Round 22 v The Storm

[Illusion]

I still can;t believe we won..

X2 ........

 

[Dragons4me]

What I find funny and is typical media
Right or wrong they are talking Ciraldo coach of the year for how he has lifted the Dogs off the bottom.. fair enough they have defended well and been pretty consistent all year but a bit premature to be calling it now

What happens if we beat them next week and dogs loose today? We are in front of them on the ladder
we were lower than them last year on the table
We have pretty much the same squad. The dogs did sign a lot of players to improve their squad
that tells me Fano has potentially done a better job if you comparing the two. Just my opinion

Yes. The adulation by journo's for the mangy dogs is premature. They have to get their free chicken snitzels and schooners somewhere!!

 

[hewi]

How good is this.

• Sport
• NRL

Monday Buzz: St George Illawarra Dragons are NRL’s ‘Reject Shop’ team surging for finals​

Almost half the Dragons team that beat the Storm on Saturday night were unwanted or axed by their previous club. Remarkably, Shane Flanagan has put this team of misfits and cast-offs into finals contention, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Phil Rothfield

@BuzzRothfield

2 min read
August 4, 2024 - 6:00PM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/Rm7p6/again?url=.../2893eff3a915d97ad5d4f9a1afd9ee06#share-tools

NRL: St George illawarra Dragons have beaten the Melbourne Storm in Victoria for the first time in 25 years.
The St George Illawarra team that is surging towards a finals berth is like a rugby league reject shop.
Almost half the team that beat Melbourne Storm on Saturday night are discards who were either unwanted or axed by their previous clubs.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Kyle Flanagan got ditched by the Bulldogs and no one but Saints wanted them.
Jacob Liddle was even offloaded by the wooden spooners, the Wests Tigers.
Tom Eisenhuth was unwanted at Melbourne Storm and had to settle for a minimum-wage deal at Saints.
Winger Christian Tuipulotu got axed by Manly and the Roosters.

The Dragons celebrate their upset victory over Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
Moses Suli had been previously punted by Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs before he went to Manly and then the Dragons.
It’s a remarkable story of how coach Shane Flanagan has pulled together a team of misfits and cast-offs that were $3.50 equal favourites with Wests Tigers for the wooden spoon at the beginning of the season.
Then you throw in a couple of stars who asked for releases and didn’t even want to be there – Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax – and it’s even more amazing that they jumped into eighth spot on the premiership ladder after Saturday night’s win.
Who would have thought they could knock off the Storm for the first time in 25 years in Melbourne on Saturday night in one of the boilovers of the year.
A team with little glamour but plenty of grit and guts.
This is a club that couldn’t land the signature of a big-name player, outside of Damien Cook — another player unwanted at South Sydney.
Addin Fonua-Blake, not interested. The same with Blaize Talagi, thanks, but no thanks. Stefano Utoikamanu wouldn’t go there for $200k more than Storm offered. Plus winger Sunia Turuva and Connor Tracey, who chose to go elsewhere.

Kyle Flanagan takes photos with the travelling Dragons fans in Melbourne. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
All these knock-backs is why most of the ‘rejects’ got their start in the Red V jersey.
Even the coach himself struggled to get a start before the opportunity came up at the Dragons.
Wests Tigers showed no interest when they sacked Michael Maguire.
Same with Phil Gould at Canterbury when he got rid of Trent Barrett.
Only Manly would give him a job as an assistant coach.
Before that he was doing TV and radio … and even wearing a hi-vis vest working on the tools for a signage company … just waiting for an opportunity like this one at the Dragons.
I asked Flanagan on Saturday night about coaching against the Bulldogs this week, the club where he couldn’t even get an interview.
“Let’s not go there,” he said. “It’s about players preparing for another big game, not me.”
Next Saturday these misfit Dragons meet the Bulldogs in a suburban ground blockbuster at Kogarah.
Such is the interest that it will be sold out in 24 hours.

Is Shane Flanagan cooking up a finals surge for his Dragons? Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Two great old Sydney clubs that have fought their way back from the scrap heap.
Flanagan spoke on Saturday night in Melbourne of the new-found belief in his side.
That his players no longer carry the scars of being on the outer at their previous clubs.
Slowly but surely they have rebuilt their footy careers in recent months.
“Beating Storm is definitely a shot in the arm for our belief,” Flanagan said.
“The more we do it consistently in tough and difficult circumstances the better.
“We’ve learnt that we can beat any team in the competition if we get ourselves right.
“I have always had confidence in this playing group

 

[Dragon David]

How good is this.

