Dragons trounced 38-0 by Bulldogs as worrying form continues ahead of NRL finals
IT was the Dragons’ biggest ever loss at Jubilee Oval and angry supporters vented their frustration, hurling abuse at the players as they gathered above the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms.
NRL
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A CLEARLY shattered Paul McGregor said he had no issue with St George Illawarra fans turning on his players in an ugly aftermath of the embarrassing 38-0 thumping by Canterbury.
An afternoon that started with an emotional tribute following the tragic passing of Lance Thompson descended into disgraceful scenes as the home crowd booed the players off at half-time and again at full-time after the humiliating six tries to nil annihilation.
It was the Dragons’ biggest ever loss at Jubilee Oval and angry fans vented their frustration, hurling abuse at the players as they gathered above the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms.
Calls of “disgraceful” echoed through the grandstand, with one fan going as far as to throw his scarf at the players.
An emotional and clearly angry James Graham couldn’t contain his emotions as he responded in retaliation to the reaction.
Asked how disappointing it was to cop that sort of reaction from his home fans, McGregor conceded: “It is shattering, isn’t it.”
Asked if the fans had the right to act as they did, McGregor reasoned: “Well they pay to come and watch the game. It is very disappointing.”
Stand-in skipper Tyson Frizell added: “It is very disappointing.
“It is hard to cop that from the fans but rightly so.
“We can cop losing when we are doing our best.
“But what we had to play for and to play like that, not give ourselves any opportunity … it is pretty disappointing.”
Bulldogs coach Dean Pay felt the Dragons deserved more respect.
“No one wants to see that,” Pay said.
“I can honestly say at each and every club I have been at they have all put their heart and soul into their performances.
“They have had a really tough week. It is probably reflected in their performance.
“I know Mary and I know the players they have in that team and they are a good bunch of guys and they are a very talented team.
“I am sure there is better things around the corner for them.”
It capped off a disastrous afternoon for the Dragons who dropped to sixth on the NRL ladder, with Cronulla moving into the top four and Penrith claiming fifth spot.
As bad as the Dragons were across the park, Ben Hunt’s declining form is the biggest worry for McGregor on the eve of the finals.
The star recruit had another forgettable game, having one run for nine metres and some of his kicks were just not up to NRL standard.
He was also booed at one point when a kick rolled dead.
If it was earlier in the season you’d probably say Hunt needed a spell in reserve grade to find his confidence but with only one round of the regular season remaining that is just not an option.
Asked about Hunt, McGregor said: “Look, he is a disappointed man like the other guys in the shed.
“He has just got to work hard through it. That is how you get back to form.
“You have to get out there each week and try and play to your potential.
“We are all in this together. It starts at the top. It starts with me.
“We have been working on some basics in Ben’s game to get him back to his best and we will continue to put support around him.
“But it is a collective thing. It is not an individual thing. He is like the other 16 players and all the staff, they are hurting.”
The Dragons were the outright NRL leaders after 16 rounds on 26 competition points but since they have lost six of eight games.
Adding to their woes McGregor said the retiring Jason Nightingale’s career could be finished after dislocating his elbow, while Euan Aitken faces a nervous wait to see the extent of a hamstring injury that forced him off midway through the first half.
McGregor said skipper Gareth Widdop (shoulder) could return for Saturday’s game against Newcastle but if not in week one of the finals, while Paul Vaughan is also gone for the season.
It is hard to see how the Dragons can turn it around given they have lost all confidence and it appears to be getting worse by the week.
They were totally out-enthused by a team playing to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Bulldogs raced in three tries before the break to lead 18-0 and then they finished it off with three more in the second half.
“We played with a lot of arrogance in our game earlier in the year and real good commitment and the ability to absorb pressure and then build pressure on the opposition,” McGregor added.
“We are just not doing that at the moment.”
CANTERBURY 38 (R Smith 3 B Morris J Morris O Ogden tries K Holland 7 goals) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 0 at Jubilee Oval. Referee: Ben Cummins, Henry Perenara. Crowd: 12,436
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