Dismal Dragons’ slide continues after 36-14 defeat to Raiders

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor alternated between wildly optimistic and simply scathing following his team’s embarrassing capitulation to the Raiders.

Dragons players look dejected after conceding a try to the Raiders. Picture: Getty Images

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor insists he side can still become the 2019 NRL premiers, despite now needing to win seven of their last eight games to make the playoffs.

Starting the year as genuine title contenders, the Dragons now sit ahead of only Canterbury and the Gold Coast on 14 points after being completely outclassed by Canberra at WIN Stadium.

So bad were the home side on a night when Raiders centre Jarrod Croker became the highest tryscorer in Raiders history, fans were seen leaving the ground just six minutes into the second half.

Nick Cotric of the Raiders scuffles with Corey Norman of the Dragons after Cotric’s spear tackle on Tim Lafai. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

On that occasion, Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad breezed over from dummy-half to score.

Incredibly, worse was to come, with the Dragons responding to the send off of Raiders centre Nick Cotric by conceding consecutive tries to a side boasting 12 men.

Afterwards, McGregor described the performance as the club’s worst of the season.

However, the coach insisted his team could still turn things around, especially given Test prop James Graham is expected back next week and fellow English international Gareth Widdop the week after.

Paul McGregor said there were ‘no excuses’ possible after St Geroge’s performance against the Raiders. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Asked if the Dragons could still play finals footy in 2019, the coach replied: “Absolutely.

“I think we can win it. And I know that sounds unrealistic sitting here right now. but that’s how I approach every training session and every game.

“And if we do put our best performance in we’re going to win games, we can a few in a row and play finals footy.

“And if we’re healthy then, look out. But we’ve got a long way to go after tonight.”

And as for exactly what he thought of the effort against Canberra?

“I’m not going to defend that performance at all,” he said. “It was the worst performance of the season. No excuse.”

DRAGONS DRAMAS

While the Dragons, as usual, were missing a host of regular starters — think Gareth Widdop, James Graham, Jack de Belin, Zac Lomax and Jordan Pereira — their efforts against Canberra drifted between ordinary and embarrassing.

“We had enough talent on the field today to win that game and we didn’t come close,” McGregor said. “That’s not acceptable.

“You can call it desire, effort … it comes down to pride in your performance to make them tackles, to hold onto the footy at important times, to be disciplined.

“You have a choice.

“Just our one-on-one missed tackles.

“Starting the game with people standing in tackles. The shape they threw at us, we understood what was coming but just our one-on-one missed tackles on the edges that led to tries.

“Basics that shouldn’t happen in first grade.”

Jarrod Croker of the Raiders prevents Mikaele Ravalawa of the Dragons from scoring. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

RECORD BREAKER

And Croker?

Long considered a Raiders favourite, the co-captain is also now the greatest tryscorer in the club’s history after crossing for his 121st top grade try against the Dragons.

The touchdown sees him now head a stellar list of Raiders greats that includes Mal Meninga (74), Laurie Daley (87), Brett Mullins (105), even relative Jason Croker (120).

Certainly the try was worthy of record status.

Taking a nice short ball from five-eighth Jack Wighton, Croker than fended off Dragons centre Euan Aitken before then stepping inside fullback Matt Dufty to score.

Elsewhere, prop Jeremy Latimore left the field after only 20 minutes with what appeared to be a knee injury, while winger Mika Ravalawa was also placed on report for a high shot on Croker.

SO THE SEND OFF IS DEAD?

Um, no.

While NRL analysts have, more than once this year, questioned if referees are still willing to send players for an early shower, Raiders centre Cotric is now proof that, yep, they are.

Playing in his first game back from a syndesmosis injury, Cotric is now in danger of spending an extended stint on the sidelines after becoming the first player sent off since Melbourne’s Curtis Scott in Round 11 last year, and only the second since David Shillington in 2015.

CANBERRA 36 (C Nicoll-Klokstad 2 N Cotric J Croker S Havili B Simonsson J Tapine tries J Croker 4 goals) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 14 (M Dufty L Leilua K Sims tries T Lafai goal) at WIN Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Todd Smith. Crowd: 9,159