• Podcast
  • ARL
    • Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars
    • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • NRL
    • 2025 NRL Draw
    • 2024 NRL Draw
    • 2023 NRL Draw
    • 2022 NRL Draw
    • 2021 NRL Draw
    • 2022 NRL Podcast
    • 2020 NRL Draw
    • 2015 NRL Draw
    • 2014 NRL Draw
  • ESL
    • International Origin
    • Challenge Cup
  • World
    • World Club Challenge
    • World Cup
    • Rugby League 9’s
    • NRL Auckland Nines Draw
  • Sports
    • AFL
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
  • Guest Writers
  • League Freak
    • NRL Tipping Experts
    • Web Site News
    • Sponsorship
    • Uncategorized

The Glorious League Freak – Covering Rugby League World Wide – LeagueFreak.com

  • Home
  • Podcast
  • NRL Rumours
  • RL World 9’s
  • Features
    • Player Profiles And News
  • History
    • History Books
    • The Super League War
      • The Super League War – The Clubs
      • The Super League War – The Freak
      • The Super League War – The Extras
  • Quotes
  • Look-Alikes
  • Teams
  • Rankings
  • Media
  • About
    • Bio
    • League Freaks Commentary Career
    • Contact
    • League Freak On Twitter
    • I Am Not A Journalist
    • Contribute To LeagueFreak.com
    • League Freak Mentions In The Media
    • Advertise On This Website
    • Rugby League RSS Feed
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • RSS Feed
    • Linked
    • Youtube

Imagine Being A St George/Illawarra Dragons Player…

Aug 16, 2011 League Freak St George/Illawarra Dragons 0


Imagine being a St George/Illawarra player over the last few seasons.

You are trying your guts out but its plainly obvious that you don’t have what it takes to win a Premiership. Hell, for nearly a decade the club has been there or there abouts, and they always fall short. So much so that the club has the reputation for being chokers. Its tough.

Then, things start to turn around…

Your young five-eight in Jamie Soward starts to show signs he might be capable of bigger and better things. Then, the club pulls off a massive coup and signs Wayne Bennett too coach the club. He brings along with him Queensland State Of Origin winger Darius Boyd and the team starts to move in the right direction.

A big of a clear out, a few smart signings, and a few of the local juniors start to step up, and you are flying high now!

Then, like a gift from God himself, your biggest opponent and a team that just completely owns you in games that matter, the Melbourne Storm, have their season ended with massive salary cap breaches uncovered.

On top of that, you get Mark Gasnier returning mid season and for cheap. It’s all working out for you.

You get to the finals, and have a good run, and of all teams you end up playing the Sydney Roosters in the Grand Final!

Finally, the monkey is off the back. What a perfect season for the St George/Illawarra Dragons. You could not have scripted it any better than that!

Roll on 2011, its time for the Big Red V to look to go back to back! They are bringing back the majority of their Grand Final winning side and as the season kicks off, they hit the ground running. What more could you want!

Then…..things start not working out all that great…..

You’re coach, Wayne Bennett, is off contract. The Dragons do everything in their power to keep hold of him, but he wants to take on the “Challenge” that is put to him by a club that just so happened to be offering by far and away more money to him then any other club.

Bennett describes his time at the Dragons simply as “Job done.”. Nice….

So Wayne Bennett won’t be there for 2012, but you get over that. The assistant coach will take his place, and he is a nice enough bloke.

Then one of your best players from last season, Darius Boyd says he will be following Bennett to Newcastle as well. So he won’t be sticking around. Thats up to Darius, if thats what he want’s, thats fine.

Then the clubs enters the State Of Origin period and has a whole heap of players involved in the series. New South Wales loses in a crushing, sole destroying way. When the majority of the Dragons get back on the park together after the series, they are suffering a little bit.

Then Mark Gasnier comes out and retires. He tells the press he knew all along that he wasn’t THAT committed to playing for the Dragons.

A few more losses and things aren’t going all that great this season compared to this time last year. Still, you feel like that come finals time, you are still one of the teams to beat.

Then, after a bad loss to South Sydney, Wayne Bennett questions YOUR desire!

This is a bloke who is currently recruiting players for the Newcastle Knights. Some of those players are your current team mates! The words “Job done” ring in your ears. HE is questioning MY commitment to winning the Dragons a Premiership?

Imagine that is the situation you find yourself in. How would that make you feel?

Is it really any wonder the St George/Illawarra Dragons have lost some of that fire in their belly. Is it any wonder that they look a bit despondent at the moment?

The St George/Illawarra Dragons are a proud club. Season after season they found themselves underachieving, and had many believing they couldn’t take that next step to become premiers. As such, the club handed the reigns to Wayne Bennett, and bought into his philosophy completely.

As soon as they finally reached the mountain top, everyone that helped them get there, who they put their faith in, who they embraced, who they trusted and looked up too, they all left like rats on a sinking ship!

The REAL St George/Illawarra Dragons players must feel like absolute crap right now.

