Round 7
Sydney Roosters 18 d. St.George-Illawarra Dragons 4

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Roosters chalk up win 1000 defeating woeful Dragons
Wed April 25, 2007
The Sydney Roosters chalked up their 1000th win whilst also bringing level the victories in the ANZAC Day Trophy 3-3 with the Dragons today winning 18-4. In what shaped as a desperate game for both teams, a healthy crowd of 18420 turned out to watch an enthralling game of rugby league at a wet Aussie Stadium. It wasn't the worst turn out in the Sydney area, with much of Sydney being drenched in rain with the notable exception of our beloved catchment area.

It's been a miserable start to the season for the Roosters losing their first five matches; however, against one of their arch-rival clubs they found a way to win and were never headed as they finally climbed from 999 wins to 1000 wins in what seemed an eternity.

St.George-Illawarra's performance can only be described as deplorable. Ranking as perhaps the worst display from any NRL team over 80 minutes surpassing the Bulldogs performance against Penrith in Round 2, the Dragons were inept both with and without the ball.

The Roosters at times resembled the South Sydney of old - they had forgotten that winning feeling, and had found new ways to lose. The two points couldn't have come at a more desperate time for the foundation club, and they will look to build upon it with their Round 8 clash against the Eels.

From the outset, the Roosters looked the hungrier of the two teams. Their enthusiaism in defence and patience in attack were signs of what was to come. However, the Dragons did have an early opportunity to score with Danny Wicks losing the ball over the line after Iosia Soliola fumbled back a kick from the Dragons.

The first try came in the 21st minute when Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored in the corning out jumping Luke MacDougall following a pinpoint bomb from Mitchell Pearce. Craig Fitzgibbon was unable to convert from the sideline with the Roosters leading 4-0.

It was much of the same six minutes later with MacDougall being found wanting from another bomb with Sam Perrett this time flying high to pluck the ball out of the air. Fitzgibbon's conversion attempt was successful for the Roosters to lead 10-0.

The Roosters had ample opportunities to extend the lead, but couldn't convert their field position and domination into points with the Dragons lucky to be going into half-time down by 10 points.

Kenny-Dowall's second try nine minutes into the second half after a great cut out ball from Braith Anasta put the Roosters well clear at 14-0 and in sight of that elusive 1000th victory.

Fitzgibbon added two penalty goals in the 55th and 57th minutes to take his career tally of goals for the Roosters to 501 in a fine achievement for the hard working back-rower.

Chase Stanley scored a late try for the Dragons in the corner in the final stages to give the Red and White's some hope until Wes Naiqama's conversion attempt was well wide. The Dragons had a late try disallowed following a blatant obstruction play, which under the 'old' rules would have been a clear penalty.

No one deserves the victory more than Roosters coach Chris Anderson who has come under a barrage of criticism even though he inherited a side that finished 2nd last in 2006 and has been dogged by poor retention and recruitment of players since the retirement of Brad Fittler. Anderson has kept faith in his players and has given his halves combination of Anasta and Pearce time to settle, which has proven to be a wise decision. Anderson knows a thing or two about development and has in the past inherited troubled sides where he has cleaned them out for the better. Thankfully the Roosters management are at this stage showing faith in Anderson and he will bring them the results.

The Roosters had several fine performances out there on top of Anasta and Pearce. Fitzgibbon worked hard in the back-row, Danny Nutley had his best game of the season up front, Shane Shackleton did many fine things and fullback Anthony Minichiello started to find his best form. Minichiello's position in the NSW side is being questioned due to the outstanding form of Kurt Gidley, Brett Stewart and Luke Patten this season and Minichiello who will be the City Origin fullback next Thursday night showed that he's still the favourite to win the coveted No.1 jersey for the Blues.

As for the Dragons, nothing positive can be said of their performance with the exception of fullback Josh Morris who except for one error in the lead up set before Kenny-Dowall's second try was their only strong performer. St.George-Illawarra had no structure about their play and discipline went completely out the window in the face of defeat. Never at any stage did the Dragons look in the contest or had a suitable game plan.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown has always been a charmed figure with influential management figures at St.George-Illawarra, however, surely the time is now coming where the Dragons will be looking for a new coach to steer them in a different direction. Brown until this year has had the best talent in the competition to work with and no premierships next to their name. The Dragons still contain players who are in the representative sides or on the edge of selection and they are struggling to deliver anything of note.

Before the match, Dragons five-eighth Richie Williams who has only been the top grade this season shot off at the hip that Anasta's best days were behind him and the Dragons would demolish the Roosters. It was refreshing to see a player speak his mind rather than the cliches, but Williams firstly has to earn his stripes and secondly back up his words with actions. Love or hate Anthony Mundine and Willie Mason they can back up their words with performances. Williams demonstrated that he can't backup his words with actions and until he proves himself he should be more worried about winning matches for the Dragons and keeping his first grade position in check.

Anasta and Williams nearly locked horns on a few occasions including one time at the base of the scrum. After the match commented on the pre-match talk from Williams, Anasta said, "I just said 'are you going to do anything or are you just going to pass the ball' - and then he passed the ball.

"He wanted to talk the talk and didn't want to walk the walk. It's garbage - you're preparing yourself for a game and you got everyone telling you about some bloke who's played a couple of games trying to criticise me and then he turns up and plays like that - it just fires you up even more.

"It fired the team up - he did a good job for us today Richie Williams. It's a pity for his teammates having to put up with that - they would have been fired up for the match, they're all great blokes turning up to play football and your teammates a loudmouth like that, it doesn't help."

Anzac Day 2007 was certainly the Roosters day as they chalked up win number 1000 and erased any thoughts of 1966 being repeated.



Brett Morris returns for Anzac Day clash
Tue April 24, 2007
Source: www.dragons.com.au

Fullback Brett Morris will tomorrow return from a shoulder injury in the traditional ANZAC Day clash against the Roosters at Aussie Stadium.

Brett returns to fullback with twin brother Josh moving out on to the wing. Luke MacDougall returns to the side on the other wing in the place of the injured Tom Hewitt. Back rower Corey Payne comes into the starting side for the suspended Beau Scott.

This year will be the sixth clash on ANZAC Day between the Dragons and the Roosters with the Dragons claiming victory three times (2003, 2005, 2006) to the Roosters two (2002, 2004).

Unavailable Dragons are: Mark Gasnier (pectoral), Tom Hewitt (hamstring), Jason Ryles (shoulder), Simon Woolford (ankle), Dean Young (knee).

Dragons ANZAC Day team:

1. Brett Morris
2. Josh Morris
3. Wes Naiqama
4. Matt Cooper
5. Luke Macdougall
6. Richard Williams
7. Ben Hornby (c)
8. Justin Poore
9. Tony Caine
10. Danny Wicks
11. Ashton Sims
12. Corey Payne
13. Ben Creagh

Interchange:
14. Adam Peek
15. Dan Hunt
16. Sam Isemonger
17. Ben Ellis
18. Chase Stanley
(one to be omitted)

News sent by: www.dragons.com.au

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