Gumleaf
October 3rd, 2010, 05:51 AM
By Chris Wang, WWOS
19:00 AEST Sun Oct 3 2010
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8097904
St George Illawarra have won their inaugural NRL Premiership title as a joint entity, and first as the Dragons since 1979, by convincingly defeating Sydney Roosters in wet conditions at ANZ Stadium.
The Dragons were clinical in their 32-8 victory, coming from 8-6 down at halftime to give coach Wayne Bennett his seventh major rugby league title from seven grand final appearances. The grand final nightmare of opposing coach Brian Smith continued, as he added this loss to defeats in the 1992, 1993 and 2001 grand finals.
"This has been a much-maligned club, and for me personally this win is all about the players. I'm so pleased for them," Bennett told Channel Nine.
"One thing playoffs give you is experience. We had no regrets about our preparations.
"At half time we weren't out of it, we just had to get the job done."
A soggy field and further heavy rain throughout the match suited the Dragons' no-frills style of play, but their win was thoroughly deserved regardless of the weather as they scored 26 unanswered points in the second half. In fact, the Dragons did not concede any second-half points in the entire 2010 finals series.
The Roosters looked sharp early with two first-half tries, but couldn't get going in the heavy ground as the Dragons forwards pounded their opponents into submission in front of 82,334 fans who braved the rainy conditions.
St George Illawarra forwards Michael Weyman, Neville Costigan and Ben Creagh got their side going forward with some physical hit-ups, while the Dragons' kicking tactics became obvious early, with five-eighth Jamie Soward sending consecutive high bombs in the direction of 18-year-old Roosters winger Joseph Leilua.
Roosters crow early
The Dragons were first to score when Soward again kicked toward the wing of Leilua, with prodigal son Mark Gasnier flying through to claim the ball and ground it just inside the dead-ball line. Soward converted to make it 6-0 after eight minutes.
The Roosters hit back in the 17th minute when Braith Anasta dived on the scraps after Leilua had the ball knocked from his hands by Soward's knee when he looked certain to score off a Todd Carney kick. Carney missed the conversion from out wide.
But the Roosters took the lead just three minutes later when Mitchell Aubusson made a mockery of some weak defence from Matt Cooper and Ben Hornby on the Dragons' left side. Mitchell Pearce ran to the line and passed to Aubusson who showed agility and strength to barge over from close range. Carney again missed the extra points, making it 8-6 to the Roosters after 20 minutes.
The Dragons had a chance to level things up in the 27th minute, but Soward missed a penalty goal attempt.
On the half hour mark Dragons key prop Michael Weyman was slow to get up from a tackle, with Roosters interchange player Daniel Conn placed on report for a swinging arm that glanced the State of Origin prop on the head. A groggy Weyman was led down the tunnel and to the dressing rooms.
Saints' second-half blitz
Just six minutes into the second half Darius Boyd drifted across field and put winger Jason Nightingale over in the corner. Soward kicked an excellent conversion from the sideline to send the Dragons out to a 12-8 lead.
Nightingale had his second try on the hour mark when he picked up a sloppy pass after a failed backline move. However opposing winger Leilua came in when it wasn't necessary, leaving Nightlingale to dive over in the corner. Soward converted from the same spot to make it 18-8 to the Dragons.
In teaming rain the match was put beyond the Roosters' reach when Nathan Fien put Dean Young over from close to the line in the 64th minute. Soward again converted for 24-8.
Soward then kicked a penalty goal from in front to make it 26-8 after another Roosters infringement, and Fien dived over for a soft try of his own in the 70th minute which was converted by Soward.
"We've worked so hard for this. To finally make it is something special," said Dragons captain Ben Hornby.
"We were pretty poor in the first half. We regrouped at halftime and then played like we have done during the season.
"It's something I'm very proud of, and I'm proud of all the boys."
Earlier in the day at ANZ Stadium the Bulldogs defeated Windsor 24-12 in the NSW Cup Grand Final, while New Zealand Warriors claimed their first ever trophy by winning the Toyota Cup Grand Final 42-28 over South Sydney.
