BigBlog

After winning seven in a row we have dropped two games on the trot. One of them was an average performance against the Raiders while last week’s game against the Storm was a decent effort. I don’t believe the 26-0 scoreline was fair, nor the sending off of Jason Ryles for kicking in the scrum.

Jason’s send off really set us back because I thought at that stage we were unlucky to be down and I felt we were playing some good footy and were in the game.

However the Storm are a hard enough prospect when you have 13 players on the field, let alone 12. Rylesy has been huge this year and is a real forward leader, so to lose him really damaged our cause. To lose him for that was ridiculous, the referee got it wrong and we paid the price.

Plenty has been said and written about it being a wild game on Monday night and I’ll weigh into that. The Storm play a hard, rough style of footy and there is always talk of wrestling in the ruck with them.

On Monday night we weren’t going to let them dominate. We pride ourselves on our defence so we played a bit rough as well and I don’t think they liked it too much. Not many teams have shown that sort of fire against the Storm and it resulted in a spirited encounter with a few fiery encounters.

It’s footy, that sort of thing happens.

I thought the funny thing was when Jeremy Smith and Justin Poore had their little post try stoush. Next year they’ll be mates both donning the red V.

The week before we took on the Raiders and the truth is we probably didn’t aim up for the game like we did against the Storm and it showed.

This week we have the Bulldogs in what could be another huge encounter. The Bulldogs game is one of my favourites on the calendar as the rivalry between the two clubs is pretty huge.

It’s another Monday night game and while they’re not my favourite matches, after waiting all weekend we will all be well and truly up for it.

The Dogs have had a bit of a torrid week and have stood down Ben Roberts and Lee Te Maari after they had an off-field incident, but they have brought in exciting youngster Ben Barba for the clash. I’ve seen the kid play before and, while he has plenty going for him, the man we still need to be most concerned with is Sonny Bill Williams.

Hopefully we can get a win and put a buffer between ourselves and the bottom of the eight. The last thing we want is to have to win the last two games to get in. No one likes that pressure!

Since I last posted Mark Gasnier announced he is leaving for France at the end of the year.

I have mixed emotions about it. On a personal note it’s disappointing to see Gaz go. We have both been at the club a long time and made out first grade debuts in 2000. During that time we have become great mates.

At the same time I don’t blame him for going and I think he will do very well in France. There are reasons for Gaz going that some people don’t understand but he is doing the right thing for himself and no one can knock him for it.

I can also see why fans are disappointed. Gaz is one of the best in the game and an attraction. While he said he is just one player I think he is underselling himself there as he’s a special talent.

But life and footy goes on and you lose one player, you gain a new one. Luke Priddis has joined us for next season and the Panthers rake will bring us a lot of experience and leadership.

Luke will replace Simon Woolford, who is retiring at the end of the season.

Coops

It’s been four straight days of hard training this week, which is unusual, as we normally have a break in the middle, so today is my first day off for the week and I am just resting up before the game this Sunday.

This is my first post since the end of the Origin series and losing game III really hurt. As a team we all wanted to win that one for Danny Buderus.

Bedsy has been one of NSW best players over the last few years and he is also a top bloke who always has a bit of time for everyone so to lose was disappointing.

It was more disappointing that we couldn’t win a game where I felt we were the better team, bar a couple of freakish tries to Israel Folau and Billy Slater.

Israel is something else when it comes to his athleticism. He is a very big guy with speed and agility and I know Brisbane will be looking forward to having him there next season.

It’s been a couple of big weeks for us at the Dragons with seven in a row now. I really hope the fans are enjoying it.

Early on in the season things were difficult as we struggled to get wins from tight games but we seem to have turned that around now. I have to take my hat off to all the young guys who have been playing good footy in the team.

In truth I think we began to turn our season around on Anzac Day when we beat the Roosters. It just gave us a bit of confidence and we have grown since then.

Certainly in the past we have found ways to lose games and it was even happening at the start of this season, but we have really turned it around and are now finding ways to win the tight games.

Also, as bad as it made sound knowing Browny won’t be here next year has lit a bit of a fire under some of us. For me Nathan has always been a mate and we want to make this season one he can remember for all the right reasons.

It was hard to miss out on the Knights game last weekend. I really wanted to get back into the side after spending time in Origin camp and missing a few games but I had a cork in my quad and a bit of an AC problem as well so I couldn’t play, but it’s sweet now and hopefully I’ll be 100% by Sunday.

This Sunday won’t be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. The Raiders have a good young side with Todd Carney leading them. Todd has the talent to break a game wide open and we will have to watch out for his 40/20 kicks.

They also have some big forwards who will be hard to contain and some very talented outside backs, including my former Dragons teammate Colin Best.

Col’s been in great form lately. He has scored a few tries and set up a few and his four tries against the Bulldogs a few weeks ago was proof of his attacking prowess. We simply can’t give him too much room because with his speed he can make us pay.

We’re back at WIN Stadium for the Raiders clash and I would love to see a huge crowd turn out to watch us. It’s no secret that WIN Stadium is my favourite ground to play at and having only played there once this year has been a bit of a disappointment.

Hopefully we can make it eight in a row this weekend in front of a packed house at WIN.

