Articles

[getsmarty]

I like Hind. That interview further shows him to be a good style of guy. And gee, what a try to Jai Field! WOW!
Thanks for posting getsmarty.

Your Welcome.

 

[getsmarty]

Teammates have my back: Lafai

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

23 Mar 2017, 1:58 p.m.


DRAGONS centre Tim Lafai says he is out to repay the faith of teammates who supported him through a tumultuous first season at the club in 2016.

REPAYING THE FAITH: Dragons centre Tim Lafai is keen to repay the teammates who had his back through tumultuous times in 2016. He's run over 100 metres in two of the club's first three games. Picture: Getty Images

The Samoan International was a much heralded signing for the joint venture following two standout seasons with Canterbury but struggled to find top form as he battled niggling injuries.

It saw him sent back to the Illawarra Cutters to re-find his groove and ultimately ended with Lafai and teammate Siliva Havili charged with affray and offensive behaviour following a drunken night out in Wollongong less than 24 hours before the Dragons round 20 clash with Wests Tigers.

The pair were immediately stood down by the club in the aftermath before a push from the playing group saw them quickly re-instated.

They’ve since pleaded not guilty to the charges and will face a hearing next month.

It means Lafai is limited in what he can say on the matter, but the 25-year-old expressed gratitude to his teammates for their support in a difficult time.

“I think last year was all a learning curve for myself,’ Lafai said.

“I’ve got to put that behind me and learn from it, which I did. The boys really supported me and the coaching staff have been awesome as well.

“If you have a tight group around you, when you have your downs it goes a long way to helping you get through those times.

“I got really stuck into preseason, I’ve been working really hard with the coaches and having the boys around me to help me… it’s been really good.”

“I definitely want to pay the boys back for having my back by getting stuck into training and doing my job as best as I can every week.”

Off-contract this season, Lafai is also playing to earn a new deal, though his future at the club may well depend on the outcome of negotiations with star fullback Josh Dugan.

He saw off a challenge from young-gun Taane Milne to claim a spot in the centres for round one against Penrith where he had 16 runs for a 138 metres, showing the benefits of being injury-free.

He produced 14 carries for 126 metres in the Dragons 16-10 win over Cronulla last week and is confident he’s not far off capturing the form that saw him score 24 tries in his last two seasons with the Bulldogs.

“Getting through a tough preseason injury free has been good and I think that’s the key for me,” Lafai said.

“If I can stay injury free it goes a long way to me playing some consistent footy for the team.

“If I can keep working on little things myself, on and off the field, and keep improving I think I can go a long way in helping the team out and getting back to some of that form.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4550677/teammates-fuelling-lafai/?cs=302

 

[getsmarty]

McGregor on the front foot over NRL concussion crackdown

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

23 Mar 2017, 7 p.m.

STAUNCH DEFENCE: Paul McGregor. Picture: Adam McLean

ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has leapt to the defence of his medical staff after the club was hit with a $100,000 fine as part of an NRL blitz on club’s flouting concussion guidelines on Monday.

The sanction directed at the Dragons relates to the club’s handling of an injured Josh Dugan in last weekend’s 16-10 victory over Cronulla at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Dugan was felled by an accidental elbow from teammate Russell Packer in the ninth minute of the local derby, leaving him motionless on the turf. He remained down as he was assessed by head trainer Nathan Pickworth but was not taken from the field for a Head Injury Assessment.

He subsequently played out the remaining 71 minutes, something NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said left him “dismayed” as he watched on from home.

McGregor said post-match that he received a report that Dugan had suffered a possible jaw injury while there were also reports in the aftermath that club doctor Tom Carrigan was unable to view replays of the incident due to a malfunctioning sideline TV.

The Dragons are yet to formally respond to the breach notice but CEO Peter Doust told Fairfax on Thursday that the NRL risked medicos not wanting to be involved in the game if their integrity is constantly questioned.

McGregor also staunchly defended his medical staff in addressing the media on Thursday.