© AAP 2010
19:00 AEST Sun Oct 3 2010
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8097904
St George Illawarra have won their inaugural NRL Premiership title as a joint entity, and first as the Dragons since 1979, by convincingly defeating Sydney Roosters in wet conditions at ANZ Stadium.
The Dragons were clinical in their 32-8 victory, coming from 8-6 down at halftime to give coach Wayne Bennett his seventh major rugby league title from seven grand final appearances. The grand final nightmare of opposing coach Brian Smith continued, as he added this loss to defeats in the 1992, 1993 and 2001 grand finals.
"This has been a much-maligned club, and for me personally this win is all about the players. I'm so pleased for them," Bennett told Channel Nine.
"One thing playoffs give you is experience. We had no regrets about our preparations.
"At half time we weren't out of it, we just had to get the job done."
A soggy field and further heavy rain throughout the match suited the Dragons' no-frills style of play, but their win was thoroughly deserved regardless of the weather as they scored 26 unanswered points in the second half. In fact, the Dragons did not concede any second-half points in the entire 2010 finals series.
The Roosters looked sharp early with two first-half tries, but couldn't get going in the heavy ground as the Dragons forwards pounded their opponents into submission in front of 82,334 fans who braved the rainy conditions.
St George Illawarra forwards Michael Weyman, Neville Costigan and Ben Creagh got their side going forward with some physical hit-ups, while the Dragons' kicking tactics became obvious early, with five-eighth Jamie Soward sending consecutive high bombs in the direction of 18-year-old Roosters winger Joseph Leilua.
Roosters crow early
The Dragons were first to score when Soward again kicked toward the wing of Leilua, with prodigal son Mark Gasnier flying through to claim the ball and ground it just inside the dead-ball line. Soward converted to make it 6-0 after eight minutes.
The Roosters hit back in the 17th minute when Braith Anasta dived on the scraps after Leilua had the ball knocked from his hands by Soward's knee when he looked certain to score off a Todd Carney kick. Carney missed the conversion from out wide.
But the Roosters took the lead just three minutes later when Mitchell Aubusson made a mockery of some weak defence from Matt Cooper and Ben Hornby on the Dragons' left side. Mitchell Pearce ran to the line and passed to Aubusson who showed agility and strength to barge over from close range. Carney again missed the extra points, making it 8-6 to the Roosters after 20 minutes.
The Dragons had a chance to level things up in the 27th minute, but Soward missed a penalty goal attempt.
On the half hour mark Dragons key prop Michael Weyman was slow to get up from a tackle, with Roosters interchange player Daniel Conn placed on report for a swinging arm that glanced the State of Origin prop on the head. A groggy Weyman was led down the tunnel and to the dressing rooms.
Saints' second-half blitz
Just six minutes into the second half Darius Boyd drifted across field and put winger Jason Nightingale over in the corner. Soward kicked an excellent conversion from the sideline to send the Dragons out to a 12-8 lead.
Nightingale had his second try on the hour mark when he picked up a sloppy pass after a failed backline move. However opposing winger Leilua came in when it wasn't necessary, leaving Nightlingale to dive over in the corner. Soward converted from the same spot to make it 18-8 to the Dragons.
In teaming rain the match was put beyond the Roosters' reach when Nathan Fien put Dean Young over from close to the line in the 64th minute. Soward again converted for 24-8.
Soward then kicked a penalty goal from in front to make it 26-8 after another Roosters infringement, and Fien dived over for a soft try of his own in the 70th minute which was converted by Soward.
"We've worked so hard for this. To finally make it is something special," said Dragons captain Ben Hornby.
"We were pretty poor in the first half. We regrouped at halftime and then played like we have done during the season.
"It's something I'm very proud of, and I'm proud of all the boys."
Earlier in the day at ANZ Stadium the Bulldogs defeated Windsor 24-12 in the NSW Cup Grand Final, while New Zealand Warriors claimed their first ever trophy by winning the Toyota Cup Grand Final 42-28 over South Sydney.
© AAP 2010