Coops

I certainly can’t complain about the week I have had. In less than 24 hours I signed a new three year deal with the Dragons, keeping me at the club till 2011, and then I got the call up to play for NSW in the centres alongside Mark Gasnier. Professionally life doesn’t get much better than this.

I’m happy to have been picked in this side and truthfully, I always thought my form was good enough and I was a chance to make it so to be rewarded is huge for me.

Ben Hornby was a little shocked to be selected in the side. I was with Benny when he got the call and aside from being shocked he was happy. He is excited to be playing and it’s a reward for a guy who has been playing very well for us at club level in different positions this season.

As I said it’s good to be pairing up with Gaz in the Origin arena. We have done it for a few years now and while all the talk seems to be about stopping the Queensland backs we think we can do some damage out there ourselves.

That’s not saying we don’t have to worry about Hodges and Inglis. They are great players and we will have to be right on our game to shut them down, but we want to be able to worry them as well and I know we can.

There has been plenty of talk in the media about the rookies in the Origin team. I think they will all do extremely well, but especially the guys in the forward pack.

Anthony Laffranchi has waited a long time for this chance and I think he will have a huge impact when he comes on the field.

Peter Wallace has attracted attention as well and if his form for the Broncos is anything to go by then he will do well. He has led them round the park with aplomb all season and I can’t see why he wouldn’t perform at Origin level.

We haven’t won a series since 2005 and this is the time for us to again become State of Origin winners. We have two games at ANZ and with Craig Bellamy as the coach I am sure we will become a fierce and competitive team.

From a club point of view it’s hard not to be there with the Dragons’ boys after a heartbreaking loss against the Eels last week and I wish the boys all the best as they take on the Storm this weekend.

It’s been a huge week for the club with Jarrod Saffy and I extending our contracts as well as signing Wendell Sailor. I’m looking forward to working with ‘The Dell’ in the near future.

Coops

I’m continuing to push for my spot in the NSW State of Origin side this weekend. I think I was playing well enough prior to my back injury and want to continue to do so to remind the NSW selectors I am the right guy to partner Mark Gasnier in the centres.

As for my back, it has improved and I have trained well all week in the lead up to the weekend.

If I have a big game against the Eels on Sunday then I think I am a strong chance to play for the Blues in the origin arena, a game that means more to me than any others. Pulling on the sky blue jersey is a privilege and it’s one I look forward to every year.

I think if Gaz gets through the test then he picks himself. If  it were up to me I would have a fit Brett Stewart at fullback, Kurt Gidley at halfback, Jarryd Hayne on one wing leaving the other wing open, but I am not sure who the selectors will go with at five eighth. Greg Bird and Braith Anasta seem to be the two options, but they can also both play in the back row if needed.

As for the Dragons we are looking to get six points out of the last three weekends when we take on the Eels. While they looked like hitting a bit of form last week, we also did before the bye when we beat the Roosters.

Both teams need a win to really fire up their season which should add to the match. I think with it being played at ANZ we have an advantage. We play there a lot as it is one of our home grounds and taking the Eels away from Parramatta Stadium could hurt them in terms of how vocal the crowd seems.

In other news, we signed Michael Weyman to the club for 2009 and I think the big fella is a good buy. He has had his fair share of injury in the past but after his current suspension for king hitting  Daniel Conn I expect he will return with a point to prove and want to continue his good form next season.

He should provide us with a bit of size and mongrel in the pack and I keenly await his battle with my mate Luke Bailey next season – should be a cracker!

Coops

It’s been a while between posts for me. As many of you would know it’s been a busy time at the Dragons and not all of it has been good.

We had a few weeks there where it seemed like there was never going to be a light at the end of the tunnel but we finally saw it after the Anzac Day game against the Roosters.

That win was huge for us as a club and it could be the turning point in our season. Our completion rate was right up there, especially in the first half when we completed 15/15 sets, which was massive. It’s been our ball control which has let us down early in the season and to turn that right around is a good start.

There are plenty of rumours doing the rounds regarding player movement and while I haven’t spoken to Jason Ryles about his situation I would like to throw my support behind the big fella. He has been one of our best this year and has been putting in the hard yards so I find it hard to understand why he has come in for so much criticism.

Regarding Trent Barrett it looks like he will be coming back to Australia, but the question is, for which club?

I know a lot of the boys would be happy to have him back at the Dragons. But who knows.

It’s also great news that Jason Nightingale has been signed up for a few more years. Jason is a huge talent and that has been reflected in his early season form and his subsequent selection for the Kiwis.

I’m pretty disappointed to be missing out on representing Country tonight with my back injury, but I have to look after myself and get it right and hopefully I can play against the Eels in a fortnight.

My back injury first occurred about eight weeks ago at training and I didn’t think much of it until it progressively became worse and I needed a break.

I actually went for scans and found I have a bulging disc in my back, but as far as the specialist and our physio was concerned that was the best result.

I had an injection for it on Wednesday and it’s feeling a lot better right now.

I really want my back to be better soon as Origin is a goal of mine and I feel like I have been playing well enough to line up in the centres.

I’m enjoying the week off and have just poured the slab as we begin to build my new house. It has taken four years to get this far, hopefully the rest goes a bit quicker.

Coops