Imagine being one of the players that signed contract extensions to stay at the club you love, signing for a little less so the team could keep its stars….and then seeing them all pissing off at the end of the year.

It is no wonder the Dragons look like a team thats been absolutely demoralized at the moment.

Worst of all is that, despite their place on the NRL ladder, they are facing a completely different set of circumstances as they head into the NRL Finals series.

Last year was a big of a transitional season for the NRL. If you look at many of the teams involved in last years finals, and who will be involved this year, they are much better sides. Most of this is based on the play of youngsters who have taken a step forward, a years worth of extra experience….it is going to be a tougher title to win this year than it was last year.

Then there is the looming giant that has been towering over the NRL all season, hoping and praying they get their hands on the Dragons.

We all know the Melbourne Storm watched last years Grand Final. We all know how they would have reacted to watching the Dragons lift the premiership trophy.

All of this is now weighing on the Dragons, and sadly enough, most of it is pressure that has been applied by the same people the club trusted to take them to the promised land.

I’m not a Dragons fan, in fact, I don’t particularly like the Dragons.

I will say this though. Every single time I see Wayne Bennett sprouting his sanctimonious bullshit at this playing group, knowing he described them as “job done” and is currently recruiting players for the Newcastle Knights, is makes me fucking sick!

Imagine how the true St George/Illawarra Dragons players feel.

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn 0
  • Email

Related


  • Darius Boyd, Mark Gasnier, Player Movement, Wayne Bennett
  • tweet
Who Has The Confidence And Vision To Lead This Game? The Penrith Panthers Need A CEO

League Freak

A well known Rugby League writer, League Freak has established a reputation among supporters of the game for his fearless commentary and unmatched insight. With a reach that spans both sides of the globe, League Freak has produced an independent network that allows him to distribute content to his many thousands of followers. He is the owner and main author of LeagueFreak.com

Related articles
  • Brisbane Broncos Grant Jamayne Isaako An Immediate Release, Signs For Gold Coast Titans
    Brisbane Broncos Grant Jamayne Isaako...

    Mar 22, 2022 0

  • The Canterbury Bulldogs Experiment Is One I Am Looking Forward To Seeing
    The Canterbury Bulldogs Experiment Is...

    Jan 28, 2022 0

  • Podcast: Fergo and The Freak – Episode 366 – NRL BREAKING NEWS: Reed Mahoney Signs A 4 Years Deal With The Canterbury Bulldogs
    Podcast: Fergo and The Freak –...

    Nov 25, 2021 0


You must log in to post a comment.

League Freaks Social Network

Follow League Freak on:

Become a Patron!

Ziad Warwar
Nadine
Coojee
Adam
Andy
jamescunni
Lisa
Rugby League Project
Karsten Brumme
Samuel
Sandy
Katey
Jack
Terry
Gibbo

RSS Fergo and The Freak Podcast

  • "Potential Profit In The Profit Sense Of The Word"
  • Bonus Episode: IMG Changing The English Game, A Coaching Change At The Dragons
  • France No Longer Hosting The 2025 Rugby League World Cup
  • What Does WAP Stand For?
  • Dylbags With Julie
  • A Plethora Of Stupid Ideas
  • Casting An Eye Over All 17 NRL Teams Right Now
  • Venting About The Wests Tigers
  • The Prodigal Son Returns!
  • There's Quite A Bit To Talk About In Rugby League Today!
  • The 2023 NRL Season Preview
  • The First #AskKenty Of 2023
  • League Freak HUMILIATED As St Helens Beat Penrith To Win The World Club Challenge
  • Street Food In Castleford And The Patron Saint Of Divorce
  • We Will Learn A Lot This Season

Polls

In The On Field Quality Of Super League Games Getting Better Or Worse?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

Latest Rugby League Articles

  • Playing NRL Games In Las Vegas Makes No Sense At All
    Playing NRL Games In Las Vegas Makes No Sense At All

    Jun 04, 2023 0

  • When Will State Of Origin Stars Get To Play International Football Again?
    When Will State Of Origin Stars Get To Play International...

    May 30, 2023 0

  • Latrell Mitchell Ruled Out Of State Of Origin One
    Latrell Mitchell Ruled Out Of State Of Origin One

    May 29, 2023 0

  • NRL Podcast: “Potential Profit In The Profit Sense Of The Word”
    NRL Podcast: “Potential Profit In The Profit Sense Of...

    May 28, 2023 0

  • The 2022 World Cup Legacy Feels A Lot Like The 2000 World Cup Legacy
    The 2022 World Cup Legacy Feels A Lot Like The 2000 World...