“The club’s still going through the process at the moment but I certainly, to the nth degree, back the integrity of my [medical] staff,” McGregor said.

“I’m very confident in the process that my staff took. That’s probably all I need to say there because a lot’s been said and the process is still being fought out.”

Gold Coast were slapped with a $150,000 fine for three separate incidents in their victory over Parramatta on Friday while Newcastle were also hit with a $100,000 fine for their handling of young fullback Brendan Elliot in their loss to South Sydney.

Knights coach Nathan Brown called for an 18th man system to be implemented where concussed players are unable to return to field after failing an HIA.

McGregor echoed the call of his former Dragons teammate, though he said such a move would need to be stringently policed.

“I think it’s a great idea,” McGregor said.

“It’s been mentioned before at the [NRL] coaches conference. Certainly it’s a part of the game that will be looked at more closely now with the regularity of interchanges being used because of the HIA.

“I think it’s important it’s not abused though, and it can be. You don’t want the interchanges going back up because of a fresh person being there and them being used wrongly.

“That’s not what the game’s about given the [interchange] changes that have been made in the game so I do support it but it’s got to be monitored pretty toughly.”

While most coaches appear to be in favour of the move, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett dismissed the need for the 18th man on Thursday.

‘‘How many players do you want on the bench?’’ Bennett said.

“‘Where does it all stop? I am not pushing for 18 players. We will lose a player then another and people will say ’we need 19’, it’s like a piece of string - there’s no end to it.’’

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4550498/mcgregor-defends-medical-staff/?cs=302

 

[getsmarty]

Field's fight for fitness
Fri 24th March, 11:00AM
A A


St George Illawarra Dragons utility Jai Field discusses his fight for fitness over the opening month of the NRL Telstra Premiership season.

The Shellharbour Sharks junior also opens himself up to a potential move to fullback in future seasons and his 2017 NRL aspirations.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/24/field_s_fight_for_fi.html

 

[getsmarty]

Hard work pays off for Lafai
Sat 25th March, 10:00AM
A A


St George Illawarra centre Tim Lafai's huge pre-season has paid massive dividends and he has his teammates to thank.

The Samoan international also discussed the Dragons' roller coaster start to the season ahead of the Round 4 clash against the New Zealand Warriors at UOW Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/25/hard_work_pays_off_f.html

 

[getsmarty]

Field embracing fullback move

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

24 Mar 2017, 11:11 a.m.

Jai Field says he would embrace a move to fullback

DRAGONS rising star Jai Field says he would happily embrace a move to fullback if it means he sees regular NRL action.

Current fullback Josh Dugan remains at odds with recruitment chief Ian Millward over whether his future lies at fullback or in the centres.

Millward has stated publicly that he sees Field as a long-term fullback option for the club, likening him to Darren Lockyer.

Field played primarily in the halves for the Dragons NYC side last season, and was in the running for the halfback spot left vacant by an ACL injury to Drew Hutchison, but the 19-year-old is no stranger to the No.1 jumper.

Asked if he would embrace such a move, Field said:

“Yeah for sure. I’ve said it previously, I’ve played a lot of fullback growing up. It’s somewhere I probably would like to play down the track.

“It suits my game style, I like ball-playing and being able to run the ball. I see myself as a natural ball runner first so it’d pretty exciting to play there in the future.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4552474/field-happy-to-shift-to-no1/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons pushing for higher honours
Mon 27th March, 03:00PM
A A



St George Illawarra prop Tariq Sims, and his fellow Dragons forwards, are hopeful of using their recent success at club level to push for further representative honours.

Following the Dragons' 26-12 win over the Warriors over the weekend, Sims also discussed the difficulty of their upcoming Wests Tigers opponents at ANZ Stadium this Sunday afternoon.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/27/dragons_pushing_for_.html

 

[getsmarty]

Packer narrows focus on Dragons
Tue 28th March, 10:00AM
A A



St George Illawarra Dragons prop Russell Packer has discussed potentially playing for New Zealand at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

While the two-time Kiwis representative hasn't represented his country since 2011, Packer reaffirmed his focus remains solely on the Dragons.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/28/packer_narrows_focus.af_news.html

 

[getsmarty]

New training perspective has St George Illawarra Dragons breathing fire
Andrew Parkinson
28 Mar 2017, 3 p.m.

