2008 St. George Illawarra Dragons season

February 2020 June 2011 2008 NRL 7th Challenge Cup 13 0 11 495 416 CEO AUS Nathan Brown AUS Mark Gasnier Accor Stadium WIN Stadium Josh Morris (14) Jamie Soward (54) Jamie Soward (129) 2007 2009 The 2008 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was the 10th in the joint venture club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2008 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 7th out of 16 teams, being knocked out in the finals by eventual premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. NRL Telstra Premiership Having failed to bring the club a premiership during his current tenure with the Dragons and coming off contract at the end of the year, Coach Nathan Brown has had heat on him from 2007 to bring the Dragons up and away from the bottom of the ladder. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Dragons have had, once again, loss after loss which has caused Peter Doust (Dragons CEO), to bring in a new coach in the case of Brisbane Broncos current coach Wayne Bennett for the 2009 season up until 2011. The Dragons started the 2008 season by winning the Mercury Challenge match against the Bulldogs 40–30 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong and winning their first Toyota Cup trial match against Bulldogs at 30–22. The following week the Dragons went down to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the annual Charity Shield clash 24–20 at ANZ Stadium. The club received a boost in May when former Union and League (Brisbane Broncos) star Wendell Sailor joined the team after a 2-year ban from professional sport in Australia due to his cocaine controversy. The Dragons started another year with disappointing results when they only won three times after 10 rounds, defeating the Gold Coast Titans in Round 2, the Sydney Roosters in Round 7 and the Melbourne Storm in Round 10 all with terrific results. On 23 May, the Dragons recorded their first back-to-back wins of the season when they defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval with a final score of 20–18. The Dragons new winger Wendell Sailor made his NRL return in this match also sustaining a minor cheekbone injury. The club also signed South Sydney Rabbitohs player Ben Rogers from an immediate release to join the Dragons on 12 June but released Jason Ryles from his contract to join the Catalans Dragons in the Super League for 2009.http://illawarra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/ryles-quits-dragons/794116.aspx https://archive.today/20120712135145/http://illawarra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/ryles-quits-dragons/794116.aspx dead 12 July 2012 Ryles quits Dragons Webster Andrew 21 June 2008 Illawarra Mercury 21 June 2008 Days later they signed New Zealand international and Melbourne Storm player Jeremy Smith for three seasons. Their 7-game winning streak came to an end in Round 18 when they were defeated by the Canberra Raiders 19–12 at WIN Stadium for the Illawarra Heritage Match. On 15 July, it was announced that captain Mark Gasnier would not be returning after the end of the 2008 season to join the Stade Français Rugby Union team in France. The deal is worth around $1 million a year. After 1 win in their last 5 games, the Dragons defeated the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium with a 24–20 win. Then in Round 24, they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 34–6 at WIN Stadium, Wollongong to keep their finals hopes alive. The dragons were favoured to defeat the Roosters in round 26 to either finish fourth or fifth. They had been playing widespread open football and Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper were carving up the opposition. In extremely wet conditions, the Roosters pack were more favoured to the conditions. They finished the regular season 7th place on the ladder which could have been 6th if they scored at least 2 points in their Round 26 match with the Sydney Roosters. They made it to the first week of the finals, but lost to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 34–6 at Brookvale Oval being eliminated from the Finals series due to their lowly position in the Top 8. The club went on a 'signing spree' purchasing Neville Costigan, Darius Boyd and Luke Priddis among others, but lost flyer Josh Morris (Bulldogs), Mark Gasnier (French Rugby), Jason Ryles (French league), Rangi Chase (ESL), Lagi Setu (Broncos) and Simon Woolford & Kirk Reynoldson with retirement. PositionPldWonDrewLostByePoints ForPoints AgainstPoints Differential 7th (of 16) 24 13 0 11 2 489 378 111 2008 Match results *From Round 5 onwards, all games are in AEST. RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueTrial 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons40-30 