with and without the footy, and a Blues jumper seemed a matter of when, not if.

As Sims would be the first to tell you, things can change quickly in rugby league. This is a guy who twice come back from career-threatening broken legs before the age of 25.

A bumpy ride at Newcastle and a team-first shift to middle at the Dragons has seen him slip from the top of the pecking order. The richness of NSW’s back-row stocks means one never stays top of that pile for long.

This season, however, there is no edge back-rower playing better football. He’s playing very much like a man on a mission and that aggressive mentality is driving a Dragons pack playing out of it’s skin.

It’s a mentality custom-made for Origin. If form is the chief consideration, he should be there come Origin I. One can only hope he’s given a fair shake at the selection table.

Fittler’s predecessor Laurie Daley was loyal to fault – evidently to the wrong players. Sticking with guys who’d allegedly “done the job before” was a common an infuriating refrain.

Persisting too long with an ageing squad brought a reactionary push for generational change and has recently seen selectors look almost exclusively to youth with a view to future series.

That's come to manifest itself in an ageist selection policy and one that rarely looks solely at the series at hand. Sims is only 28, but when was to the last time NSW debuted a 28-year-old back-rower?

It’s where talk of a rep selection ‘window’ comes from. The term suggests that a player has only a limited time to force their way into Origin before that window closes on them.

Kickoff had an interesting conversation with Sims in the preseason about whether he thought his may of closed.

“No I don’t, I honestly don’t,” he said.

“It’s still a huge burning desire for me. With the change of coach hopefully there’s a shake-up in the playing roster and Freddie might bring in some different players of age and experience.

“You look at a guy like Corey Parker, he got better with age. Obviously he was exceptionally durable but I believe, if you’re playing good enough football, you deserve to be there.”

Parker played three games for Queensland in series losses in 2004 and 2005. He had to wait six years for a recall which came in 2011 at age 29.

He finished his career with 19 Origins to his name and was the Wally Lewis Medalist in the Maroons 2015 series win at the age of 33. Lucky for the Maroons, they didn’t close the window on him.

Sims looked made for Origin when he burst on the scene six years ago. He’s still made for it now. Let’s just hope the selectors leave that window open.

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5352190/kickoff-sims-still-made-for-origin/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS

The real impact of State of Origin for the Dragons
Author
Brad Walter Senior Reporter
Timestamp
Thu 19 Apr 2018, 06:58 PM

St George Illawarra's anticipated contingent of players in the NSW Blues team has the potential to affect the club beyond the State of Origin period, with representative bonuses set to make a dent in the Dragons' salary cap.

While some fear the inclusion of up to five players in the Blues squad could disrupt their campaign midway through the season, there may be longer-term implications if the likes of Paul Vaughan, Jack de Belin, Cameron McInnes and Euan Aitken have representative clauses in their contracts.

Under NRL rules, Origin bonuses must be included in a player’s salary cap value but can be carried forward to the year after he earned selection if the club does not have enough room that season.

Either way, clubs required to pay representative bonuses are affected as few are yet to fill their 30-man roster, as they are required to do by June 30, while players are also coming off contract for next season.

Interchange forwards Leeson Ah Mau, Jeremy Latimore and Hame Sele are among the Dragons players unsigned beyond this year and given their role in the club’s unbeaten start to the season they are expected to attract interest from rival clubs.

St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan. Robb Cox/NRL Photos
Ah Mau is in the sights of Newcastle and reportedly met with Knights officials earlier this month but the Samoan prop, who is looking forward to performing in front of his family when the Dragons meet the Warriors in Auckland on Friday night, is in no hurry to decide his future.

"We haven't really sat down and talked about it yet because there has been a few short turnarounds and that sort of thing," Ah Mau told NRL.com.

"Once we get a bit of a break we will definitely try to sort that out. I am fully enjoying my time here so we will see how it goes."

A feature of St George Illawarra’s early season form has been the impact of their bench players, led by Ah Mau who has averaged 121 metres from 11 runs in the opening six rounds and made two line-breaks, 19 tackles breaks, four offloads and scored a try.

"What’s been working for us is that everyone is just playing their role and that’s my job, just to come on and bring a bit of energy," Ah Mau said.

"We have got a team first mentality and everyone works hard for the team. We are putting in for each other and don’t want to let each other down, the whole 17. I am happy to do whatever job for the team.”