Weapon: Jack de Belin has started the season in outstanding form. Picture: Chris Lane

Jack de Belin believes St George Illawarra’s recruitment off the field is one of the big reasons for the club’s explosive start to the season.

The Dragons have won three of their opening four games, sit third on the ladder and are the first team to score 100 points.

The vast improvement from last season is no fluke, with the club bringing in fresh faces behind the scenes to lead an intense and at times gruelling pre-season.

Nathan Pickworth took over from longtime performance head Tony Ayoub as head of performance and medical science, while strength and conditioning coaches Andrew Rondinelli and Alex Clarke also joined the club.

Clarke and Rondinelli both come from AFL backgrounds, with Clarke working previously at the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn. Rondinelli, also a performance nutritionist, was a coach with Port Adelaide Power before joining the ATP tour working for Thanasi Kokkinakis.

And for de Belin the benefits have been career-changing.

“I think it’s just given us a new, fresh perspective. Instead of having the same old rugby league heads... it brings in people with a different perspective and more of a science background. So in a sense it’s not just old school rugby league drills,” he said.

“There was a lot more high intensity, gruelling kind of sessions. A lot was asked and required and a lot was given back. I think that’s helped as well.

“I definitely feel stronger. I’m weighing 105 kilos now so last year I probably played at about 101. I’ve been heavier before but I don’t think I was ready for it. I was still young, I put it on too quick and wasn’t ready for it. Fitness wise I still feel schmick, I can play 80 minutes pretty easily. But my strength and power is definitely better this year.”

It’s not surprise then that de Belin has started the season so strongly, playing arguably some of the best football of his career.

Euan Aitken is another who has benefited, with the Country Origin centre a fan of the regime imposed by Pickworth, Clarke and Rondinelli.

“Obviously those three have all been important,” Aitken said.

“Everyone in the gym has created a good culture. Everyone’s pushing each other to make sure they’re lifting properly. Sometimes you can go into the gym and just go through the motions because you might be sore. But this year everyone is challenging each other to be better and you can see the results in the gym.

“Everyone is lifting 10 times more than they did last year. I feel stronger. Obviously my fitness levels have always been a little bit higher because it’s something I’ve always been good at. But after a couple of weeks of fitness I was already doing 20.5 on the yoyo test so it was a quick transition for me.”

The Dragons will look to continue their impressive start to the season when take on the desperate Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. But St George Illawarra won’t be taking them lightly despite the Tigers’ one win from four and having already lost their coach.

“The NRL every week you never know what you’re going to get. You can’t take [anyone] too lightly but I feel like anyone put in front of us at the moment if we’re playing our best footy we can win the game,” de Belin said.

“If we string a few wins together now it will definitely set us up for the rest of the season.”

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/4...rspective-has-dragons-breathing-fire/?cs=3833

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons forwards in hunt for NSW Origin jumpers

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

27 Mar 2017, 4 p.m.

BLUES BROTHERS: Dragons forwards Jack de Belin and Tariq Sims are both hopeful of earning Origin debuts this season. Picture: Getty Images

ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor believes all his forwards are putting their hands up for rep selection as the Dragons’ newfound power game continues to bear fruit in a 3-1 start to the season.

Led by another barnstorming performance from new recruit Paul Vaughan up front, The Dragons completely out-muscled the Warriors pack en route to a 26-12 win at Kogarah on Sunday.

It followed similar efforts in wins over Penrith and Cronulla that sees them sitting comfortably in third sport ahead of their clash with the Wests Tigers this Sunday.

