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www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/dragons-legends-on-bennett-bandwagon/2009/03/25/1237656994270.html
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA coach Wayne Bennett has already won over the Dragons greats, so much so that arguably the greatest of them - John Raper - believes the team is capable of winning this year's premiership.
"The comp is levelling out and those sides that aren't going to give to the coach are going to get beaten," Raper said yesterday at Kogarah Oval, where he and several other former Dragons - Graeme Langlands, Graeme Wynn and Craig Young - joined Bennett to celebrate the team's return to the redeveloped ground for the game against Cronulla on Sunday.
"It's up to the St George Illawarra players to give not 100 per cent, but 110 per cent to the coach, because that's what Wayne Bennett will demand - and I think he'll get it from them. This team can do the ultimate if they are committed."
The Dragons greats agreed that whatever St George Illawarra's potential was this year, the team was likely to reach it under Bennett. "It means a great deal to the club to have him," Raper said. "His success speaks for itself. He gets great respect wherever he goes - you don't hear anyone bagging Wayne Bennett. He will be a very good asset to this club. No disrespect to [former coach] Nathan Brown, but we have got to go up the ladder and Wayne can take us in that direction."
Langlands added: "We're only coming up to round three, so there is a long way to go, but I think Wayne will get the best out of them. He is renowned as a great coach and if the players are there then he can certainly do something with them."
The former Dragons were impressed by the team's defence in the first two rounds, when they lost 19-18 away against Melbourne before beating Gold Coast 16-10 at home.
Bennett said he had a passion for the suburban tribalism of league and was looking forward to his first local derby against the Sharks. "The fans will bring it out of the players and that excites me. I think everyone will lift on this occasion."
Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett, back from two years in England, will be playing against his old club for the first time. "We were keen to get him back," Bennett said. "But that [joining Cronulla] was his prerogative."
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA coach Wayne Bennett has already won over the Dragons greats, so much so that arguably the greatest of them - John Raper - believes the team is capable of winning this year's premiership.
"The comp is levelling out and those sides that aren't going to give to the coach are going to get beaten," Raper said yesterday at Kogarah Oval, where he and several other former Dragons - Graeme Langlands, Graeme Wynn and Craig Young - joined Bennett to celebrate the team's return to the redeveloped ground for the game against Cronulla on Sunday.
"It's up to the St George Illawarra players to give not 100 per cent, but 110 per cent to the coach, because that's what Wayne Bennett will demand - and I think he'll get it from them. This team can do the ultimate if they are committed."
The Dragons greats agreed that whatever St George Illawarra's potential was this year, the team was likely to reach it under Bennett. "It means a great deal to the club to have him," Raper said. "His success speaks for itself. He gets great respect wherever he goes - you don't hear anyone bagging Wayne Bennett. He will be a very good asset to this club. No disrespect to [former coach] Nathan Brown, but we have got to go up the ladder and Wayne can take us in that direction."
Langlands added: "We're only coming up to round three, so there is a long way to go, but I think Wayne will get the best out of them. He is renowned as a great coach and if the players are there then he can certainly do something with them."
The former Dragons were impressed by the team's defence in the first two rounds, when they lost 19-18 away against Melbourne before beating Gold Coast 16-10 at home.
Bennett said he had a passion for the suburban tribalism of league and was looking forward to his first local derby against the Sharks. "The fans will bring it out of the players and that excites me. I think everyone will lift on this occasion."
Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett, back from two years in England, will be playing against his old club for the first time. "We were keen to get him back," Bennett said. "But that [joining Cronulla] was his prerogative."
