Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
League

News

Origin in September

Origin in September

09/14/2011 04:46:37 AM

St George Illawarra will adopt a State of Origin-like mentality to help them bring down the Broncos and extinguish the Darren Lockyer fairytale in Saturday night's sudden death NRL final in Brisbane.

The Dragons are bracing themselves for a hostile reception as Suncorp Stadium as more than 50,000 fans cram in to see what will definitely be Lockyer's last game in Queensland, regardless of the result.

It's a scary proposition for the defending premiers to face and will only make the challenge of knocking off the Broncos - who are on a seven-match winning streak - just that little bit harder.

But if there's one team equipped to silence the boisterous Brisbane crowd it is definitely the Dragons, with mastercoach Wayne Bennett at the helm as well as 10 players in their squad that have played for NSW.

Brett Morris, Mark Gasnier, Jamie Soward, Dean Young, Trent Merrin, Creagh and Beau Scott all played for the Blues this year, while skipper Ben Hornby, Matt Cooper and Michael Weyman have done so in the past.

And back-rower Ben Creagh said those members of the side would draw on their experience from the Origin arena to help overcome the crowd and keep their season alive.

"It certainly helps with the atmosphere and being used to the hostile crowd," Creagh said on Wednesday.

"It's certainly going to be an Origin-like game intensity wise."

"Semi-finals are always quicker and harder so that's going to be a bonus for us as well."

"There's not too many times most of us go up there (Suncorp Stadium), either with the Dragons or NSW, that you are well liked."

"But we're confident about going up and playing well."

"If we play for the full 80 minutes and stick to the game plan, we'll be competitive and do well against them."

While most of the attention will be on Lockyer on Saturday night, it's his opposite number Jamie Soward that holds the biggest key if the Dragons are to spring an upset.

Soward has struggled for form in the second half of the season and Wests Tigers players revealed this week they got under his skin with verbal taunts in their 21-12 win last Friday night.

The Blues No.6 was well-shackled and clearly rattled as the Dragons let slip a 12-6 half-time lead in the qualifying final at ANZ Stadium.

Asked if the Dragons would allow Soward to be targeted again, Creagh said: "We'll try not to."

"We've just got to play well as a team, that definitely helps Sowie."

"If (our) forwards are playing well, he can play off the back of that and it definitely helps his game a lot as well."

"And Sowie's been around long enough now."

"He's been through a lot, he's seen a lot and heard a lot too on the field and off the field so he's got pretty thick skin. I'm pretty sure it doesn't bother him at all."

Dragons prop Weyman added: "We're a close unit, we'll stick together and look out for our little fellas and look out for every player in our team."

"We're all great mates here and we love coming to training....everyone's looking forward to challenge on weekend."

"There's going to be plenty of emotion for both teams. It's do-or-die for both of us."

"Finals footy is a different game and all we can do is concentrate on ourselves, do our job and hopefully we come out the other side."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

You Might Also Like

Most Read Articles

Cold tyres almost cost Webber dearly
Cold tyres almost cost Webber dearly
Motorsport
05/27/2012 10:46:36 PM
Monaco Grand Prix winner Mark Webber described the end of Sunday's race as 'very strange' ...
 
 
Yakubu set to leave Blackburn
Football
05/28/2012 09:00:45 AM
 
Freo's failure comes down to talent
AFL
05/27/2012 11:02:27 PM
 
Knights sign Broncos discard
League
05/28/2012 08:27:12 AM
 
Leilua charged and stood down
League
05/28/2012 04:01:25 AM
 
Sea Eagles to accept Matai's ban
League
05/28/2012 05:41:32 AM
 
Italian players in match-fixing claim
Football
05/28/2012 07:34:22 AM
 
Bombers look to set up season
AFL
05/28/2012 01:41:21 AM
 
 
 

Fantasy NRL: Most Popular Players

Our Say

NRL Round 12 talking points
Adam Lucius
Given his appalling judiciary record, Steve Matai can consider himself very lucky not to ...more
Jonathan Healy
Title slipping away from Broncos
Jonathan Healy
The Brisbane Broncos are currently in a form slump and they can't win the premiership ...more
 

Galleries

The Weekend That Was
28/05/2012 1:40:06 PM
Take a look back at all the weekend sport from around the world. We have it all covered from AFL to Baseball to Barefoot Running and even some Sailing. So take some time off and look back at what you might have missed.
NRL- The Year So Far
7/05/2012 11:30:06 AM
The NRL season is off to a flying start. Melbourne Storm are 9-0, the Cowboys are one of the highest scoring teams and the Eels are in need of a win or 3. So let’s look at the best photos of the first 9 rounds. Sit back , take some time off and enjoy.