23x23px Bulldogs23 February 2008, 7:30pm AEDTWIN StadiumCS 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons20-24 23x23px South Sydney Rabbitohs1 March 2008, 8:00pm AEDTANZ Stadium1 23x23px Wests Tigers24-16 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons16 March 2008, 3:00pm AEDTSydney Football Stadium2 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons30-12 23x23px Gold Coast Titans24 March 2008, 7:00pm AEDTWIN Stadium3 23x23px Canberra Raiders21-14 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons29 March 2008, 7:30pm AEDTCanberra Stadium4 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons16-18 23x23px Cronulla Sharks5 April 2008, 5:30pm AEDTANZ Stadium5 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons16-20 23x23px North Queensland Cowboys12 April 2008, 5:30pmWIN Stadium6 23x23px Bulldogs30-18 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons19 April 2008, 5:30pmANZ Stadium7 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons26-6 23x23px Sydney Roosters25 April 2008, 3:15pmANZ Stadium8 BYE 9 23x23px Parramatta Eels19-18 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons11 May 2008, 3:00pmANZ Stadium10 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons36-12 23x23px Melbourne Storm17 May 2008, 7:30pmANZ Stadium11 23x23px Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles18-20 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons23 May 2008, 7:45pmBrookvale Oval12 23x23px South Sydney Rabbitohs12-26 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons1 June 2008, 2:00pmANZ Stadium13 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons28-10 23x23px Brisbane Broncos6 June 2008, 7:45pmWIN Stadium14 BYE 15 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons13-12 23x23px Penrith Panthers20 June 2008, 7:45pmANZ Stadium16 23x23px Gold Coast Titans22-26 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons28 June 2008, 5:30pmSkilled Park17 23x23px Newcastle Knights16-24 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons5 July 2008, 7:30pmEnergyAustralia Stadium18 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons12-19 23x23px Canberra Raiders13 July 2008, 2:00pmWIN Stadium19 23x23px Melbourne Storm26-0 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons21 July 2008, 7:00pmOlympic Park Stadium20 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons30-0 23x23px Bulldogs28 July 2008, 7:00pmANZ Stadium21 23x23px Cronulla Sharks13-12 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons2 August 2008, 5:30pmToyota Park22 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons10-18 23x23px Wests Tigers8 August 2008, 7:35pmWIN Stadium23 23x23px Brisbane Broncos20-24 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons15 August 2008, 7:35pmSuncorp Stadium24 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons34-6 23x23px New Zealand Warriors24 August 2008, 3:00pmWIN Stadium25 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons40-14 23x23px Parramatta Eels30 September 2008, 7:30pmANZ Stadium26 23x23px Sydney Roosters10-0 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons5 September 2008, 7:35pmSydney Football StadiumQF 23x23px Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles38-6 23x23px St. George Illawarra Dragons13 September 2008, 8:30pmBrookvale Oval Ladder Gains and Losses Gains Player Previous club Kirk Reynoldson Newcastle Knights Stuart Webb South Sydney Rabbitohs Ben Rogers (mid-season) South Sydney Rabbitohs Jon Green Bulldogs Jarrod Saffy Wests Tigers Jardine Bobongie North Sydney Bears Joe Falemaka North Sydney Bears Losses Player Joined Club Wes Naiqama Newcastle Knights Danny Wicks Newcastle Knights Chris Houston Newcastle Knights Keith Lulia Newcastle Knights Ashton Sims Brisbane Broncos Tom Hewitt Brisbane Broncos Corey Payne Wests Tigers Adam Peek Cronulla Sharks Charlie Leaeno Bulldogs First Grade Signed Players St George Illawarra Dragons has 31 signed players in first grade that play in the main competition. Australia LK Jardine Bobongie Australia SR Rangi Chase Australia CE Matt Cooper Australia SR Ben Creagh Australia HK Ben Ellis Tonga PR Joe Falemaka Australia CE Mark Gasnier (captain) Australia PR Jon Green Australia CE Mark Hendy Australia HB Ben Hornby Australia PR Dan Hunt Australia WG Michael Lett Australia FB Brett Morris Australia WG Josh Morris Australia WG Jason Nightingale Australia PR Justin Poore Australia SR Matt Prior Australia HK Alex Ranieri Australia SR Kirk Reynoldson Australia PR Jason Ryles South Africa SR Jarrod Saffy Lebanon CE Frank Samia Australia WG Wendell Sailor Australia SR Beau Scott Australia LK Lagi Setu Australia FE Jamie Soward Australia CE Chase Stanley New Zealand PR Ricky Thorby Australia LK Stuart Webb Australia HK Simon Woolford Australia HK Dean Young Team Lineup Line up for the Qualifying Finals vs. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 8:30pm AEST at Brookvale Oval, Sydney. 1 New Zealand FB Jason Nightingale 2 Australia WG Wendell Sailor 3 Australia CE Mark Gasnier captain 4 Australia CE Matt Cooper 5 Australia WG Josh Morris 6 Australia FE Ben Rogers 7 Australia HB Ben Hornby 8 Australia PR Beau Scott 9 Australia HK Stuart Webb 10 Australia PR Jason Ryles 11 New Zealand SR Lagi Setu 12 Australia SR Ben Creagh 13 Australia LK Dean Young 14 Australia PR Dan Hunt 15 Australia PR Matt Prior 16 Australia SR Kirk Reynoldson 17 Australia HK Ben Ellis South Africa SR Jarrod Saffy Australia FE Jamie Soward Australia HK Simon Woolford New Zealand LK Rangi Chase Australia CE Michael Lett Australia FB Brett Morris New Zealand CE Chase Stanley (injured ankle; Semi-finals) Australia PR Justin Poore (injured knee; Season) Australia PR Ricky Thorby (injured ribs; Season) Last 9 are currently inactive due to injury, fulfilling other commitments, being used as "spares" or playing in lower grades. e.g. NSW Cup, Queensland Cup or Toyota Cup. National Youth Competition (Toyota Cup Under 20s) The Dragons U20s side were strong off from the start. For the Toyota Cup inaugural season, the Dragons Under-20s Side is coached by Steven Price. Before the regular season began, the Dragons won a Toyota Cup Trial match against the Bulldogs down at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. They started the regular season disappointing with a 34–22 loss to the Wests Tigers. However, the Dragons have not lost another match after that with 1 bye in their past leaving them on top of the Toyota Cup table, on 22 competition points. Their 10-match winning streak came to an end in Round 13 at WIN Stadium when they drew 22 all with the Brisbane Broncos. While the first Grade side continued their winning streak, the Under 20s were looking to start a losing streak as they were defeated back-to-back for the first time this year by the Penrith Panthers 28–26 in Round 15 at ANZ Stadium and 32-16 by the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. They returned to the winners circle in Round 17 defeating the Newcastle Knights 26–18 at EnergyAustralia Stadium. In Round 18, straight after a fresh win, they once again lost a match this time against the Canberra Raiders 38–28 at WIN Stadium. They then had back and forth wins during the regular season keeping them in the top 8, struggling to keep their spot(s). Toyota Cup signed players The following 34 players are signed with the St. George Illawarra Dragons for the Toyota Cup. Australia WG Chris Astill Australia WG Jace Brown Australia LK Rowan Brown Australia PR Josh Cochrane Australia PR Rhys Cochrane Australia FE Nathan Dureau Australia HK Daniel Fepuleai Australia PR Thomas Hancock Australia FE Beau Henry Australia HB Gavin Hood Australia SR Brad Hudson Australia SR Ben Josephs Australia HB John Kennedy (captain) Australia FE Maurice Kennedy Australia CE Cameron King Australia CE Kane Linnett Australia SR Jake Marketo Australia PR Trent Merrin Australia FB Sam Morath Australia WG Clifford Morris Australia LK Matt Mundine Australia LK Luke Muttdon Australia CE Daniel Nicastri Australia PR Rory O'Brien Australia LK Michael Pickerd Australia WG Henry Raiwalui Australia PR Travis Roche Australia SR Ben Schreiber Australia LK Brendan Smith Australia LK Kyle Stanley Australia LK Wes Suckley Australia SR Jarrod Thompson Australia WG Joe Vickory Australia CE Dean Whare Toyota Cup lineup This is the Dragons' Toyota Cup weekly lineup. Lineup for the Preliminary Finals vs. Canberra Raiders: Friday, 26 September 2008 at 5:30 pm AEST at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney. 1 Australia FB Henry Raiwalui 2 Australia WG Daniel Nicastri 3 Australia CE Kane Linnett 4 Australia CE Dean Whare 5 Australia WG Sam Morath 6 Australia FE Nathan Dureau 7 Australia HB John Kennedy captain 8 Australia PR Rory O'Brien 9 Australia HK Daniel Fepuleai 10 Australia PR Trent Merrin 11 Australia SR Jake Marketo 12 Australia SR Jarrod Thompson 13 Australia LK Clifford Morris 14 Australia HK Thomas Hancock 15 Australia SR Wes Suckley 16 Australia SR Luke Muttdon 17 Australia PR Cameron King (18) Australia HK Ben Schreiber Australia PR Beau Henry Australia FE Maurice Kennedy Australia SR Brad Hudson Australia LK Alex McKinnon Australia LK Matt Mundine Australia WG Travis Roche Australia WG Jace Brown Australia WG Joe Vickery 1 Interchange player to be omitted before game. Last 6 are currently inactive due to injury, fulfilling other commitments, being used as "spares" or playing in the NSW Cup or the S.G. Ball Cup. Ladder References 2008 Category:2008 NRL season by club Category:2008 in sport in Sydney