Finals Week Two
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 28 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 0

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Dragons setup Storm showdown
Fri September 15, 2006
St George Illawarra has produced one of their finest performances of the season to set themselves a showdown with minor premiers Melbourne following a 28-0 defeat of Manly at Aussie Stadium tonight. The Dragons were very clinical in everything they did with their defence superb and tactically were very sound in attack.

The opening half was very tight as both sides looked to assert their dominance with the Dragons showing great patience to lead 8-0 at the break. Matt Orford could have got Manly off to the ideal start when the Dragons threw a pass right into his bread basket only to be dropped.

Brett Morris has scored the only try of the opening half when the Dragons ran the ball on the last tackle getting into good field position following a Ben Creagh break. Barrett found Matt Bickerstaff with an inside ball who offloaded it out the back to Clint Greenshields who then threw the miracle pass to Morris to score the try. Aaron Gorrell converted for the Dragons to lead 6-0.

The Dragons could have scored soon after when Brett Stewart fumbled a bomb and just as they were about to clean up the ball Steve Menzies kicked it away and gave away the penalty. Gorrell however landed a penalty goal to lead 8-0.

St George Illawarra should have went further ahead when Morris was disallowed a second try. Orford fumbled the kick and Bickerstaff chasing through was deemed to have taken him out. Bickerstaff was contesting the ball and no way at the speed of the momentum of the player and the nightly dew on the surface could Bickerstaff all the sudden stop. Trent Barrett picked up the ball and tipped it off to Morris for the try that should have been allowed. Manly's delux whinging from last week has paid off for them.

Manly needed to score first in the second half but they got off to the worst start imaginable when Ben Hornby crossed over close to the line. Mathew Head wasn't able to convert with the Dragons leading 12-0.

Young Dragons centre Daryl Millard who was replacing the injured Mark Gasnier backed up a great offload from Morris to put the Dragons further ahead in the 64th minute and pretty much home for next week.

Matt Cooper scored moments later when he pounced on a grubber kick from Ashton Sims to score outwide and Wes Naiqama landed a great sideline goal to push the Dragons 22-0 clear.

Morris capped off a great performance and a great night for the Saints when he raced 45m to score after swooping on a chip kick from Orford.

The Dragons were extremely impressive and coach Nathan Brown adopted a different game plan this week to the one used last week against the bigger and older Broncos outfit.

Morris was my Man of the Match and he's a genuine good prospect for the future. Hornby was very effective throughout the match, Naiqama and Greenshields cleaned up many dangerous kicks, Bailey and Sims were powerful up front and Creagh was outstanding in the backrow.

One player who deserves a special wrap is Barrett who is finally delivering consistently under pressure. Barrett is now within 160 minutes of history if he and the Dragons are good enough. Only two five-eighth's have captained their clubs to Premierships in the last 60 years and both were absolute champions. Terry Lamb captained the Bulldogs to Grand Final glory in 1995 against Manly - ironically Canterbury came from 6th position that year as the Dragons are now and Brad Fittler led the Roosters to glory in 2002 against the Warriors. Barrett is now within sight of joining very illustrious company that only Lamb and Fittler occupy in the last 60 years.

Manly had an outstanding season and have an excellent roster but tonight they just didn't turn up. The Dragons tactically out played them and Orford once again failed to deliver under pressure. Manly focused too much on Sean Hampstead and not enough on their own flaws in the aftermath of the loss against Newcastle last week and paid the price.

The Dragons are now one game away from the Grand Final and face to Melbourne next week. An ironic twist could emerge in the Dragons Finals run if all the cards fall into place. They lost to Brisbane in the 1992-93 Grand Finals and beat them in week one, they lost to Manly in 1996 and beat them tonight, they lost to Melbourne in 1999 and face them next week and if both the Dragons and Bulldogs win next week they'll do battle against the club that beat them by one point in 1985.

St George Illawarra are now stamping their mark on the competition.


Dragons lead at half-time
Fri September 15, 2006
St George Illawarra lead Manly 8-0 in a match that has been a true semi-final, a complete arm wrestle and played in front of an excellent crowd at Aussie Stadium.

The semi-final stage has taken another step forward with the finals now played at the major venues and both teams have delivered with the Dragons on top.

Matt Orford could have given Manly a perfect start but when going for the intercept he dropped the pass and slowly after that the game changed momentum.

Brett Morris has scored the only try of the opening half when the Dragons ran the ball on the last tackle getting into good field position following a Ben Creagh break. Barrett found Matt Bickerstaff with an inside ball who offloaded it out the back to Clint Greenshields who then threw the miracle pass to Morris to score the try. Aaron Gorrell converted for the Dragons to lead 6-0.

The Dragons could have scored soon after when Brett Stewart fumbled a bomb and just as they were about to clean up the ball Steve Menzies kicked it away and gave away the penalty. Gorrell however landed a penalty goal to lead 8-0.

St George Illawarra should have went further ahead when Morris was disallowed a second try. Orford fumbled the kick and Bickerstaff chasing through was deemed to have taken him out. Bickerstaff was contesting the ball and no way at the speed of the momentum of the player and the nightly dew on the surface could Bickerstaff all the sudden stop. Trent Barrett picked up the ball and tipped it off to Morris for the try that should have been allowed. Manly's delux whinging from last week has paid off for them.

It's been a very tight contest played between the forwards. Barrett has been sensational for the Dragons and he needs to continue for the next 40 minutes as the Sea Eagles are a mighty fine side and they can strike at anytime with players of the calibre of Orfrd, Stewart, Ben Kennedy and Steve Menzies in the side.

Stay tuned to Rleague.com for any breaking moments in the second half and also for a full-time summary.

Thu September 14, 2006
• Preview: Dragons v Sea Eagles
  
Thu September 14, 2006
• Bell ruled out of next two weeks
  
Tue September 12, 2006
• Millard Only Change For Dragons
  
Tue September 12, 2006
• Manly unchanged for Dragons clash
  

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