Ah Mau made his NRL debut in 2009 for the Warriors before moving to North Queensland and has been at the Dragons since 2012.

The 28-year-old said the signing of Ben Hunt and James Graham had given the Dragons improved self-belief.

"Ben and James have been great additions to our team, they definitely bring a lot of experience and they just give everyone confidence around them," he said.



https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/19...te-of-origin-for-st-george-illawarra-dragons/

 

[getsmarty]

Kearney rates win over Dragons among best of career
Author
Jackson Thomas
Timestamp
Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:54 PM


He has won a World Cup with the Kiwis and enjoyed success at NRL level in Melbourne, but Warriors coach Stephen Kearney rates Friday's win over the Dragons as one of his finest moments.

St George Illawarra's unbeaten start to the Telstra Premiership was snapped 20-12 by the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.

The Warriors were without star playmaker Shaun Johnson, centre Solomone Kata and lost key forward Tohu Harris to concussion in the first half.

The home team finished with just 38 per cent of possession, were on the wrong end of a 13-5 penalty count and had a player sin-binned.

All things considering, Kearney says the win is ''way up there'' in terms of his best moment at the helm.

''They showed a tremendous amount of courage tonight with all the adversity against a top of the table team,'' he said.

''The guys found a way to keep the side with the best attack in the competition out - with 12 men at one point - so I was just so proud of how they went about their work.

''We spoke last week about commitment and attitude needing to improve and I thought they did that tonight.

''Honestly this win is right up there for me, way up there. With the changes and a player in the bin and playing the best team in the competition ... I'm just really proud of the guys.''

Warriors back-rower Tohu Harris reels out of the tackle that ended his night against the Dragons. Shane Wenzlick/NRL Photos
It was clear when the final whistle blew how much the win meant to the Warriors.

Senior players Adam Blair, Isaac Luke and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were elated with the performance and took time to interact and celebrate with some of the 18,000-plus fans who braved chilly conditions to see the home team's sixth win in seven games.

''We are playing in front of our home crowed and we want to show them what we are about so that's what all that's about for us and why there was some extra emotion in getting a result like that,'' Kearney said.

The Warriors have a short five-day turnaround now as they prepare to face the Storm in Melbourne in Wednesday's annual ANZAC clash.

Kearney was unsure if Johnson would be fit for the match but was pleased with the performance of replacement halfback Mason Lino, who scored the opening try of the match and kicked three from four goals.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/20...eorge-illawarra-dragons-among-best-of-career/

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS

McGregor non-plussed with tactics used by Warriors
Author
Jackson Thomas
Timestamp
Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:35 PM

Dragons coach Paul McGregor has questioned the goal line tactics employed by the New Zealand Warriors during his side's first loss of the Telstra Premiership season.

The Warriors defeated the Dragons 20-12 in Auckland on Friday night, despite finishing on the wrong end of a 13-5 penalty count.

Many of the penalties conceded by the Warriors came while the now joint premiership leaders were defending their own line.

While admitting the Warriors were the better side on the night, McGregor said the constant "stop-start-nature" of the match hindered the Dragons' ability to play with any fluidity.

"They came here with a plan, they gave away a lot of penalties and defended their line really well, whether that was part of it or not I'm not sure," he said.

"Their line speed was incredible and their scramble defence was the best from any side I have seen this year. But it was frustrating because of the constant stop-start nature of that first period."

Asked directly if he thought the Warriors' willingness to concede penalties was deliberate, McGregor said "maybe".

Match Highlights: Warriors v Dragons - Round 7, 2018

"There were a lot of them around the same area of the field. But look, taking nothing away from the Warriors tonight they were very good," he said.

"There was a few blown. I suppose someone did go to the bin late in that second half."

Playmaker Blake Green was the player binned, just before the break.

Dragons' captain Gareth Widdop said the number of penalties limited his side's ability to play fast.

"It just slows us down a little bit you can't really get any momentum or quick play of the balls to play off the back of," he said.

"But I'm not going to use that as an excuse in the end, they just defended really well and we couldn't get across the try line that's what it came down to."

When asked if it was part of the game plan for his side, Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said "it's not on our tip sheet, no".

"We knew that we had to put pressure on the Dragons with our line speed and really go after them but it wasn't our intention to deliberately give penalties away. I can honestly say."