    May 26, 2023 0

Follow League Freak on Twitter

My Tweets

Tags

Andrew Ferguson (379) ARL (62) Australia (159) Benji Marshall (90) Billy Slater (78) Broadcasting Deal (68) Cameron Smith (60) Channel 9 (74) Daniel Nichols (122) Disgrace (77) Eligibility Rules (64) England (143) Expansion (86) Fergo And The Freak (470) Greg Inglis (100) Guest Writer (338) Israel Folau (71) Jarryd Hayne (78) Johnathan Thurston (82) League Freak (541) Leeds Rhinos (59) Marketing (67) Matthew Elliott (71) Mitchell Pearce (64) New South Wales (107) New Zealand (143) NRL Finals (63) NRL Salary Cap (96) Paul Gallen (64) Phil Gould (59) Player Movement (132) Podcast (494) Queensland (84) Referees (78) RFL (144) Rugby League History (78) Rugby Union (209) Sam Burgess (63) Sonny Bill Williams (91) State Of Origin (182) St Helens (69) Todd Carney (62) Wayne Bennett (83) Wigan (59) World Cup (184)
As featured on NewsNow: NRL newsNRL News 24/7

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Blogroll

  • The Glorious League Freak.
  • League Freak on Twitter
  • League Freak on Facebook
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours
  • RLWorld9s.com

Facebook Pages

  • NRL Gossip
  • NRL Infinite

Features

  • King Of Rugby League
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • Biggest Winning Margins In Rugby League History
  • Biggest Crowds In Rugby League History
  • Rugby League Quotes
  • Rugby League Dictionary
  • The Super League War
  • The New Zealand Haka
  • Funny Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League Rankins Lists
  • NRL Rumours
  • IHateRugbyUnion.com
  • NRL History
  • NRL History Books
  • Record Books
  • Player Profiles

NBA Links

  • NBA Rookie Of The Year
  • NBA MVP Winner List
  • NBA Finals MVPs

Other Links

  • Submit Your Australian Blog
  • Best Junk Hauling Virginia
  • Gutter Cleaning Service Virginia
  • Best Lawn Mowing Service Virginia
  • 2020 NRL Draw
  • Hot Toys Australia

Other Sports

  • Clutch Fans
  • Sportette

Players

  • Cameron Smith
  • Kalyn Ponga
  • Sonny Bill Williams
  • Jarryd Hayne
  • Andrew Johns
  • Semi Radradra
  • Sam Burgess
  • Benji Marshall
  • James Tedesco
  • Cooper Cronk
  • Johnathan Thurston
  • Anthony Mundine
  • Sam Tomkins
  • Greg Inglis
  • Jamie Peacock
  • Ntahan Cleary

Rugby League

  • Rugby League Project
  • Era Of The Biff
  • Darryl's Rugby League
  • Jamie Lyon Web
  • Rugby League Review
  • Rugby League Ratings
  • NRL CEO Fantasy League
  • QLD Panthers
  • Andrew Ferguson's Website!
  • Black Swans RLFC
  • InternationalRL
  • 2021 Rugby League World Cup
  • Rugby League Mums
  • Player Profiles
  • 2024 NRL Draw
  • Watch NRL Games Online
  • NRL Tipping Experts

Rugby League Podcast

  • Best Rugby League Podcast
  • Best NRL Podcast
  • Best Super League Podcast
  • Best Australian Podcast
  • Best Sports Podcast
  • Funniest Podcast
  • Best Comedy Podcast
  • NRL Radio
  • 2021 NRL Podcast
  • Spotify NRL Podcasts
Google+
  • National Rugby League
  • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • Brisbane Broncos
  • Canberra Raiders
  • Canterbury Bulldogs
  • Cronulla Sharks
  • Gold Coast Titans
  • Manly Sea Eagles
  • Melbourne Storm
  • The 2029 Rugby League World Cup
  • New Zealand Warriors
  • Newcastle Knights
  • North Queensland Cowboys
  • Parramatta Eels
  • Penrith Panthers
  • Redcliffe Dolphins
  • South Sydney Rabbitohs
  • St George/Illawarra Dragons
  • Sydney Roosters
  • Wests Tigers
  • The King Of Rugby League Awards
  • Rugby League Player Profiles And News
  • Fantasy Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League World Rankings
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • International Rugby League News
  • National Rugby League
  • European Super League News
  • Featured Guest Writers
  • Other Sports
  • The 2021 NRL Draw
  • The 2022 NRL Draw – Every NRL Game Listed For You!!!
  • The 2023 NRL Draw – Every NRL Game Is Here!!!
  • 2024 NRL Draw
  • NRL Player Profiles
  • NRL Instagram
  • The 2025 NRL Draw – Every Game, Every Venue, Every Club!
  • NRL Tipping Experts
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19
  • 2022 NRL Grand Final Tickets
  • Click Here To Buy State Of Origin Tickets
  • Buy NRL Tickets – Where To Buy Tickets To Rugby League Games
  • Watch NRL Games Online In 2022 – Where To Watch NRL Games Online And Streaming
Copyright LeagueFreak.com 2022 / All rights reserved
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19
  • 2022 NRL Grand Final Tickets
  • Click Here To Buy State Of Origin Tickets
  • Buy NRL Tickets – Where To Buy Tickets To Rugby League Games
  • Watch NRL Games Online In 2022 – Where To Watch NRL Games Online And Streaming