Round 12: Dragons v Roosters preview
Dragons looking for a post Hook click against the Chooks
Less than 48 hours after the dismissal of Anthony Griffin. The St George Illawarra Dragons will look to put that behind them when they take on the Sydney Roosters at Kogarah's Jubilee Oval on the land of the Bidjigal people.
For the Dragons, it's been an eventful week with the ousting of coach Anthony Griffin after 2 and a bit years of agonising football. However, it's time put Hook behind us and focus on the present. St George this year with the exception of three matches (where they've lost 13+), have been in every match including 5 losses by under 6 points or less. This shows that the Dragons can be one competitive football side, however execution has left a lot to be desired.
Against the Roosters, the opposition's noticeable struggle in the effort department could be the signal to get the victory to turn their 2023 season around. Ben Hunt will give 100% no matter what and with the support of Jack De Belin searching for an unlikely Origin recall. St George Illawarra could strike with the new coach hype and surprise the Roosters. Elsewhere, interim coach Ryan Carr will need to find a way to inject Jayden Sullivan into the contest, his impact has been noticeable in recent weeks in the energiser bunny role.
For the Dragons. Zac Lomax replaces Max Feagai. Jacob Liddle starts at hooker and Toby Couchman earns a recall to the bench. Jayden Sullivan goes back to the bench and Moses Mbye drops out of the side all together.
For the Roosters. Where do we begin to analyse the poor football we've seen in the last fortnight. Losing their last two games by a combined score of 68-10 has left a lot of fans (including yours truly) and "experts" searching for answers. It's clear after watching the Roosters that there is a clear lack of effort and ability to get up for their opposition. When Billy Smith is coming back from injury and showing the way forward with the calibre of opposition around him, that's alarm bells that things aren't working out.
Against the Dragons. Their spine will again be different. Drew Hutchison will provide support to Luke Keary who has had to carry the bulk of kicking since Sam Walker's demotion to NSW Cup. Also, the effort and attitude will have to life significantly. The Dragons will be up for it after a week in the doldrums, which makes this game the mother of all trap games for the red, white, and blue. The experienced forwards will have to lift in order to get victory and be supported by a combined effort through the backs coming out of yardage. If there's the same lack of effort, the Dragons are in this contest.
Onto the team-list. Joey Manu is out with an ankle ligament injury. Drew Hutchison will start at 5/8. Elsewhere, Jared Waerea-Hargraves has been named despite suffering a pectoral strain in the 48-4 massacre. Egan Butcher returns from concussion protocols in the run on side pushing Angus Crichton to the bench and Fletcher Baker to the reserves. Sitili Tupouniua is back in the starting back-row swapping with Nat Butcher.
Last meeting: Round 8 2023 - Roosters 27 Dragons 26
Who to watch: It was mentioned earlier that Jayden Sullivan would have to be more involved in the Dragons attack if on-field results were to desperately improve. Sullivan has been the shining light of what has been one bleak tunnel in the 2023 season. After starting the year in the halves, he was demoted in favour of Talatau Amone. Sullivan's strong performances in reserve grade meant he had to be picked and has looked damaging in his last two matches, although he was unlucky to be sin-binned against the Cowboys. Look for Sullivan to again be the difference.
If there is one player that has been polarising to Roosters fans that has escaped the media rath. It is Victor Radley. While he might be a victim of his own reputation as the game's hit-man. Radley's 2023 season has been quite disappointing by comparison. His season has so far consisted of a try, line break, 2 line break assists, 3 sin bins and only one game running over 100m. Victor was at his best running the football in the World Cup, something he's done very little of in 2023 with an insistence of passing at the line which has resulted in some horror hospital passes to his team-mates. Look for a big bounce-back game for Radley against the Dragons.
Favourite: Roosters are the slightest of slight favourites. In non-ANZAC Day matches between the two sides. The Sydney Roosters have won all clashes against the Dragons not played on April 25 since the 2010 Grand Final.
My tip: St George Illawarra will have the new coach bounce that every side does. My question is will it be enough to erase some of the stains of the Anthony Griffin era. For the Roosters, if their effort and attitude lifts. Then, they can race up a big score, if not then the Dragons are in the game every minute the tri-colours are off. Roosters by 12.