Both sides now face short turnarounds with their respective Anzac Day clashes next Wednesday.


https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/20...ons-tactics-employed-by-new-zealand-warriors/

 

[zombiebloodlust]

REQUEST | Hi I don't get this thread. it's counter intuitive to how the rest of the web operates. Regardless I have a request.

can someone with access to the Australian please repost the article in today's edition (21/4) by Ben Ikkin about the Dragons HP program that leaves all others for dead and will secure back to back premierships. Apparently.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons record Anzac Day victory over Roosters
Author
Dan Walsh
Timestamp
Wed 25 Apr 2018, 10:38 PM

The Red V march on at the top of the NRL ladder as Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop did likewise over their big money scrumbase opposites in a 24-8 Anzac Day triumph.

Before a record crowd of 41,142 for rugby league's most anticipated regular season fixture, St George Illawarra's Hunt outpointed fellow million-dollar halfback Cooper Cronk at the Sydney Roosters to have one hand on his old Queensland No.7 jumper.

But the other main talking point post-match was the controversial try awarded to Nene Macdonald in the 68th minute after it appeared Cronk had made a spectacular cover tackle dislodging the ball from the Dragons' winger's hands.

However, the bunker ruled Macdonald kept fingertip control on the ball even though it appeared he lost control with his right hand just as his left hand rolled over the surface.

The score was 18-8 in the Dragons favour but if the try had been disallowed - as most at the ground thought it would be - it would have given the Roosters a sniff of hope. Insitead the scoreboard drfited out to 24-8, which remained the fulltime tally.

Later, NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton revealed the decision by the bunker's Jared Maxwell and Luke Patten was incorrect.

"Having reviewed the decision it can be seen that the ball rotates, which indicates possession has been lost," Sutton said, adding the correct ruling would have been a knock-on.

Referees boss admits mistake on Dragons try

While the Dragons forwards repeatedly bashed Cronk into the turf, Hunt turned the contest on its head with the money play – a scything sidestep for a telling solo try - in a rough and ready first half.


He and Widdop featured heavily in each of the Dragons four tries as Cronk and Luke Keary probed, but rarely broke a ruthless Red V defence that made no bones of a 46 per cent share of possession.

In the end a 16-point margin spelled out the gulf between the two sides, even withstanding the Macdonald try decision.

The masterclass from the Dragons halves started from their first touches of the football.

St George Illawarra went 100 metres in their opening set for Macdonald to score his first try in corner after Blake Ferguson fumbled a Widdop kick.

As the Roosters moved themselves into the Red V red zone, the Dragons infringements began with Cameron McInnes taking out Keary as he pursued a Cronk chip kick.

Several sets, penalties and desperate knock downs later, the Tricolours took the two on offer. The Dragons applauded them, and their own watertight defence.

Widdop missed his own attempt from 40 out five minutes later, while a line-ball Ferguson knock-on batting back a kick denied the Roosters once more at the other end.

The penalties and errors book-ended brutal defence from both sets of big men, while their smaller ilk – Keary and Tedesco, McInnes and Hunt – poked and pestered without points.

But with seconds remaining in the half Hunt went all-in and collected the lot, running off the ruck, stepping Boyd Cordner and Keary for a 12-2 lead.

A Tim Lafai fumble in the first minute of the second stanza gave the Roosters a sniff, but only until Tariq Sims snuffed it out by belting Cronk into an error.

Roosters fullback James Tedesco. Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
When Widdop piloted Sims at Cronk on his own line, it looked like curtains with half an hour to play.

Once more it was the little men sparking the Roosters into life, Tedesco finding space behind the ruck before Keary grubbered for Latrell Mitchell to touch down.

A cross-field kick from Cronk had the Tricolours pressing soon after, but a knock-on in the air denied Victor Radley a 54th minute try.

While the Roosters continued to press, Widdop kept them at bay as he forced repeat sets after the hour mark.

With pressure mounting Hunt was involved once more as he and Matt Dufty sent Macdonald over in the corner.

And with that, the Dragons skipped to their seventh win after right rounds and - until the second placed Warriors take the paddock at least - into clear air at the top of the ladder.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/04/25/dragons-record-anzac-day-victory-over-roosters/

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS

Vale Brian Norton
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Thu 26 Apr 2018, 12:06 PM

The Dragons would like to send their condolences to the family and friends of former St George prop Brian Norton following his passing earlier this week.

