Round 7
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 26 d. Sydney Roosters 6

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Anzac spirit lost on Roosters?
Sat April 26, 2008
St George-Illawarra demonstrated what they could be against an insipid and spiritless Sydney Roosters. Both coaches Nathan Brown and Brad Fittler must be scratching their heads wondering what team will front up from week to week.

St George-Illawarra have now won 5 of the past 6 Anzac Day clashes with last years' win by the Roosters an absolute upset given their form at the time. Today, Nathan Brown's team showed the right levels of character, spirit and desire. To play intense team football against a team that was recently touted as red hot premiership favourites. What a difference 120minutes makes. Since leading 20-12 against the Knights they have conceded 6-42 against in what could only be described as wet paper bag defence.

Following their gutless second half performance against the Knights and yesterday's follow up, Brad Fittler's team are looking more likely to join South Sydney in holding up the bottom of the table than being premiership heavyweights.

There are no excuses possible for Fittler and his men and it would appear that the honeymoon is over. Fittler now has to "win back his men." This is something that seasoned campaigners Ricky Stuart and Chris Anderson were not allowed to do.

To win back his team, how will Fittler do it? Can he do it? Do the team want to play for one another or will this year see another scapegoat appear and disappear quickly like Brett Finch had to after the 2006 season. Who can Fittler blame? Is there anyone that can be blamed? I say YES! It is the players en-masse who are to blame. They look like people going through the motions without a care for winning or losing. How do the players look their fans in the eyes and say they are playing for the pride of the jumper, that they are trying to win for them? So many questions that they must ask themselves over the next few weeks before their next match.

Full credit to Nathan Brown and his men, such turmoil at the club with speculation all week over the futures of many of the players and some even announcing their departure. But the players and coaching staff brushed all that aside and showed what the big red vee meant to them and played accordingly. A great performance and one they will need to bring to games more often than not if they wish to send Brown off with semi-final football.

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Live Scores & Stats: NRL: Dragons v Roosters


Comment: Dragons v Roosters at Homebush - Have we gone mad?
Thu April 17, 2008
As a life long supporter of the St George Dragons I find it very hard to believe the annual ANZAC Day clash is being played at Homebush's ANZ Stadium.

This isolates both supporter bases and goes against the tradition of the game, surely money does not rule every decision we make in our great game of rugby league.

This comes after the "local derby" with the Sharks was played there as well. I find it very hard to continue to support a team that has absolutely no respect for their fan base and for that matter is showing no respect for the game of rugby league.

I understand money is the motivator behind this decision, but surely it is not worth the long term detriment to the club and it's fan base. This is a marquee event in the football calendar and this decision to move the game out west is a disgrace.

This editorial/comment was sent by Steven Wheeldon and doesn't neccessarily represent the views of Rleague.com Management. Readers can send news, match reports and editorials to website@rleague.com

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