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2015 St. George Illawarra Dragons season

2015 St. George Illawarra Dragons season
NRL Rank8th
Play-off resultLost Elimination Final
(Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 10-11)
2015 recordWins: 12; draws: 0; losses: 12
Points scoredFor: 377; against: 350
Team information
CEOPeter Doust
CoachAustralia Paul McGregor
Assistant coachAustralia Ian Millward,
Australia Dean Young,
Australia Ben Hornby
Captain
StadiumWIN Jubilee Oval WIN Stadium
Avg. attendance13,698
Top scorers
TriesPeter Mata'utia and Gareth Widdop (7)
PointsGareth Widdop (148)
← 2014 2016 →

The 2015 St. George Illawarra Dragons season is the 17th in the joint venture club's history. Coached by Paul McGregor, and captained by Ben Creagh, they compete in the NRL's 2015 Telstra Premiership season.

Squad movement

[edit]

Gains

[edit]
Player Signed from Until end of Notes
Dane Nielsen New Zealand Warriors 2016 [1]
Eto Nabuli Penrith Panthers 2016 [2]
Kris Keating Hull KR 2015 [3]
George Rose Melbourne Storm 2015 [4]
Rulon Nutira Gundagai Tigers 2015 [5]
Beau Henry Gold Coast Titans 2015 [6]
Heath L'Estrange Sydney Roosters 2015 [6]
Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard New Zealand Warriors 2016 [7]

Losses

[edit]
Player Signed to Until end of Notes
Dane Nielsen Sacked mid-season - [8]
Brett Morris Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2018 [9]
Kyle Stanley Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2015 [10]
Gerard Beale 2017 [10]
Jack Bird 2016 [11]
Jack Stockwell Newcastle Knights 2017 [12]
Sam Williams Canberra Raiders 2016 [13]
Matt Groat Salford Red Devils N/A [14]
Josh Ailaoma Released - -
Bronson Harrison - -
Willie Mataka - -
Shane Pumipi - -

Ladder

[edit]
2015 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney Roosters 24 18 0 6 2 591 300 +291 40
2 Brisbane Broncos 24 17 0 7 2 574 379 +195 38
3 North Queensland Cowboys (P) 24 17 0 7 2 587 454 +133 38
4 Melbourne Storm 24 14 0 10 2 467 348 +119 32
5 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 14 0 10 2 522 480 +42 32
6 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 14 0 10 2 469 476 −7 32
7 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 13 0 11 2 465 467 −2 30
8 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 12 0 12 2 435 408 +27 28
9 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 11 0 13 2 458 492 −34 26
10 Canberra Raiders 24 10 0 14 2 577 569 +8 24
11 Penrith Panthers 24 9 0 15 2 399 477 −78 22
12 Parramatta Eels 24 9 0 15 2 448 573 −125 22
13 New Zealand Warriors 24 9 0 15 2 445 588 −143 22
14 Gold Coast Titans 24 9 0 15 2 439 636 −197 22
15 Wests Tigers 24 8 0 16 2 487 562 −75 20
16 Newcastle Knights 24 8 0 16 2 458 612 −154 20

Fixtures

[edit]

NRL Auckland Nines

[edit]
Main article: 2015 NRL Auckland Nines

The NRL Auckland Nines is a pre-season rugby league nines competition featuring all 16 NRL clubs. The 2015 competition was played over two days on 31 January and 1 February at Eden Park. The Dragons feature in the Rangitoto pool and played the Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Parramatta Eels 3 2 0 1 53 44 +9 4
2 Newcastle Knights 3 2 0 1 53 45 +8 4
3 St George Illawarra Dragons 3 2 0 1 44 49 −5 4
4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 3 0 0 3 55 67 −12 0
Source: [citation needed]
Date Time (Local) Round Opponent Score Tries Goals
Saturday 31 January 9:55 am 1 Newcastle Knights 7-18 Etonia Nabuli Josh Dugan (1)
1:50 pm 2 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 25-22 Etonia Nabuli (2), Joel Thompson, Kiti Glymin Josh Dugan (1), Benji Marshall (1)
Sunday 1 February 8:10 am 3 Parramatta Eels 12-10 Kiti Glymin, Benji Marshall, Shannon Crook