Norton joined the Dragons in 1971 from North Sydney and went on to play four seasons with the club, before re-joining the Bears in 1975.

Norton was famous for scoring the "most remarkable front-row forward try" veteran broadcaster Frank Hyde had ever seen, just before half-time against the Cronulla Sharks at the Sydney Cricket Ground during his first season with the Red V.

The 75-metre effort from Norton was the talk of the town with it splashed across newspapers and news bulletins following the Dragons 24-20 win.

Brian Norton record

NSW Country Firsts (1967)
North Sydney Bears (1968-1970 & 1975) – 47 games
St George Dragons (1971-1974) – 43 games

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/04/26/vale-brian-norton/

 

[getsmarty]

Tariq Sims eyes Blues Origin jumper after stellar start for Dragons
3:17am
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Source:

AAP
Tariq Sims makes no secret of the fact he's ready to wear a NSW State of Origin jersey.

Tariq Sims of the Dragons celebrates victory in round eight of an NRL match between the St George Illawara Dragons and Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

Source: Getty

And now, while watching his brutal display in St George Illawarra's hard-hitting 24-8 Anzac Day win over the Sydney Roosters, Blues coach Brad Fittler has let it slip that he will be.

The only question about Sims during the competition's opening weeks was his lack of big-game experience.

But regular season occasions don't get much bigger than a record Anzac Day crowd at Allianz Stadium.

And just as he did throughout the first seven rounds, Sims delivered.

He twice laid out Cooper Cronk in attack. Both hits were legal but left the Roosters' No.7 rattled after he pounced and crunched.

"It was a personal challenge for mine to limit his time with the ball," Sims said.

"He's a world-class player. He's represented Queensland that many times, Australia more than I've had hot dinners.

"If he keeps getting off the ground and having a tough day it might cloud his judgment."

That wasn't enough for Sims though.

Moments after the second hit, he ran onto a Gareth Widdop short ball and straight past the former Queensland No.7 for the Dragons to go up 18-2.

While he was Saints' most destructive, Sims wasn't alone.

Ben Hunt must now be a near certainty to be picked as Queensland halfback.

He got the Dragons going when he ran it on the last in the opening minute before he and Cameron McInnes put a kicking Widdop away for winger Nene Macdonald to score.

But when it was put to Fittler in Channel Nine's commentary how he'd find a way to stop Hunt's running game come June, the mentor had one answer.

"We'll sick Tariq onto him," he said.

Not that Sims will have any issue with that.

"I've got no problem laying out my teammates," he said.

"Once we get across those white lines, it's footy. It's a game, we play it to the best of our ability.

"It's a tough game, not a soft game. And if you take the line on expect to get hit because that's what happens."

Sims is unlikely to be the only Dragons' back-rower selected for the series-opener in Melbourne. In fact, there's every chance they could all be there.

Tyson Frizell is a Blues incumbent and was awarded man of the match on Wednesday. Jack de Belin is also about the only other player in the competition hitting opponents as hard as Sims.

"They're at the stage now we're they're sick of losing and want to win every week," Dragons coach Paul McGregor said.

"They are good experienced players and are seasoned. Most of them were here in 2015 when we led the competition and last year as well."



https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...ues-origin-jumper-after-stellar-start-dragons

 

[getsmarty]

When duty calls: McInnes bolts from Anzac clash to hospital for birth
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Cameron McInnes celebrated the birth of his first child on Thursday night, but only after the St George Illawarra club doctor worked some magic and delayed the birth until after Anzac Day.

Dragons officials discovered McInnes' fiancee Rachel was to be induced at Wollongong Hospital on Tuesday, which meant there was a good chance their little hooker would be distracted by the likely birth around the time of the traditional blockbuster against Sydney Roosters.

So Tony Carrigan contacted a few of his medical mates at the hospital, and with Rachel's blessing, delayed the start of the labour process by 24 hours.

At no stage was Rachel or the newborn's health put at risk by delaying the birth.

McInnes punched out 80 minutes in another brilliant performance for the Dragons, shook hands with the Roosters players, raced up the Allianz Stadium tunnel and returned to Wollongong.

The 24-year-old had exited the Moore Park precinct before the official presentations had been completed on the field.

