Anthony Griffin’s verdict: Dragons must take next step to success
Despite the off-season drama surrounding Jack de Belin, St George Illawarra are a top four team if they can use their 2018 finals campaign as their blueprint to success this year.
Dragons
Don't miss out on the headlines from Dragons. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Forget last season’s fast start and fade out to seventh.
The St George-Illawarra Dragons need to use their 2018 finals campaign as their blueprint to success this year.
In the first week of the playoffs they flogged Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Then in the qualifying final they kept Souths to one try and arguably beat themselves in the dying minutes.
Despite the off-season drama surrounding Jack de Belin, the Dragons are a top four team if they can learn from last year.
The biggest lesson is probably how to get through the Origin period.
Ben Hunt and four starting forwards were involved in Origin, and James Graham went to Denver for the mid-season test.
You need Origin and international players to win competitions.
But the trick is to find the best way to navigate through this period and then build into the finals.
It’s all experience they will be better for — the Roosters sat in sixth place during the Origin period and then rocketed into premiership form.
Obviously, the loss of De Belin under the NRL’s no fault stand rule is something they were not ready for; however, the signing of Korbin Simms and the strength of their pack may off-set this.
The big gain is Corey Norman who will partner Hunt in the halves.
And with Gareth Widdop playing his last season you get the feeling that this year is as good a chance that the Dragons will get to win another premiership.
THE SPINE
Hunt and Norman are two very talented playmakers. They both have good football brains and great running games. The right foot-left foot kicking option is also a plus.
They played a lot together in their Broncos days at NYC and NRL level. Norman is an excellent communicator and compliments Hunt’s probing style.
Hunt has played over 200 games and Norman has racked up 169 and both have played finals football. This combination is potentially one of the best in the NRL.
The benefit of the halves pairing looks even better for the Dragons with Gareth Widdop at fullback.
Widdop has been in great form at five-eight and now gets to use that experience and vision at the back where he played a lot of his early football.
He will be able to help the halves direct play from the back and provides another kicking option if needed.
The toughness and dummy half play of Cameron McInnes tops off high quality playmaker group that could put the Dragons into a top four position.
The depth to support these four starters is significant when you consider Matt Duffy started at fullback in 25 games in 2018, scoring 13 tries.
He can now be injected into the game from the bench.
THE CENTRES AND WINGS
Euan Aitken on the right and Tim Lafia on the left are two strong runners and physical defenders.
Aitken scored 10 tries last season and was in the mix for origin selection. Zac Lomax at 19 made an impressive start to his NRL career when Aitken was injured.
He’s been left out of the side for round one losing out to Mikaele Ravalawa on the right wing but Lomax will be in the mix all season.
The left wing went to Jordan Pereira but Jonas Pearson is very good young player who will be hard to leave out all season.
THE FORWARDS
The Dragons have a big powerful pack. Paul Vaughan and James Graham are top shelf prop forwards. Both are representative players with plenty of experience. Tyson Frizell replaces de Belin at lock who along with left edge forward Tariq Sims gives St George an advantage over a lot of the competition.
Starting as right edge forward is Jacob Host who is part of a group of young emerging forwards in Jacob Host, Luciano Leilua, Blake Laurie and Josh Kerr.
The starting group can match any other pack in the competition.
Some of the younger forwards will need to go to another level, especially during the origin series.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Talented 20-year-old hooker Reece Robson has progressed through the Dragons junior reps and has represented NSW and Australia under 20s. He made his debut for Dragons last year. He will be pressing for more games in 2019.
STAT OF NOTE
The Dragons had the most tackle busts in the NRL — 32.5 per game. Evidence of the power they have right across the park.
Originally published as Anthony Griffin’s verdict: Dragons must take next step to success
Maroons’ raiders flood SG Ball, Harold Matthews junior reps
Who were the Maroons’ raiders embedded deep in enemy territory playing in the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions? Revealed here, along with Queensland’s best female teens at Sydney clubs.
Clint Gutherson shines for Dragons in Manly showdown
Check out DAVID RICCIO’s report and video from the pre-season scrimmage between the Dragons and Manly, with St George Illawarra’s new-look spine impressing and Manly unearthing a hard-hitting hooker.