While Tyson Frizell is a virtual lock for NSW following his efforts in last year’ series, Vaughan has been the form prop of the season so far with Jack de Belin also going from strength to strength after a breakout 2016.

Both have been part of emerging Blues squads in the past while bench weapon Tariq Sims has been part of NSW camp as recently as 2015. McGregor was only too willing to champion their representative cause following the win over the Warriors.

“I’m happy for every player I’ve got to get to higher levels because it’s important that’s what they’re playing for as well,” McGregor said.

“They need to always be looking to improve their game and when they improve their game they get noticed and when they get noticed they get selected.

“I’m 100 per cent behind people getting selected when they’re playing well, not people who aren’t playing well but get selected because of past history.”

NSW coach Laurie Daley has overseen a generational change in his time at the Blues helm with long-serving forwards Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis, Beau Scott and Greg Bird gradually making way for the new guard.

It’s opened the door for the likes of David Klemmer, Aaron Woods, Josh Jackson, Wade Graham and Frizell, none of whom looked out of place at Origin level.

Vaughan, de Belin and Sims, all 26, will certainly be in the frame should that continue this season with long-term skipper Paul Gallen having hung up the representative boots.

While it hasn’t been a huge topic of discussion within the Dragons camp, Sims said the club’s contingent of Blues hopefuls are pushing each other to new heights.

“For the likes of Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin and myself, it’s definitely something we’re all pushing for,” Sims said.

“It’s not something that we talk about but it’s definitely one of our goals. The Dragons have always had a great showing in the representative arena and it’s something we definitely want to build towards.

“Hopefully Loz is watching the performances that we’re handing in week in week out and is getting gauge on who he wants coming through and who he wants to build his pack around.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re still rolling our sleeves up every week and doing our job for the team because at the end of the day, if you’re worried about something else you take your focus off what the team goal is and that’s getting forward and bashing teams.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...-big-men-put-rep-selectors-on-notice/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Packer in hunt for New Zealand Test jumper

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

28 Mar 2017, 5 p.m.

IN FORM: Russell Packer. Picture: Getty Images

ST GEORGE Illawarra prop Russell Packer has spoken of his desire to once again don the Kiwi Test jumper, six years after playing the last of his two Tests for New Zealand.

The 27-year-old has endured a roller coaster career since taking part in the 2011 Four Nations tournament but has come into the 2017 season in career-best shape and form.

He ran for a whopping 174 metres in his side’s round one demolition of Penrith and, like most of the Dragons forwards, is averaging 120 running metres a game in the middle of the park.

As a member of the Dragons leadership group, he’s also played a major role in mentoring the club’s young brigade and could play a similar role at Test level should Stephen Kearney make the call.

With the obvious exception of skipper Jesse Bromwich, the Kiwis front-row stocks have been uncharacteristically skinny of late, with Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood and young-gun Joseph Tapine forming the middle rotation in last year’s Four Nations final.

With May’s mid-season Test fast approaching, Packer could add some much-needed muscle and experience to the Kiwi pack ahead of the World Cup at season’s end.

“Test football is one of those things that’s a privilege,” Packer said.

“Obviously it’s a goal but I haven’t put too much thought or energy into it at this stage.

“You’ve just got to play well for your club and if I’m lucky enough to get selected to represent my country it’d be a dream come true again.

“It’s a while away, we’ve still got a few more games before that Test so I’ve just got to keep putting in consistent efforts every week and if I keep my performances up, who knows.

“It’s a big goal, with the World Cup this year as well so hopefully I can improve on my form and do enough to get selected somewhere.”

Packer has been part of what is arguably the form pack of the competition over the opening four rounds, with a poor effort against Parramatta in round two the only speed bump in a 3-1 start to the season.

They face Wests Tigers, who may or may not have a new fulltime coach, at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

In stark contrast to last season, they are also the first team to post 100 points this season, with their differential equal to that of competition leaders Melbourne.

They’ll have the chance to win three games in a row for the first time since round nine 2015 when they take on the Tigers and Packer said it’s important his side start building a consistent platform.

