St. George Illawarra Dragons
Season 2009
CEO	Peter Doust
Head Coach	Wayne Bennett
Captain	{{{captain}}}
NRL	Minor Premiers, 1st
Top Try scorer	Brett Morris (22)
Top Points scorer	Jamie Soward (228)
Toyota Cup	Preliminary Finalists, 2nd
NSW Cup	9th (out of 11)
Highest home attendance	20,847 (vs Cronulla Sharks, 29 March 2009, WIN Jubilee Oval)
Lowest home attendance	10,623 (vs Penrith Panthers, 29 May 2009, WIN Stadium)
Average home attendance	15,365
← Previous season 2008	Next season → 2010

The 2009 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was 11th in the joint venture club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership under new coach Wayne Bennett and finished the season as minor premiers. However a series of losses late in the season saw them become the first minor premiers to bow out of the McIntyre System with two consecutive losses in the finals.

[edit] Telstra Premiership

Coming off a 2008 Qualifying Final loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and with a new Coach in the office being Wayne Bennett, the Dragons have signed a number of key players but unfortunately lost just as many. The Dragons are hoping to improve on last years Qualifying Final loss, by making it even further this year. Five Toyota Cup players of 2008 have been promoted to the First Grade squad with more talented juniors rising through the ranks within the club.

St. George led the competition in defence in 2009 and finished the season with the minor premiership, the club's first. Their strong performance also led to new records for home match attendances at WIN Jubilee Oval.

St George exited the finals series in the second week of the finals.

[edit] Draw and Results

*From Sunday April 5 at 2am, Australia and NZ Daylight Savings ends; all games are in AEST.

Round	Home	Score	Away	Match Information
				Date and Time	Venue
Trial	St. George Illawarra Dragons	54-6[1]	Sydney Roosters	14 February 2009	Perth Oval
Trial	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24-12[2]	Bulldogs RLFC	21 February 2009	Wollongong Showground
CS	South Sydney Rabbitohs	18-6[3]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	28 February, 2009 at 8:00pm AEDT	Stadium Australia
1	Melbourne Storm	17-16[4]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	13 March, 2009 at 7:30pm AEDT	Olympic Park Stadium
2	St. George Illawarra Dragons	16-10[5]	Gold Coast Titans	21 March, 2009 at 5:30pm AEDT	Wollongong Showground
3	St. George Illawarra Dragons	10-6[6]	Cronulla Sharks	29 March, 2009 at 3:00pm AEDT	Jubilee Oval
4	Brisbane Broncos	12-25[7]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	3 April, 2009 at 6:35pm AEST	Lang Park
5	Parramatta Eels	8-22[8]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	10 April, 2009 at 7:35pm	Parramatta Stadium
6	St. George Illawarra Dragons	18-24[9]	Newcastle Knights	18 April, 2009 at 5:30pm	Jubilee Oval
7	Sydney Roosters	0-29[10]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	25 April, 2009 at 3:00pm	Sydney Football Stadium
8	St. George Illawarra Dragons	12-11[11]	New Zealand Warriors	3 May, 2009 at 2:00pm	Wollongong Showground
9	North Queensland Cowboys	24-20[12]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	9 May, 2009 at 7:30pm	Willows Sports Complex
10	St. George Illawarra Dragons	20-18[13]	Bulldogs RLFC	May 15, 2009 at 7:35pm	Jubilee Oval
11	Cronulla Sharks	4-26[14]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	May 23, 2009 at 5:30pm	Endeavour Field
12	St. George Illawarra Dragons	38-10[15]	Penrith Panthers	May 29, 2009 at 7:35pm	Wollongong Showground
13	Gold Coast Titans	28-24[16]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	June 8, 2009 at 7:00pm	Robina Stadium
14	St. George Illawarra Dragons	32-18[17]	North Queensland Cowboys	June 14, 2009 at 3:00pm	Wollongong Showground
15		BYE
16	Wests Tigers	10-21[18]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	June 26, 2009 at 7:35pm	Sydney Football Stadium
17	St. George Illawarra Dragons	34-12[19]	Sydney Roosters	July 3, 2009 at 7:35pm	Jubilee Oval
18	St. George Illawarra Dragons	48-18[20]	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	July 12, 2009 at 3:00pm	Wollongong Showground
19		BYE
20	New Zealand Warriors	4-29[21]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	July 26, 2009 at 4:00pm	Mt Smart Stadium
21	St. George Illawarra Dragons	26-12[22]	Melbourne Storm	July 31, 2009 at 7:35pm	Jubilee Oval
22	Penrith Panthers	6-25[23]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	August 7, 2009 at 7:35pm	Penrith Stadium
23	Canberra Raiders	24-12[24]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	August 15, 2009 at 7:30pm	Canberra Stadium
24	St. George Illawarra Dragons	2-12[25]	Brisbane Broncos	August 21, 2009 at 7:35pm	Wollongong Showground
25	South Sydney Rabbitohs	41-6[26]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	August 29, 2009 at 7:30pm	Stadium Australia
26	St. George Illawarra Dragons	37-0[27]	Parramatta Eels	September 4, 2009 at 7:35pm	Jubilee Oval
QF	St. George Illawarra Dragons	12-25[28]	Parramatta Eels	September 13, 2009 at 4:00pm	Jubilee Oval
SF	Brisbane Broncos	24-10[29]	St. George Illawarra Dragons	September 19, 2009 at 7:45pm	Lang Park

