5 things against the Dragons

[chunk]

1987, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2005 (Correct my dates if wrong)

I'm not saying the Dragons can't win the comp, they have Wayne Bennett.

However that is some serious baggage to carry.

The fans hopes, expectations and pressure could really way the team down.

The way the Dragons are going, its fair to say the fans will be expecting a premiership this year.

What a weight to carry the pressure going into each semi will be immense.

 

[icewind]

if anyone knows how to guide a team through the pressures of finals football... its Wayne Bennett. I think the team will be focussed on each game as they come.

 

[grouch]

It's not too hard to check the dates yourself before starting a thread. It's that kind of thorough preparation that will help the Saints avoid the pitfalls of 85,92,93,96,99

 

[chunk]

"It's not too hard to check the dates yourself before starting a thread. It's that kind of thorough preparation that will help the Saints avoid the pitfalls of 85,92,93,96,99"

Yeah your probably right but you get the idea...its all about choking

Don't forget 2005 you would have to say thats another year gone.

So the title of the thread should have read "6 things against the Dragons" or "Dragons won't win the comp because they are chokers"

 

[chunk]

It's not too hard to check the dates yourself before starting a thread. It's that kind of thorough preparation that will help the Saints avoid the pitfalls of 85,92,93,96,99

Yeah your probably right but you get the idea...its all about choking

Don't forget 2005 you would have to say thats another year gone.

So the title of the thread should have read "6 things against the Dragons" or "Dragons won't win the comp because they are chokers"

 

[grandorient]

Thanks for your confidence Chunk.

I really don't think Wayne and the team will be too concerned about past deeds. I do agree however that there will indeed be immense pressure, not just the fans though, the team themselves. However it's one of Wayne's jobs and one he does well, to keep them focused.

Will they win or even get to the Grand Final is anybodys guess. They have better chances than most but virtually equal chances with others.Doggies, Manly and yes the Storm can all be there and win. This is not a shut the gate competition by any means.

GO

 

[Whats Doing]

No things are certainties and you only have to look at the Storm for the past 3 years where they should have won at least 2 of the 3 premierships. It is all about who is best prepared on the day, who takes their chances when on offer and who best handles adversity when confronted.

Not that I am a dragons fan but they have been the best team by far this year and deserve the title. However they will need to still play at their best, do all the hard yards and not think the premiership is already theirs without putting in the maximum effort.

Never been a Bennett fan (in fact a total dislike) but credit is given when due and he has prepared the team to perfection and has the experience to win premierships..

 

[mongoose]

1987, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2005 (Correct my dates if wrong)

I'm not saying the Dragons can't win the comp, they have Wayne Bennett.

However that is some serious baggage to carry.

The fans hopes, expectations and pressure could really way the team down.

The way the Dragons are going, its fair to say the fans will be expecting a premiership this year.

What a weight to carry the pressure going into each semi will be immense.

The dragons weren't in it in 87 however Wayne Bennet did lose a grand final that year.

 

[Bulldogs_4_Life]

In the past the Dragons have choked. Everyone knows it. But this year they're a different team. They'll be in the grand final no doubt.

Premierships aren't won in Round 20. Some of their fans need to realise this. They get too ahead of themselves (not all of them, just a few.) but I can't blame them for being so confident.

As a Bulldogs fan I'm extremely confident. For me the year is already a huge huge success. The club has rebuilt so well in just 12 months and we are now second on the ladder. I'm stoked

Hopefully it comes down to a Bulldogs/Dragons grand final. That would be so epic.

 

[Rodent]

I laugh at suggestions Saints choked in 92,93 and 96. FFS in 92 and 93 the broncos were red hot favourites running out a virtual state of origin side and Manly were firm favourites in 96. If anything, Saints were over achievers in those years. 99 and 2005 I will cop but that puts us in a category that most teams fit at some stage.
History Smistory. Last night proved that the Bennett era has erased the past. We have been owned by Melbourne in the past but this year has shown the past means nothing. If you want to go back to 1985 why not go back to 77 and 79 or the 11 straight?
Parra had never won a comp but it didn't stop Sterlo and co.
If Saints are good enough they'll win. If they don't win it'll be because someone else is better. I've never seen a Bennett coached side choke before (although I did see Ashton Sims drop a ball) and I doubt the 09 dragons will be the first.

 

[Broncodr01d]

Bennett or no Bennett, if they get to the finals and the decider, it's up to the 17 players out on the field to get the job done. I get the feeling that if the Dragons win, it's Bennett, if they lose, it's the players. That's unfair and not accurate.

Baggage? I don't think so. Name the current players who were part of the losing Grand Final teams mentioned. Whilst we're at it, name a player in the team who has experienced a Grand Final loss. There is no baggage there for the players.

Doesn't every team have the weight of expectation placed upon them come finals time? Granted, the Minor Premiers may carry a little more in to the lead up, though all 8 teams are under pressure.