• Sport
• NRL

View attachment 92030

Monday Buzz: St George Illawarra Dragons are NRL’s ‘Reject Shop’ team surging for finals​

Almost half the Dragons team that beat the Storm on Saturday night were unwanted or axed by their previous club. Remarkably, Shane Flanagan has put this team of misfits and cast-offs into finals contention, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Phil Rothfield
@BuzzRothfield

2 min read
August 4, 2024 - 6:00PM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/Rm7p6/again?url=.../2893eff3a915d97ad5d4f9a1afd9ee06#share-tools

NRL: St George illawarra Dragons have beaten the Melbourne Storm in Victoria for the first time in 25 years.
The St George Illawarra team that is surging towards a finals berth is like a rugby league reject shop.
Almost half the team that beat Melbourne Storm on Saturday night are discards who were either unwanted or axed by their previous clubs.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Kyle Flanagan got ditched by the Bulldogs and no one but Saints wanted them.
Jacob Liddle was even offloaded by the wooden spooners, the Wests Tigers.
Tom Eisenhuth was unwanted at Melbourne Storm and had to settle for a minimum-wage deal at Saints.
Winger Christian Tuipulotu got axed by Manly and the Roosters.

The Dragons celebrate their upset victory over Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
Moses Suli had been previously punted by Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs before he went to Manly and then the Dragons.
It’s a remarkable story of how coach Shane Flanagan has pulled together a team of misfits and cast-offs that were $3.50 equal favourites with Wests Tigers for the wooden spoon at the beginning of the season.
Then you throw in a couple of stars who asked for releases and didn’t even want to be there – Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax – and it’s even more amazing that they jumped into eighth spot on the premiership ladder after Saturday night’s win.
Who would have thought they could knock off the Storm for the first time in 25 years in Melbourne on Saturday night in one of the boilovers of the year.
A team with little glamour but plenty of grit and guts.
This is a club that couldn’t land the signature of a big-name player, outside of Damien Cook — another player unwanted at South Sydney.
Addin Fonua-Blake, not interested. The same with Blaize Talagi, thanks, but no thanks. Stefano Utoikamanu wouldn’t go there for $200k more than Storm offered. Plus winger Sunia Turuva and Connor Tracey, who chose to go elsewhere.

Kyle Flanagan takes photos with the travelling Dragons fans in Melbourne. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
All these knock-backs is why most of the ‘rejects’ got their start in the Red V jersey.
Even the coach himself struggled to get a start before the opportunity came up at the Dragons.
Wests Tigers showed no interest when they sacked Michael Maguire.
Same with Phil Gould at Canterbury when he got rid of Trent Barrett.
Only Manly would give him a job as an assistant coach.
Before that he was doing TV and radio … and even wearing a hi-vis vest working on the tools for a signage company … just waiting for an opportunity like this one at the Dragons.
I asked Flanagan on Saturday night about coaching against the Bulldogs this week, the club where he couldn’t even get an interview.
“Let’s not go there,” he said. “It’s about players preparing for another big game, not me.”
Next Saturday these misfit Dragons meet the Bulldogs in a suburban ground blockbuster at Kogarah.
Such is the interest that it will be sold out in 24 hours.

Is Shane Flanagan cooking up a finals surge for his Dragons? Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Two great old Sydney clubs that have fought their way back from the scrap heap.
Flanagan spoke on Saturday night in Melbourne of the new-found belief in his side.
That his players no longer carry the scars of being on the outer at their previous clubs.
Slowly but surely they have rebuilt their footy careers in recent months.
“Beating Storm is definitely a shot in the arm for our belief,” Flanagan said.
“The more we do it consistently in tough and difficult circumstances the better.
“We’ve learnt that we can beat any team in the competition if we get ourselves right.
“I have always had confidence in this playing group

Love it!!

 

[Gareth67]

I see that old ‘ have - a - whine ‘ Bellamy was most gracious in defeat , blaming the loss entirely upon the errors and mistakes that his charges made and not the grand efforts of the Dragons .

Give credit where credit is due Craig , quite simply your mob of cheats and thugs were beaten by a better side on the night - and in your own backyard !

