Dragons Crushed by Cowboys

[Willow]

COMMITTED COWBOYS CRUSH WOEFUL DRAGONS
<tt>Full Time: NQ 34 - Saints 10</tt>
<tt>Tingha's scores in his 100th game</tt>
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday 21 July 2001: Despite missing a number of key players and personnel, the North Queensland Cowboys have clobbered Saints by 34-10 in Townsville.
The Cowboys blitzed Saints in an 8 minute period in the first half which saw them race away to a 16-4 halftime lead.
The Cowboys have shown again that at home, they are a force to be reckoned with their 6 try to 2 drubbing of an ordinary and disinterested looking Dragons outfit.
The Cowboys simply controlled the ball better while the Dragons made far too many handling errors. Saints conceded a number of soft tries through defensive laspes brought about by having less than 38% of the ball.
Best players on the field were all NQ players with Bowman, Morrison, Gatis, Bowen and Jellick all standouts.
For Saints, Riddell and try scorer, Ainscough tried hard all night while Nathan Blacklock in his 100th game also played well in a losing side. Tingha scored his 22nd try for the year (92nd career try).
Townsville is turning into something of a graveyard for Saints who were thrashed at the same venue 50-4 in season 2000.
A small consolation is that Saints will be able to cling onto 7th position by virtue of the fact that both Melbourne and the Eagles have also suffered losses this weekend.

 

[Studebaker]

It must be difficult and frustrating for Drogons fans ATM.
Just when you get excited and are confident about the teams performance one week, you are devasted and and think WTF?
Dragons in 2001 = unbelievably inconsistent.
I've said it before, and will say it all the way up until they are no longer a force in 2001. It won't be all that long before that is the case I reckon ....

Studebaker.

 

[Willow]

Unfortunately Studebaker you don't seem to know how it was worse in 2000.
2001 is a better year for us.
Also, I'm not one to go and get 'devastated' about this. I've seen the worst and I've seen the best.

A number of posters were going on about how the Dragons wouldn't make the top eight.
Now I'm hearing they'll make the top eight but won't do any good once there.
I guess the next step up is that they won't make the top 4.
Whats after that? We can't win the Grand Final?
Exactly when does a team stop being a force in 2001?

Come on mate, I just say it as I see it. One week at a time stuff.

Your comment, "...I've said it before, and will say it all the way up until they are no longer a force in 2001. It won't be all that long before that is the case I reckon ...." is a classic 'splinters in the backside' bet if I ever saw it.

 

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[Willow]

I'm not talking about our position on the points table. The suggestion that I may in denial is garbage.
This year is better. Last year we had an imploding club with in-fighting, CEO leaving (due to illness), coach leaving (due to being pushed), Mundine saga, more injuries than I ever recall.... it was a long list of woes. It's to the club's credit that they have managed to bounce back from this situation. Give the choice of 2000 or 2001 and I'll take the latter anyday.
As far inconsistency goes. Which club can truly claim to be consistent?
I guess Parramatta qualify and so do Brisbane. But even these teams can hit a fall at any time. Take these 2 teams out and then boldy go ahead and pick me a consistent team. I've tried and I'm afraid it looks a fairly open competition.
The home crowd situation is an entirely different issue and if you don't mind Warlock, I'll have to check your stats. I'm aware that Saints have a very good away record with crowds but the home ground debate is still unresolved. I'll be putting up a new discussion about this later on.
Anyway, thanks for your contributions on this guys. IMO, the new forum needs more Saints' discussion and slowly but surely it's getting there.
With any luck, we'll be able to get a few more over.

 

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[Willow]

Warlock, thanks for clearing it up.
I always thought that the Dragons have been suffering at home games for some time but this has been because of the fact that we don't have a home ground. Sure, there's WIN and the SFS but IMO, neither can hold a candle to Kogarah. It was only a few years back that Saints had a strong home ground following.
The news I'm hearing though is that there is some chance that the StGeorge Club has finally comes to terms with the fact that they need to keep the St George Illawarra Dragons in the St George district.
They've been pussy footing around Barton Park (StGeorge Stadium) inRockdale for a while now but funding and who foots the bill questions have slowed things up. Currently, the pro-StGeorge Stadium lobby may be on the cusp of some positive action.
Trying to find out more info...