[edit] Ladder

National Rugby League season 2009 v • d • e
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St. George Illawarra	24	17	0	7	2	548	329	+219	38
2	Bulldogs	24	18	0	6	2	575	428	+147	38*
3	Gold Coast	24	16	0	8	2	514	467	+47	36
4	Melbourne	24	14	1	9	2	505	348	+157	33
5	Manly	24	14	0	10	2	549	439	+90	32
6	Brisbane	24	14	0	10	2	511	566	-55	32
7	Newcastle	24	13	0	11	2	508	491	+17	30
8	Parramatta	24	12	1	11	2	476	473	+3	29
9	Wests Tigers	24	12	0	12	2	558	483	+75	28
10	South Sydney	24	11	1	12	2	566	549	+17	27
11	Penrith	24	11	1	12	2	515	589	-74	27
12	North Queensland	24	11	0	13	2	558	474	+84	26
13	Canberra	24	9	0	15	2	489	510	-31	22
14	New Zealand	24	7	2	15	2	377	545	-188	20
15	Cronulla	24	5	0	19	2	359	568	-209	14
16	Sydney	24	5	0	19	2	382	681	-299	14

* Bulldogs stripped of 2 competition points after an interchange breach in round 2

[edit] Home Crowd Attendances

The Dragons split their 12 home games between their two home bases of Jubilee Oval, Kogarah and Wollongong Showground, Wollongong.