 

[Happy Old Dragon]

How good is this.
View attachment 92030

Monday Buzz: St George Illawarra Dragons are NRL’s ‘Reject Shop’ team surging for finals​

Almost half the Dragons team that beat the Storm on Saturday night were unwanted or axed by their previous club. Remarkably, Shane Flanagan has put this team of misfits and cast-offs into finals contention, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.


Flanagan spoke on Saturday night in Melbourne of the new-found belief in his side.
That his players no longer carry the scars of being on the outer at their previous clubs.
Slowly but surely they have rebuilt their footy careers in recent months.
“Beating Storm is definitely a shot in the arm for our belief,” Flanagan said.
“The more we do it consistently in tough and difficult circumstances the better.
“We’ve learnt that we can beat any team in the competition if we get ourselves right.
“I have always had confidence in this playing group

Hewi,
A big THANKS for posting this.
I had not seen it.

As a hopelessly rusted on Dragons supporter - like the rest of us here - THAT was one BEAUTIFUL read.
I used to like Andfrew Webster's writing - the journalist, not the Coach.
Maybe I will have to switch to Buzz

I seem to remember early in the season - can't remember if it was after a win or a loss - at the post game presser Flanno said something like (paraphrased):
" There's a good team in there..(the change room)
I know it, but some of them don't know it, yet.."

If that the gist of what he actually said?
Can someone source that?
(I'm too lazy)

To use the vernacular:
You'll do me Shane Flanagan.
Done good.
Coached strong.

 

[VodkaSaint]

Almost half of the Dragons team that beat Melbourne Storm on Saturday night are discards who were either unwanted or axed by their previous clubs, writes Phil Rothfield.

It’s a remarkable story of how coach Shane Flanagan has pulled together a team of misfits and cast-offs that were $3.50 equal favourites with Wests Tigers for the wooden spoon at the beginning of the season.

Now they're in the race for finals footy.

BUZZ bit.ly/3yfZ0lH

 

[Gomarchin]

Storm 58 Dragons 18

I knew we only had 18 points in us.

 

[Phantom V]

As much as I want Finau some NRL game time this year, no way Tuipoloto deserves demotion. Flanno obviously liked what he saw whilst he was at Manly.

I agree Denis. In a team that played well he was one of the standouts. They peppered his side all night and he came up trumps. I love his passion and he always seems to pump up the players around him. He seems like the sort of player you need around the joint

 

[Phantom V]

Dogs no 1 on the bad list. Souths, Storm, Broncos etc but Penriff are moving closer to this group.

Broncs will always be on top of the hated list for me. 92, 93 grand finals playing against a team that would make Roosters accountants blush, basically an Australian team and then having that little dwarf singing St George can’t play. Always hated them after that.

 

[BLM01]

Almost half of the Dragons team that beat Melbourne Storm on Saturday night are discards who were either unwanted or axed by their previous clubs, writes Phil Rothfield.

It’s a remarkable story of how coach Shane Flanagan has pulled together a team of misfits and cast-offs that were $3.50 equal favourites with Wests Tigers for the wooden spoon at the beginning of the season.

Now they're in the race for finals footy.

BUZZ bit.ly/3yfZ0lHView attachment 92031

"The Reject Shop"..ha. Thanks Buzz how dramatic
I reckon this article belongs in the "Sack Flanno" thread as well just to spice that up

 

[maestro1]

It was a great feeling when Cameron Munster put up a bomb to Lomax and he quickly realised that bombing Lomax was futile so he set his sights on bombing Christian. After a couple of times, he realised that was also futile. All 3 including Sloan handled the bombs well. I hope they keep it up as Burton is coming to Kogarah and his bombs are from another world.

 

[since77]

I agree Denis. In a team that played well he was one of the standouts. They peppered his side all night and he came up trumps. I love his passion and he always seems to pump up the players around him. He seems like the sort of player you need around the joint

I was lukewarm about his signing initially. But he has scored some terrific tries this year - a few he had quite a bit of work to do to get the ball over the line. Not super quick but I think his power is adequate compensation for that. Deserves his spot in the team at the moment.

 

[Victoire]

Such a great win, the best in quite a few years. I may have watched it again yesterday. I apologise that my previous prediction was wildly incorrect - I thought we'd finish the regular season with 5 straight wins to make the finals. Turns out we'll finish with 6.

Our defence in this game was obviously the standout - for all the talk of Melbourne's errors etc we bustled them for a lot of them, and their spine was on fire for much of the game, especially the first half. But I also loved what we did in attack. Instead of merely setting up for a play to the edge, we would attack that edge, and then immediately shift and attack the other. Our edges are a huge strength of ours and we need to utilise it multiple times a set especially in good field position. Loved what I saw!