 

[mongoose]

I laugh at suggestions Saints choked in 92,93 and 96. FFS in 92 and 93 the broncos were red hot favourites running out a virtual state of origin side and Manly were firm favourites in 96. If anything, Saints were over achievers in those years. 99 and 2005 I will cop but that puts us in a category that most teams fit at some stage.
History Smistory. Last night proved that the Bennett era has erased the past. We have been owned by Melbourne in the past but this year has shown the past means nothing. If you want to go back to 1985 why not go back to 77 and 79 or the 11 straight?
Parra had never won a comp but it didn't stop Sterlo and co.
If Saints are good enough they'll win. If they don't win it'll be because someone else is better. I've never seen a Bennett coached side choke before (although I did see Ashton Sims drop a ball) and I doubt the 09 dragons will be the first.

The 92/93 broncos and 96 sea eagles are 2 of the greatest club sides of the modern era.

 

[Ausguy]

dont know what your talking about... th eonly grandfinal st george illawarra have been in was 1999.....

the ones before that put zero pressure on anyone.

 

[jpaciocco91]

The choker and poofy boy days at saints are obviously over. Getting rid of Brown and overpaid, overrated Gasnier and Barrett seemed like the worst things ever but in hindsight have been the best things to happen at this club for a long time, along with the acquisition of Wayne and co. this year.

For some reason our fans will still turn on the guys if we f**k up on just one occasion. I'm not like this, and I think we shouldn't be too harsh on the guys if we have a loss or two on the run to the finals (very unlikely though). The key is to take every game as they come, not think "we're gonna win the final just cos we had a few big wins", because that attitude cost us in 2005, and in the 90's. Just take things slowly. That is the key to success in this game for any team at the top, the Dragons, the Dogs, Tits, etc.

2009 has been a great success. I won't fully credit Wayne on it, several players at the team have come of age such as Soward and I'm sure we would still be going well but not as good if we had another coach. Wayne has brought to saints what he obviously had at Brisbane and what led them to so much sucess. Our defense is phenomenal (I don't mean to brag!). Out attack has also improved.

My tip for the GF- Dragons Vs Bulldogs. The NRL's two improved clubs of the year. Both have gone from being chokers, wimps and show offs to the Nrl's benchmarks.

Wouldn't write out Manly, Newcastle, NQld either. I just can't see the Tits make it or Melb back in it.

 

[jono]

dont know what your talking about... th eonly grandfinal st george illawarra have been in was 1999.....

the ones before that put zero pressure on anyone.

Interesting sidelight to the merger , while I was skiing last week I shared a T with a fellow from Wollongong. He was a Manly supporter before Illawarra began , then supported the locals from 1982. Then with the merger (takeover) of 1999 , he just couldn't cop the St George arrogance, and has gone back to following Manly.
I have to wonder just how many Illawarra people feel the same way.

 

[Ausguy]

i wonder too jono...

i mean i dont hear balmain supporters talking of balmain's premiership in 2005.....

but i do expect to hear about stgeorges premiership in 2009 when they win. Cos they will.

 

[chunk]

Bennett or no Bennett, if they get to the finals and the decider, it's up to the 17 players out on the field to get the job done. I get the feeling that if the Dragons win, it's Bennett, if they lose, it's the players. That's unfair and not accurate.

Baggage? I don't think so. Name the current players who were part of the losing Grand Final teams mentioned. Whilst we're at it, name a player in the team who has experienced a Grand Final loss. There is no baggage there for the players.

Doesn't every team have the weight of expectation placed upon them come finals time? Granted, the Minor Premiers may carry a little more in to the lead up, though all 8 teams are under pressure.

No baggage for the players but as a club they will feel it enormously which in turn has to be felt by the players.

There will be a ground swell of emotion come finals time, more than any other club.

Will this be another year that got away....it just can't be, right?

 

[Broncodr01d]

No baggage for the players but as a club they will feel it enormously which in turn has to be felt by the players.

There will be a ground swell of emotion come finals time, more than any other club.

Will this be another year that got away....it just can't be, right?

No it doesn't.

The players will see this is as their time to win their first premiership not giving a flying f### that there is baggage still being held by some internally. Sure they will recognise it, though it won't effect them nor will they feel any 'have to win to release the baggage' BS.

If we were talking about the Melbourne Storm in 'carrying baggage', then yeah, I'd agree. It doesn't apply to St George-Illawarra.

Their last Grand Final loss was a decade ago, not one player will carry baggage from that day. If they were supporting the club, yeah, they were disappointed as a fan, though I don't think they're lying on the couch hoping to get over it.

 

[LazyDreamer]

Baggage? I don't think so. Name the current players who were part of the losing Grand Final teams mentioned. Whilst we're at it, name a player in the team who has experienced a Grand Final loss. There is no baggage there for the players.

 

[STG-MACCA]

i wonder too jono...

i mean i dont hear balmain supporters talking of balmain's premiership in 2005.....

but i do expect to hear about stgeorges premiership in 2009 when they win. Cos they will.

I know it's a shame this forum has about 30:1 St.George supporters than any other club, and you can't help but see more St.George threads.

Whilst I like most other supporters know that we are not anywhere near a grand final yet, the simple fact is that supporters can live it up as much as they like, we are 4 points clear on the top of the comp, we have only lost 4 games all season and nothing anyone as a fan does or say is going to change the team and their preparation.

The team on the other hand need to settle down, stay focused and take each game on it's merits one at a time - not my problem I'm just a very passionate fan that wants the best result (every year).