Dragons looking to atone for 2017 fade out against Bulldogs
Dragons Den News
BITTER PILL: Dragons players look on as their 2017 finals hopes were dashed in round 26 last year. Picture: AAP
DRAGONS skipper Gareth Widdop had never tasted a pill so bitter.
Round 26 last season, St George Illawarra seemingly hurtling towards just their second finals appearance in five seasons, the 12th placed Bulldogs the only thing standing in their way.
You only need to look back at the footage of coach Paul McGregor throwing a ballpoint at the floor in disgust to recall how that finished – the Dragons surrendering a 20-14 lead to ultimately go down 26-20.
In reality, it was merely the final nail in their playoffs coffin, completing a slide from third spot in round 13 to ninth at season's end. It was a slide, four wins in their final 12 games, that still puts an asterisk next to their flying start this season in the minds of many.
It's not something Widdop enjoys thinking about but, as they prepare for their rematch with the Dogs on Monday, it's a reality his side had to face up to in the preseason.
“Obviously we all play this game to play finals, we haven't played finals for a while and and we had a great opportunity there to play finals,” Widdop said.
“It was certainly disappointing, we should never have been in that position after the way we played earlier in the year. In some of those games we played really good football.
"To start the year that way and fall off, then get to a game where we had an opportunity… it was just disappointing the way we played more than anything.
“One game to get in the finals and we just didn't play as a team, we didn't give everything we had and that's probably most disappointing.”
The Bulldogs have proven something of a perennial tormentor of the Dragons in recent years, having handed them a golden-point defeat in their only post-season appearance in the past five seasons in 2015.
Widdop sent the match to golden point with two clutch long range goals before putting an attempted 40-20 out on the full in the first period of extra time.
It's a moment he'd like to have over again, but he insists those two results won't be driving him on Monday.
“Each and every year's a new team team so, for me as an individual, no,” he said when asked if he had any added motivation.
“I obviously remember it. It was a tough game, I went for a 40-20 and put it out on the full then Josh Reynolds kicked the field goal.
“That's the way it goes, it was really disappointing at the time but it was great to be playing finals football again.
“[This week's] just another game where I need to go out there and do my job for the team and not think about what's happened in the past.”
The match may not hold any added significance for Widdop, but winger Nene Macdonald made no secret of his desire for revenge.
“I'm not sure about the other boys but, personally, I'm pretty excited to play against them this week,” Macdonald said.
“It was pretty upsetting last year. I love playing finals footy and I've only had one or two chances to do that and we let that one slip.
“I think we'll have a few thoughts about it and what happened last year before the game.
“They played well against us last year to knock us out of the finals so I can't wait to get back out there against them.”
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...e-for-2017-fade-out-against-bulldogs/?cs=3713