“It’s been a good start to the season, three out of four games won, but the challenge is to back it up.” Packer said.

“Our forward pack’s playing pretty well, Vaughany’s [Paul Vaughan] is playing really good and all the boys are tucking it up and ripping in.

“It’s been a strength of ours for the last four games and it’s an old cliche but if your forward pack’s not going good, it’s hard for the team to to do well so we’ve got keep it up.

“We’re scoring points pretty freely at the moment but more importantly our defence is standing up and we’re not giving up as many points. That’s what we’ve been working hard for all preseason, working hard for each other in defence, and it’s good that it’s paying off for us so far.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4558940/packer-eyeing-test-return/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Vaughan breathes fire on England rivalry
Brad Walter - RLWC 2017

Wed 29th March, 09:00AM
A A

St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan still teases his Dragons teammate Gareth Widdop about the time Italy beat England and believes the Azzuri are capable of causing more upsets at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Vaughan, who is now being spoken of as a State of Origin contender after joining the Dragons from Canberra this season, was a member of the Italian side which humbled England at Salford on the eve of the 2013 World Cup.

"It was a trial match against England just before the World Cup and we won 15-14. I still tell Gaz about that today," Vaughan said.

"England had a good team so it was great for us to get that win over them."

The pair now playing key roles in St George Illawarra’s impressive start to the NRL season, with Widdop overcoming a car crash on Sunday to lead the Dragons to a 26-12 win over the Warriors and Vaughan earning man-of-the-match honours for his performance up front.

After carrying the ball 186 metres from 16 runs, scoring a try and making 38 tackles against the Warriors, Vaughan is firming as a bolter for NSW selection but the 25-year-old prop played down his Origin prospects.

If selected for the Blues it would be a remarkable turnaround for a player told last year that he was not part of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart’s long term plans and should look for a new club.

"I think I am a little bit far away from that yet," Vaughan said of Origin. "I had a couple of good seasons with the Raiders but my progress got halted there last season so I came to Saints needing to make a fresh start and I just want to keep playing good footy.

"I don’t think I have played my best footy yet and that is one of the first things I told Mary [Dragons coach Paul McGregor] when I signed to the club. I said to him that I have got a lot of potential I haven’t tapped into yet."

If Vaughan was chosen for Origin he would still be eligible to represent Italy in the World Cup and is keen to play under the coaching of former Azzuri team-mates Cameron Ciraldo and Anthony Minichiello.

"I made my NRL debut in 2013 and played for Italy in the World Cup at the back end of the year. It was a great experience for me and I learned a lot from the boys who were playing," said Vaughan, who has an Italian-born grandmother.

With players likely to represent nine of the 14 competing nations, the World Cup is set to be an ongoing topic of discussion in the St George Illawarra camp this season.

Among them are Tariq Sims (Fiji), Nene McDonald (Papua New Guinea), Euan Aitken (Scotland), Tim Lafai (Samoa), Siliva Havili (Tonga), Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell (Australia), Jason Nightingale (New Zealand) and Widdop (England).

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/29/vaughan_breathes_fir.html

 

[possm]

Why not shorten the NRL season by about 4 rounds and then have origin and rep games after the GF. A second competition can be held for those Clubs missing out on the 8 and conducted at the same time that the final series is being run. Surely a win win for TV and Clubs.

 

[getsmarty]

Sims happy to provide bench impact
Alicia Newton - NRL.com National Correspondent

Wed 29th March, 05:00PM
A A

St George Illawarra back-rower Tariq Sims insists he's happy to play an impact role coming off the bench for the Dragons if it means the side continues their winning ways.

After 18 months at the Knights in a dominant leadership role, Sims has only been able to make the starting 13 in Paul McGregor's side once since joining the Red V midway through last season.

The emergence of Paul Vaughan up front and the dominant back-row of Tyson Frizell and Joel Thompson leaves the 27-year-old in unfamiliar territory for the first time since the 2013 season.