Round Opposition Venue Crowd Round 2 Gold Coast Titans Wollongong Showground 13,329 Round 3 Cronulla Sharks Jubilee Oval 20,847 Round 6 Newcastle Knights Jubilee Oval 14,562 Round 8 New Zealand Warriors Wollongong Showground 14,477 Round 10 Bulldogs Jubilee Oval 18,415 Round 12 Penrith Panthers Wollongong Showground 10,623 Round 14 North Queensland Cowboys Wollongong Showground 11,374 Round 17 Sydney Roosters Jubilee Oval 12,472 Round 18 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Wollongong Showground 16,792 Round 21 Melbourne Storm Jubilee Oval 16,474 Round 24 Brisbane Broncos Wollongong Showground 17,044 Round 26 Parramatta Eels Jubilee Oval 17,974 Qualifying Finals Parramatta Eels Jubilee Oval 18,174 [edit] Player movements Gains Player Previous Club Darius Boyd Brisbane Broncos Neville Costigan Canberra Raiders Nick Emmett Brisbane Broncos Nathan Fien New Zealand Warriors Mathew Head Wests Tigers Mickey Paea Sydney Roosters Luke Priddis Penrith Panthers Jeremy Smith Melbourne Storm Michael Weyman Canberra Raiders Losses Player Joined Club Rangi Chase Castleford Tigers Mark Gasnier Stade Francais (Union) Josh Morris Canterbury Bulldogs Kirk Reynoldson (retirement) Ben Rogers Newcastle Knights Jason Ryles Les Catalans Dragons Lagi Setu Brisbane Broncos Simon Woolford (retirement) [edit] Squad The St. George Illawarra Dragons have 27 signed players in first grade that play in the main competition. No. Position Player FB Darius Boyd CE Matt Cooper SR Neville Costigan SR Ben Creagh CE Nick Emmett HK Daniel Fepuleai PR Jon Green HB Mathew Head HB Ben Hornby PR Dan Hunt WG Michael Lett WG Brett Morris WG Jason Nightingale SR Mickey Paea No. Position Player PR Justin Poore HK Luke Priddis PR Matt Prior HK Alex Ranieri SR Jarrod Saffy WG Wendell Sailor PR Beau Scott SR Jeremy Smith FE Jamie Soward CE Chase Stanley PR Ricky Thorby PR Michael Weyman LK Dean Young HK Nathan Fien [edit] National Youth Competition (Toyota Cup Under 20's) [edit] Squad The following 27 players are signed with the St. George Illawarra Dragons to play in the Toyota Cup. No. Position Player WG Chris Astill WG Sam Campbell LK Warwick Carter PR Brock Dunn WG Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa PR Thomas Hancock HB Beau Henry SR Brad Hudson LK Nathan Jones LK Josh Kent CE Cameron King CE Kane Linnett SR Jake Marketo (captain) SR Alex McKinnon No. Position Player PR Trent Merrin WG Clifford Morris FB Henry Raiwalui HK Mitch Rein FE Scott Rosser SR Ben Schreiber LK Kyle Stanley SR Jack Stockwell LK Wes Suckley SR Jarrod Thompson WG Joe Vickory PR Shannon Wakeman CE Dean Whare [edit] Ladder National Youth Competition season 2009 v • d • e Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts 1 Manly 24 19 1 4 2 879 417 +462 43 2 St. George Illawarra 24 19 0 5 2 758 461 +297 42 3 Melbourne 24 19 0 5 2 833 597 +236 42 4 Wests Tigers 24 15 1 8 2 709 588 +121 35 5 Brisbane 24 15 0 9 2 698 551 +147 34 6 South Sydney 24 13 1 10 2 776 568 +208 31 7 New Zealand 24 13 1 10 2 725 612 +113 31 8 Canberra 24 11 2 11 2 706 685 +21 28 9 North Queensland 24 12 0 12 2 668 683 -15 28 10 Newcastle 24 9 1 14 2 596 756 -160 23 11 Bulldogs 24 9 1 14 2 649 867 -218 23 12 Parramatta 24 8 0 16 2 604 698 -94 20 13 Penrith 24 8 0 16 2 573 755 -182 20 14 Gold Coast 24 8 0 16 2 542 738 -196 20 15 Sydney 24 6 0 18 2 443 736 -293 16 16 Cronulla 24 4 0 20 2 391 838 -447 12 [edit] References ^ "Bennett's Dragons humble Roosters". http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=53740.  ^ "Head stars in Dragons' win over Bulldogs". http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=53793.  ^ Balym, Todd (2009-02-28). "Souths warm up in style". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25121057-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-02-28.  ^ Woods, Melissa (2009-03-13). "Storm win in Golden Point". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25183474-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14.  ^ "Bennett gets first win at Dragons". Fox Sports. 2009-03-21. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25221418-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-21.  ^ Beniuk, David (2009-03-29). "Dragons hold off Sharks". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25259107-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-29.  ^ Heming, Wayne (2009-04-03). "Bennett celebrates Suncorp return in style as Dragons too strong for Broncos". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25286723-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.  ^ Beniuk, David (2009-04-10). "St George Illawarra notch fourth-straight win with 22-8 defeat of Parramatta". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25318543-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-04-18). "Newcastle Knights upset St George Illawarra 24-18 at WIN Jubilee Oval". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25352494-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-18.  ^ Beniuk, David (2009-04-25). "St George Illawarra Dragons silence the Roosters in Anzac Day shutout". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25384969-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-25.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-05-03). "St George Illawarra scrape home by one point against the Warriors". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25421958-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-03.  ^ Galvin, Ben (2009-05-09). "Johnathan Thurston scores three tries as Cowboys edge out Dragons 24-20". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25454760-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-05-15). "St George Illawarra claim controversial 20-18 win over Bulldogs". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25489898-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-16.  ^ McCullough, Ian (2009-05-23). "Cronulla suffer ninth consecutive loss, beaten by St George Illawarra Dragons". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25527957-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-24.  ^ "Depleted St George Illawarra shatter Penrith's winning streak". Fox Sports. 2009-05-29. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25558705-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-30.  ^ Clarke, Laine (2009-06-08). "Gold Coast Titans defeat St George Illawarra 28-24". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25606973-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-08.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-06-14). "St George Illawarra defeat North Queensland Cowboys 32-18". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25634040-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-06-26). "St George Illawarra Dragons defeat Wests Tigers 21-10". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25696574-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-26.  ^ McCullough, Ian (2009-07-03). "Jamie Soward double sets up Dragons' 34-12 win over Roosters at WIN Jubilee". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25730245-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-03.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-07-12). "St George Illawarra demolish Sea Eagles in 48-18 WIN Stadium rout". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25768635-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-12.  ^ "Dragons closer to minor premiership; Warriors finished for season". Fox Sports. 2009-07-26. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25837352-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-26.  ^ Broun, Samantha (2009-07-31). "Dragons flex premiership muscles with impressive win over Storm". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25864982-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-01.  ^ Warren, Adrian (2009-08-07). "Dragons march on towards minor premiership after victory over Panthers". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25898893-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08.  ^ "Raiders outfit pull off upset of the year beating Dragons 24-12". Fox Sports. 2009-08-15. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25934797-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-16.  ^ Balym, Todd (2009-08-21). "Brisbane Broncos defeat St George Illawarra 12-2 at WIN Stadium". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25963731-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21.  ^ Balym, Todd (2009-08-29). "St George Illawarra defeated by South Sydney 41-6 at ANZ Stadium". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://www.webcitation.org/5jcdlMbCS. Retrieved 2009-08-30.  ^ Jancetic, Steve (2009-09-04). "Dragons winger Brett Morris scores hat-trick in 37-0 win over Eels". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. http://www.webcitation.org/5jcdnu62q. Retrieved 2009-09-04.  ^ Broun, Samantha (2009-09-13). "Parramatta end Manly's season by defeating St George Illawarra 25-12". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2009-09-16. http://www.webcitation.org/5jq6nFFII. Retrieved 2009-09-13.  ^ Pace, Daniel (2009-09-19). "Brisbane Broncos defeat St George Illawarra 24-10 in NRL semi-final". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5k5fCQ9s0. Retrieved 2009-09-20.  [edit] External links St. George Illawarra Dragons Season 2009 v • d • e St. George Illawarra Dragons Est. 1999 in Sydney and Wollongong, New South Wales The Club History (St. George Dragons · Illawarra Steelers) · Records · Players · Coaches Home Grounds Wollongong Showground · Jubilee Oval Culture Charity Shield · ANZAC Game Important Figures Ben Hornby · Wayne Bennett League National Rugby League Seasons (11) 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 Other Competitions Current: National Youth Competition · New South Wales Cup Past: Jersey Flegg Cup Affiliations Shellharbour Marlins (Shellharbour City Dragons)