Regular season

[edit]
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Monday 9 March 1 Melbourne Storm Jubilee Oval 4-12[15] Eto Nabuli 10,028
Monday 16 March 2 West Tigers Campbelltown Stadium 4-22[16] Dane Nielsen 11,837
Saturday 21 March 3 Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium 22-20[17] Trent Merrin, Jason Nightingale, Mitch Rein, Joel Thompson Gareth Widdop (3/5) 11,774
Saturday 28 March 4 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Jubilee Oval 12-4[18] Jason Nightingale Gareth Widdop (4) 12,087
Saturday 4 April 5 Newcastle Knights Hunter Stadium 13-0[19] Eto Nabuli, Josh Dugan Gareth Widdop (2/3) Benji Marshall (FG) 14,261
Sunday 12 April 6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium 31-6[20] Josh Dugan, Peter Mata'utia, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson Euan Aitken Gareth Widdop (5), Benji Marshall (FG) 20,273
Friday 17 April 7 Brisbane Broncos Jubilee Oval 12-10[21] Eto Nabuli, Matt Cooper Gareth Widdop (2/3) 13,029
Saturday 25 April 8 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium 14-12[22] Peter Mata'utia, Mitch Rein Gareth Widdop (3/4) 35,110
Monday 11 May 9 South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium 10-16[23] Gareth Widdop, Jason Nightingale Gareth Widdop (1/3) 14,126
Sunday 17 May 10 Canberra Raiders WIN Stadium 32-18[24] Gareth Widdop, Jason Nightingale, Euan Aitken, Joel Thompson, Benji Marshall Gareth Widdop (6/7) 13,102[25]
11 BYE
Sunday 31 May 12 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Jubilee Oval 42-6[26] Josh Dugan, Mitch Rein, Will Matthews, Jack de Belin, Peter Mata'utia, Eto Nabuli Gareth Widdop (9) 18,011
Monday 8 June 13 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium 16-29[27] Gareth Widdop (2), Peter Mata'utia Gareth Widdop (2/3) 27,291
14 BYE
Monday 22 June 15 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium 14-19[28] Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop Gareth Widdop (3) 10,185
Saturday 27 June 16 Parramatta Eels Pirtek Stadium 12-16[29] Euan Aitken (2) Gareth Widdop (2/3) 15,046
Saturday 4 July 17 North Queensland Cowboys WIN Stadium 12-18[30] Euan Aitken, Mark Ioane Gareth Widdop (2) 11,813[31]
Sunday 12 July 18 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Remondis Stadium 8-28[32] Charly Runciman (2) 12,792
Saturday 18 July 19 South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney Cricket Ground 8-24[33] Justin Hunt, Josh Dugan 18,217
Saturday 25 July 20 Melbourne Storm McLean Park 4-24[34] Peter Mata'utia 14,532
Sunday 2 August 21 Newcastle Knights Jubilee Oval 46-24[35] Josh Dugan, Mitch Rein, Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell, Benji Marshall, Will Matthews Gareth Widdop (9) 10,236
Saturday 8 August 22 New Zealand Warriors Westpac Stadium 36-0[36] Justin Hunt, Mitch Rein, Jake Marketo, Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell Gareth Widdop (6/8) 18,317
Friday 14 August 23 Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium 6-32[37] Justin Hunt Gareth Widdop (1) 33,480
Thursday 20 August 24 Penrith Panthers WIN Stadium 19 – 12 Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop Gareth Widdop (5/5 (3 Penalty Goals)), Benji Marshall (FG) 9,145
Sunday 30 August 25 Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium 26 – 28 Mitch Rein, Michael Cooper, Benji Marshall, Gareth Widdop Gareth Widdop (5/5 (1 Penalty Goal)) 12,335
Saturday 5 September 26 Wests Tigers ANZ Stadium 32 – 30 (After Extra Time) Euan Aitken (2), Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Tyson Fritzell, Jason Nightingale Josh Dugan (4/7 (1 Penalty Goal))

Finals

[edit]
Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
11 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium
1 Sydney Roosters18
4 Melbourne2018 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium
Sydney Roosters38
12 Sept, Stadium Australia Canterbury1226 Sept, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
5 Canterbury11 Melbourne12
8 St. George Illawarra10 North Queensland324 Oct, Stadium Australia
Brisbane16
13 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium25 Sept, Lang Park North Queensland17
6 Cronulla28 Brisbane31
7 Souths1219 Sept, Willows Sports Complex Sydney Roosters12
North Queensland39
12 Sept, Lang Park Cronulla0
2 Brisbane16
3 North Queensland12


Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Saturday, 12 September Elimination Final Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium 11 – 10 Nabuli Widdop (3/3 (2 Penalty Goals)) 33,854
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw

Players

[edit]
Player App T G FG Pts
Leeson Ah Mau 21 0 0 0 0
Euan Aitken 19 4 0 0 16
Mike Cooper 20 1 0 0 4
Ben Creagh 17 0 0 0 0
Jack De Belin 18 1 0 0 4
Josh Dugan 18 6 0 0 24
Dylan Farrell 12 0 0 0 0
Tyson Frizell 17 3 0 0 12
Craig Garvey 5 0 0 0 0
Yaw Kiti Glymin 1 0 0 0 0
Nathan Green 3 0 0 0 0
Justin Hunt 6 3 0 0 12
Drew Hutchison 2 0 0 0 0
Mark Ioane 3 1 0 0 4
Heath L'Estrange 16 0 0 0 0
Jake Marketo 15 1 0 0 4
Benji Marshall 19 2 0 2 10
Peter Mata'utia 17 7 0 0 28
Will Matthews 13 2 0 0 8
Trent Merrin 16 1 0 0 4
Etonia Nabuli 11 5 0 0 20
Dane Nielsen 2 1 0 0 4
Jason Nightingale 15 4 0 0 16
Rory O'Brien 3 0 0 0 0
Luke Page 1 0 0 0 0
Mitch Rein 20 5 0 0 20
George Rose 7 0 0 0 0
Charly Runciman 2 2 0 0 8
Joel Thompson 17 3 0 0 12
Gareth Widdop 21 7 60 0 148

Source= [38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (18 November 2014). "St George Illawarra sign former Maroons centre Dane Nielsen, while Adam Blair heads to Brisbane". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. ^ Horne, Ben (7 October 2014). "Fijian Nabuli signs with NRL Dragons". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  3. ^ "NRL transfers: Dragons sign Kris Keating, release Kyle Stanley". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. ^ "George Rose Signs With St George Illawarra Dragons". Triple M. Southern Cross Austereo. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. ^ Smith, Tony (4 October 2014). "Ex-Canterbury Bulls star scores Dragons deal". stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Heath L'Estrange, Beau Henry sign with St George-Illawarra Dragons". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. ^ Brady, Jack (24 November 2014). "Tuimavave-Gerrard pursues NRL dream". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Dragons Sack Dane Nielsen". Triple M Sydney. Southern Cross Austereo. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  9. ^ Carayannis, Michael (10 November 2014). "New Canterbury Bulldogs signing Brett Morris says he'll always have a soft spot for St George Illawarra Dragons". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b Glover, Ben (19 November 2014). "Gerard Beale, Kyle Stanley sign with Cronulla Sharks after exit from St George Illawarra Dragons". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. ^ Brady, Jack (18 September 2014). "Bird signs two-year deal with Sharks". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. ^ Keeble, Brett (27 February 2015). "Rick Stone ready to slot Jack Stockwell into Newcastle Knights team". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  13. ^ Wilson, Chris (19 September 2014). "Returning Raider Sam Williams doesn't regret Dragons defection". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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  16. ^ Encarnacion, Matt (16 March 2015). "Tigers' Tedesco burns Dragons early". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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  20. ^ Brady, Jack (12 April 2015). "Dragons trounce depleted Dogs". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  21. ^ Brady, Jack (17 April 2015). "Cooper leads Red V to victory". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  22. ^ Hooper, James (25 April 2015). "NRL 2015: Stubborn Dragons overcome Roosters, storm, hail, and ref blunders to make it six straight wins". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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  29. ^ Kennedy, Chris (27 June 2015). "Eels shrug off horror week with tense win". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  30. ^ Zemek, Steve (4 July 2015). "No Thurston, no worries for Cowboys". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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  34. ^ Botoulas, William (25 July 2015). "Storm v Dragons: Five key points". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  35. ^ Crawley, Paul (2 August 2015). "Dragons v Knights: Benji Marshall winds back the clock as St George Illawarra snap losing streak". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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