Such is the strong start of the Dragons, Sims is comfortable with the role he is providing off the bench for the Red V, a position he arguably burst onto the scene in his early days with the North Queensland Cowboys.

"I'm enjoying my role with Leeson Ah Mau coming off the bench," Sims told NRL.com.

"We focus on injecting ourselves into the game and making sure we're lifting from the platform that [Paul] Vaughan and [Russell] Packer are laying and taking it to the next level.

"Vaughny and Russ [Packer] have been great for us leading up front and everyone might be surprised by it but coming off the back of the pre-season they've had, the rewards are already showing early.

"Vaughny has got the knack of getting the four-pointers here and there too the big fella."

It was the first time in three years that Sims got through the first four rounds of the Telstra Premiership after missing the opening month in 2015 and 2016 at the Knights due to shoulder-charge suspensions.

"It's weird, I'm not going to lie," Sims joked.

"Usually I'm still getting flogged for another six weeks of pre-season.

"There's a lot of hard work that goes into what we do and we spend 16 weeks working on what we've been doing so it sort of becomes muscle memory once we fall into that fatigue zone.

"There's still a lot of improvement to go which is always great and every forward pack will always strive to be better.

"Everyone is starting to click and do their role for the team.

"I'm proud of the boys of how we've been handling ourselves at training."

Away from the field and Sims has started up a new website with wife Ashleigh since moving closer to his hometown of Gerringong in a bid to share travel experience and attraction ideas on offer for other families down South.

"The family is settled now," he said.

"My wife and I have started our own blog called team Sims with our two children and we try to check out the secret spots on the South Coast here and expose to the world.

"It's been unreal to take my family to some areas where when I was a kid I used to play at certain playgrounds that I can take my two girls now so it's nice."

Meanwhile, the early season form of front-rower Vaughan has not gone unnoticed by Blues coach Laurie Daley, particularly with the loss of skipper Paul Gallen to retirement leaving a void in the line-up.

"He's a big fella with good leg speed so hopefully he can continue that form," Daley said at the State of Origin launch in Sydney on Monday.

"He's a guy that's played some rep football over the years with the Country Origin team so it looks as though the change to the Dragons has done him the world of good."

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/29/sims_happy_to_provid.html

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons hooker in the thick of it for new club

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

29 Mar 2017, 2:06 p.m.

IN THE THICK OF IT: Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes has enjoyed a strong start at his new club this season. Picture: Adam McLean

ST GEORGE Illawarra hooker Cameron McInnes has long given up on a post-football modeling career.

The 23-year-old has instead made a career of putting his head where most others wouldn’t put someone else’s feet. He’s got the gap in his gums to show for it while barely a match goes by without the diminutive rake needing stitches or some running repairs.

It may well mean a few more battle scars along the way but, having recently proposed to his fiance at Flagstaff Hill, it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make.

“I don’t think I had anything to worry about there anyway,” McInnes joked.

“I’ve just sort of thrown the hands up now and said whatever happens, happens. The missus is sticking by me, I’ve made sure of that, so that’s all that matters.”

It’s that unquestioned toughness that has made McInnes integral to the Dragons new power game, with his ability to regularly churn out 80 quality minutes in the middle of the park.

It followed an unheralded arrival in Wollongong after a three seasons with South Sydney, first as an understudy to Kiwi Test hooker Isaac Luke, and then in a tandem role with Damien Cook.

He’s had the Dragons No. 9 jumper all to himself in the opening four rounds and he plans on keeping it that way.

“For myself, not much has changed, I’ve maybe just learned some lessons from the past about what not to do on the field, to relax a bit more and I feel I'm doing that,” McInnes said.

“Mary’s been great, but I’ve had great coaches in the past as well so it’s probably just myself getting a bit older, I’ve been around a few years now and learned off some pretty good players.

“I think just learning to relax a bit more and take the opportunities when they’re there on the field instead of trying to force things. I think that’s something that I’ve learned and I’ve still got a way to go.