Man, who among us, aside from the eternal optimist @Auntie.Gerald could have foreseen that we'd be in 8th spot at round 22. What an achievement by Flanagan already.

 

[mbk78]

Our first win in Melbourne since 1999…Vossy commented at the end of the telecast that a young Dragons fan back then in Kindergarten watching that game would now be married with two children…that’s my eldest son!

 

[Victoire]

From NRL.com: "Such was the length of the drought, Rod Wishart, the father of Storm utility Tyran Wishart was playing for St George Illawarra when they last won in Melbourne."

I even remember the try Wishart scored in that game. Sneaky blindside play off a tap with Brad Mackay

 

[justadragon]

The main ingredient for this game was commitment and resilience. For basically the very first time I loved what Hunt was showing both in attack and defence, Sua was enormous feeding off Hunt, Sloane did what he does best and the team built more confidence as the game went on. I loved watching Hunts passion at the end. This is what we need "BEN" a passionate leader !!! Pick the boys up and drag them with you, they will follow and play for you if you inspire them. This is now where the bar stands and it cant be compromised, yes we can lose but we can play with willingness to never give up and continue to be inspired.
I have bagged Hunt out on many an occasion and within my personal view he has deserved it, I was pretty devastated with his quitting the club during state of origin and wanted him sacked at the very least not to mention his captaincy removed. But I will also have the grace and humility to say that watching him in Melbourne on Saturday night with all the odds against us, I was proud to have him as our captain. Ben, you showed everything all the fans have wanted from you, especially the passion. If you want to win us over, I think you have unlocked the secret. I will want to see more of that and wish you all the best in the upcoming games, give us your everything !!!

 

[Dragon David]

The main ingredient for this game was commitment and resilience. For basically the very first time I loved what Hunt was showing both in attack and defence, Sua was enormous feeding off Hunt, Sloane did what he does best and the team built more confidence as the game went on. I loved watching Hunts passion at the end. This is what we need "BEN" a passionate leader !!! Pick the boys up and drag them with you, they will follow and play for you if you inspire them. This is now where the bar stands and it cant be compromised, yes we can lose but we can play with willingness to never give up and continue to be inspired.
I have bagged Hunt out on many an occasion and within my personal view he has deserved it, I was pretty devastated with his quitting the club during state of origin and wanted him sacked at the very least not to mention his captaincy removed. But I will also have the grace and humility to say that watching him in Melbourne on Saturday night with all the odds against us, I was proud to have him as our captain. Ben, you showed everything all the fans have wanted from you, especially the passion. If you want to win us over, I think you have unlocked the secret. I will want to see more of that and wish you all the best in the upcoming games, give us your everything !!!

Ben has admitted that his games have not been great particularly his kicking game. I am sure that he has discussed this with Flanno and he has probably trained harder last week to not only improve his kicking but improving other things as well. Flanno's and Young's game plan for Saturday's game would have been with Hunt's "changes" being at the forefront.

Hopefully Hunt now realises what he is able to do and what he should have been doing and the team will continue to be inspired by this.

This could result in his contract being extended!!??

 

[sammymills]

Such a great win, the best in quite a few years. I may have watched it again yesterday. I apologise that my previous prediction was wildly incorrect - I thought we'd finish the regular season with 5 straight wins to make the finals. Turns out we'll finish with 6.

Our defence in this game was obviously the standout - for all the talk of Melbourne's errors etc we bustled them for a lot of them, and their spine was on fire for much of the game, especially the first half. But I also loved what we did in attack. Instead of merely setting up for a play to the edge, we would attack that edge, and then immediately shift and attack the other. Our edges are a huge strength of ours and we need to utilise it multiple times a set especially in good field position. Loved what I saw!

Man, who among us, aside from the eternal optimist @Auntie.Gerald could have foreseen that we'd be in 8th spot at round 22. What an achievement by Flanagan already.

i wasnt even angry with lomax grubber on the 2nd. You have to try that shit against melbourne. Trying to play conservatively and you lose.

 

[Victoire]

i wasnt even angry with lomax grubber on the 2nd. You have to try that shit against melbourne. Trying to play conservatively and you lose.

I was pretty angry with Hame Sele's offload attempt in the final 2 minutes though. Jesus christ