The baby – a boy they have named Talanoa – arrived just before 8pm and weighed in at a whopping 4.5kg, which means the Dragons could have a future prop on their hands.

"The doctors were going to induce Rachel on Tuesday so she would have the baby Wednesday, but our club doctor went up to the hospital – it's one of the places he works – and asked if they could induce her Wednesday so the baby arrived Thursday,'' Dragons coach Paul McGregor told Fairfax Media.

"It's all worked out excitingly well. We delayed the birth of the baby so Cam could play footy.''

McInnes played every minute of last season and featured in all the action for the table-topping Dragons after seven rounds this year.

Life seems good for McInnes, and it could get better next month with his first NSW jersey.

McGregor said McInnes had gone from ''surviving 80 minutes to being comfortable playing 80 minutes''.

"Cam is a bit of a perfectionist, and he didn't want to do anything wrong when he first arrived here,'' McGregor said.

"Training-wise I haven't seen any better, and he's a professional athlete who does what he needs to do and will do anything for anyone else.

"He had to let go a bit. He was worried about being perfect, but nobody is perfect.

"He's still a young bloke learning his trade, and he hadn't been an 80-minute player.

"We wanted to turn him into an 80-minute player. We expected him to stuff up a few times, but he surprised everyone and didn't stuff up.

"This year he feels, and this is in his words, he feels comfortable playing 80 minutes. Where last year he felt like he survived 80 minutes at different times, now he feels he can thrive in that 80 minutes.

"We wanted an 80-minute hooker. The fitness base was there with Cam, he just needed that game management. His best football is still ahead of him.''

McInnes was in the thick of everything for the Dragons on Anzac Day and had a hand in the first try, which was scored after just 61 seconds.

Such was the rap when he first burst on to the scene at South Sydney that then coach Michael Maguire viewed him as a future captain of his junior club.


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/wh...sh-to-hospital-for-birth-20180426-p4zbws.html

 

[getsmarty]

MEMBERSHIP

Buy Mudgee Faithful membership now
Author
dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Mon 30 Apr 2018, 11:00 AM

St George Illawarra's newly-introduced Mudgee Faithful membership package is on sale now.

The Dragons' Mudgee Faithful membership has been developed to give the fans in the Mudgee region an extra special offer when the Dragons come to town.

Valued at $124, the adult Mudgee Faithful membership is only $99 and includes access to the Dragons' Round 11 game against the Canberra Raiders on Sunday, May 20.

The Mudgee Faithful membership will also include:

• Red V member pack: including members' choice item (cap or beanie), keyring, car sticker and lanyard.
• Additional member items: wall flag and can cooler.
• All core Red V benefits: exclusive member discounts on tickets and merchandise, access to players, Red V Rewards and more.
• Access to purchase flexible tickets throughout the season through the members portal at a discounted rate
• Entry to exclusive Red V Members 'Meet your Team' functions held when the Dragons play in regional areas
• Merchandise discount

If you would like to become a Red V Member visit www.marchwithus.com.au for details on how to belong, connect and commit in 2018.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/04/30/mudgee-faithful-on-sale/

 

[hewi]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/hu...fast-start-as-storm-loom-20180430-p4zchi.html

I like Ben Hunt more and more. Appears level headed not big headed. Talks the talk and walks the talk. Make my day on Sunday, do the storm please.

 

[getsmarty]

2018 Member Team Photo
Red V Member William was selected to be the lucky member to win a spot in the team photo for 2018.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/05/01/2018-member-team-photo/

 

[getsmarty]

MEMBERSHIP

'Win a spot' winner thankful for Red V Membership
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 1 May 2018, 03:52 PM

St George Illawarra Red V Member William Davis was the lucky winner of our 'Win a spot in the team photo' competition, simply by purchasing a membership.

A Wollongong Pass holder, the eight-year-old has been a member for three years and loves that he is able to secure the best seats in the house every season.

Most of all, Will's Red V Membership allows him to spend some quality time at Dragons games with his dad, Rhett.

For your chance to win exclusive prizes and personal opportunities, sign up for a Red V Membership today!

Reduced-game packages are now available here: https://www.marchwithus.com.au/

You can also download the 2018 St George Illawarra Dragons team poster by clicking here.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/05/01/win-a-spot-winner-thankful-for-red-v-membership/