“From what I’ve learned in footy, as well, you only have that spot as long as you’re playing well.

“If the team keeps playing well and I keep doing my job for the team I’m confident I’ll maintain that spot but if I’m not doing my job there’s always someone else who will step in and do it.

“I’m just trying to play my role in the team and when the team’s playing well, good things happen for you.”

McInnes has tasted finals action in two of his previous three seasons at NRL level and is confident he’ll see September football in his first season with his new club if they can continue their hot start to the year.

“I’m confident we’re a finals team and that’s what we’re aiming for,’ McInnes said.

“It’s a bit premature to talk about anything but any team that doesn’t set out for the big [Grand Final] day is kidding themselves. That’s there for us if we want to take it but we’ve got a long way to go before that.

“We set ourselves some goals we wanted to achieve and the way we’ve come out is just off the back of all the hard work we’ve done in preseason. It’s been a nice start but it is only the start so there’s a lot footy left to play.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4563307/hard-man-mcinnes-making-no9-his-own/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Accountability driving Dragons NRL turnaround

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

29 Mar 2017, 5:30 p.m.

TO THE POINT: Gareth Widdop. Picture: Getty Images

ST GEORGE Illawarra captain Gareth Widdop has revealed some frank and honest discussions behind closed doors, long before a ball was kicked in 2017, have spurred the Dragons to their hot start to the season.

Some straight talk was certainly called for after a dismal 2016 campaign in which the club missed the finals for the fourth time in five seasons with the worst attack in the competition barring wooden-spooners Newcastle.

It saw them widely tipped to finish in the bottom two this season but the Dragons have looked nothing like the club of yesteryear having won the race to 100 points after just four rounds.

They were the last team to reach that mark in 2016 and Widdop attributes the turnaround to a change in mindset with coach Paul McGregor putting the onus on the senior players to drive a cultural shift.

“They were internal discussions but things had to change, there was no doubt about that,” Widdop said.

“We’re all blokes and we need to be honest with each other if we want the club to improve. We sat down and we’ve got a good leadership group in place now which is certainly beneficial.

“It was good to look back on the season we had and learn from it and I think we’ve gone in the right direction from that. We’ve moved on from 2016 now.

“The club’s a lot different, we’ve got new players in, new staff in so there’s a different vibe and I think we’ve found what we’re really about as a club.

“Everyone’s accountable for their actions and their role within the team and it’s working well for us at the moment.”

Widdop has been the major beneficiary, leading the competition with 48 points over the opening four rounds, including a equal club record 22 points in round one.

He said his side’s newfound attacking potency is a matter of playing to their strengths up front.

“We’ve certainly simplified things a lot,” Widdop said.

“There was a big [preseason] discussion about the way we’d like to play and we knew it’d be silly to go away from our strengths.

“When you’ve got a forward pack like we do it’d be silly not to use them. They’re big powerful and strong and they’re laying a good platform for the backs. As backs, and as halves, we see a bit more space which is good.

"On top of that our defence the last couple of weeks has been great, we’ve been scrambling for each other and that’s what wins you games.

“It’s great to have some back to back wins. Everyone’s doing their bit for the team and performing well but it’s about being consistent and backing it up each and every week. That’s the biggest challenge for us.”

Off-contract this season, Widdop has made a compelling case for a new deal with the club that would see him partner marquee signing Ben Hunt in the halves from next season.

It could well hinge on whether the Dragons can come to an agreement with star fullback Josh Dugan, who is currently at odds with the club over his positional future.

That standoff could last well into the season but Widdop’s in no rush to settle his future.

“It’s obviously a week to week thing,” Widdop said.

“I’ve just got to make sure I’m playing good football and the contract side of things will take care of itself.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...t-talk-the-turning-point-for-dragons/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

McInnes's School of Hard Knocks
Thu 30th March, 02:00PM
A A



St George Illawarra hooker Cameron McInnes has spent more time with the doctor than he would've liked throughout the 2017 Telstra Premiership season.

McInnes opens up about his recent battle scars, his finals aspirations in his first year at the Dragons and the season that's been so far.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/30/mcinnes_s_school_of_.af_news.html

 

[getsmarty]

Ah Mau brings up 100 for Red V
Fri 31st March, 12:00PM
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St George Illawarra prop Leeson Ah Mau will celebrate his 100th NRL game for the Dragons in Round 5 against the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Sunday, April 2nd.

Help us in congratulating Leeson on his big achievement!

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/03/31/ah_mau_brings_up_100.html

 

[getsmarty]

Nightingale pleased with Dragons start
Sat 1st April, 10:00AM
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St George Illawarra veteran Jason Nightingale has discussed the Dragons' Round 5 clash with the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Sunday, April 2.

The Kiwi international also the exciting team dynamics, skipper Gareth Widdop's performance last weekend against the Warriors and the Dragons' improved attacking prowess.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/04/01/nightingale.html

 

[getsmarty]

Widdop masterclass seals Dragons third straight win

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

2 Apr 2017, 7 p.m.


A first-half hat-trick to evergreen winger Jason Nightingale spurred St George Illawarra to a 28-6 victory over Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, but there’s no doubt the Dragons third straight win was the Gareth Widdop show.

The 28-year-old laid on three tries and played a key hand in a fourth in a play-making masterclass, looking every bit the dominant half he left Melbourne three years ago to become.

He also slotted three goals to remain the league’s leading point-scorer, a distinction his side also holds after five rounds with the best differential in the competition.

They now sit second on the ladder, behind only undefeated Melbourne, ahead of what’s shaping as an unexpected blockbuster against a resurgent Manly at Brookvale this Saturday.

“I’m comfortable in the role I have to play in this team,” Widdop said.

“I keep saying the forwards are laying a good platform for us and as halves it’s just about playing what you see and I suppose [having] a bit freedom to roam the field. I’m enjoying it and it’s working well for us.

“When you’ve got good go-forward it makes it easier for the backs, for me Josh (McCrone), Duges (Josh Dugan) and we can still improve which is a good sign.

“I’ve got a good bunch of blokes beside me who make it a lot easier. Everyone’s contributing really well at the moment and it’s about consistency and doing it every week, that’s what we’re trying to build out game on.”

It’s the Dragons longest winning streak since round nine 2015, but the win was tempered by what looked like a significant hamstring injury to Dugan, who was left clutching at his leg after scrambling to clean up a grubber kick in the Dragons in-goal in the 58th minute. He will undergo scans on Monday but coach Paul McGregor is resigned to being without his star No. 1 for the clash with Manly.

“I don’t know how bad it is but he felt it straight away,” McGregor said.

“We’ll just have to gauge that [on Monday] through a scan but he won’t be right next week. He’s in ice in there and he’s in good spirits but it’s obviously disappointing.

“Losing quality players always hurts but there’s some handy players in our squad so we’ll make a replacement there. Obviously Josh Dugan’s Josh Dugan, there aren’t too many players like him around so he’ll be missed.”

Kurt Mann shifted from centre to fullback in the Tigers victory and would be the early front-runner to replace Dugan while rookies Jai Field and Matt Dufty will come into calculations.

The loss leaves the Tigers languishing at the bottom of the ladder and Ivan Cleary’s looming arrival seemingly can’t come quick enough, though it remains to be seen if the former Penrith and Warriors mentor can produce a quick turnaround in fortunes.

Nightingale had his treble by halftime, two courtesy of Widdop, who provided a deft floating kick for his second and a three-man cut-out pass for his third that twice left opposing winger David Nofoaluma in no man’s land.

Dugan’s departure midway through the half did little to slow the Dragons up with Widdop threading through the pinpoint grubber for Tim Lafai to score in the 58th minute to take an unassailable 20-6 lead before Nene McDonald’s late four-pointer put the stamp the on the victory.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...ass-seals-dragons-third-straight-win/?cs=3713