Saints v Parra Rnd 26 (2000)

Round 26
Saturday, 29 July
7.30pm
Saints v
Parramatta
Venue: SFS
Saints on TV 2000

Match Preview
& Team

Match
Report & Results

TV / Video Capture

This Weeks

Sound File

Scrapbook

Referee Rating

PREVIEW: The Dragons team for their final game of the year has a few changes from last week: Wayne Bartrim with a shoulder injury and Andrew Hart with an ankle injury resulting from a fight with Lance Thompson last Sunday night - a stupid incident which began as a debate over who would be wearing the No.12 next year. For the time being, it looks as if neither player will be wearing the No.12.
We welcome back Darren Treacy who probably won't be doing any gardening for a while after losing a fight with a lawn mower 2 weeks back.
Versatile Justin Smith has big shoes to fill at lock. I'm impressed with Justin, he looks like a first grader and I'm sure he will make a fine replacement for Wayne Bartrim.
Parramatta have a lot to play for. A win on Saturday gives them a chance of making the top 4. They are currently in 7th position.
Saints have pride to play for and that can be quite a motivation. I expect this will be a tough match which will not worry Saints in the slightest. Saints will throw the ball around like never before. With nothing to lose, I reckon the Dragons are going to hand out a thrashing to the Eels this weekend and Nathan Blacklock will create history.
Saints by 30

FOOTY TAB:
Saints: 1.5 start

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS TEAMS PARRAMATTA EELS

Ref: Tim Mander (Saints have 2 wins, 3 losses under Mander this year, so far)

Luke Patten Nathan Blacklock Jason Hooper Lee Hookey Amos Roberts Trent Barrett Luke Branighan Luke Bailey Nathan Brown(c) Craig Smith(c) Darren Treacy Terry Lamey Justin Smith Res:

Robbie Simpson Jason Ryles Daniel Heckenberg Wes Patten

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Res: 14 15 16 17

Brett Hodgson Pat Richards Jamie Lyon Dave Vaealiki Jason Moodie Stu Kelly PJ Marsh Nathan Cayless (c) Dean Schifilliti Michael Vella Nathan Hindmarsh Ian Hindnarsh Daniel Wagon Res: Jim Dymock A Ryan G Larson C Schifcofske

Teams subject to late changes

TV TEAMS:

FULLTIME SCORE: Saints 24 - Parramatta 32
Match Conditions: Night match, clear and fine. A good night for footy.

SFS Attendance: 13, 317
MATCH REPORT:
HALF TIME SCORE
SAINTS 8 - PARRA 10 Parramatta had heaps of possession thanks to some terrible handling errors from the Dragons and an even worse interpretation of the rules by the ref Mander and the vid ref. Parra's first try came from an intercept off an ordinary Barrett pass. Saints responded with a set move and a try to Amos Roberts.
5 minutes from half time, Parramatta scored a lucky try. Saints are still in this but desperately need Barrett to lift 10 notches following a below standard first 40 minutes. 2nd Half:
Fulltime Score
SAINTS 24 - PARRA 32 Saints' poor handling continued on in the 2nd half but they certainly showed more ticker and were never out of it. Parramatta had plenty of help from the ref and touchies which is something they won't get next week...a pretty ordinary effort from the Eels who scored all but 2 of their tries from refereeing errors. However, it has to be said that Parra played better close to the ruck and ultimately made less handling errors despite the attention of Craig Smith who took the ball up all night, belting the crap out Brian Smith's defensive plan FINAL SECONDS With only 2 minutes to go and 8 points behind, Nathan Blacklock scored his 2nd try of the match to confirm himself as the best finisher in the world and we raised our schooners. Tingha was injured in scoring and limped off, having given his team one final chance of pulling off a remarkable victory.
A perfect snap shot of the match occurred in the final minute with Saints throwing it wide to Wes Patten (in Blacklock's possie) - he was almost pushed into touch but skilfully threw the ball back only to be ruled into touch by some idiot with an NRL flag. With seconds remaining, Parramatta scored a converted try after Saints' Barrett fumbled behind the tryline. ONCE WERE ROOKIES Saints lost but really finished on a high. Yeah, I know they played bad but I was looking at the team for next year. There is constant speculation about next year's half back but as far I'm concern, Wes stood up today, scoring an excellent individual try and worrying Parra's forwards every time he had the ball. We also have some excellent players coming through and a number have already been blooded. Justin Smith played a top match today at lock and looks like a player who could fill almost any position on the field. Other future stars include Amos Roberts, Daniel Heckenberg, Jason Ryles and Ben Hornby Then there are the other players who once were rookies. This was a tough year but we have witnessed the emergence of the talent to come. - see team 2000 Saints best today
3- Brown, 2- C. Smith, 1- W. Patten

Stats:

The match started in controversy with a double movement try to Parramatta	Amos Roberts receives the ball from a switch set play
	Amos sprints through to score

Luke Branighan in his last match as Dragon put in top
game making numerous breaks

Tingha is badly checked as he chases a grubber	but he is still on hand to score try No. 24 for season 2000
Wes Patten sees the line and slides through

Wes gets there to put Saints in the driver's seat

Barrett chips ahead and regathers....	...no rewards but great to watch
More of Branighan	Showing us what we will have coming back at us next year

Tingha can save tries as well as score them
- knocks the ball out & denies Parra a 4 pointer

As the match goes on, the ref goes from bad to worse.
Brownie asks for a fair go.

Brownie setting up another play	Justin Smith kicked a goal and was an inspiration all night
Blacklock scores try No.25 for season 2000	A few minutes from the bell. The great Tingha is helped off after giving his team one last chance.
With seconds remaining, Wes flicks the ball back. the linesman, Alan Falla is apparently 'on the spot'	Wes is well inside but is called out...denying Saints, and the crowd a grandstand finish.

FULLTIME

THIS WEEKS SOUND FILE
NB: Some browsers may have plugs-in which conflict with sound file downloads.
The best way to download sound files is to right-click on the speaker and use the 'save link as' (or 'save target as') option, saving the file to your desktop or folder of choice.
If you continue to experience difficulties, please let us know. email the webmaster

Click on the speaker to hear
Barrett interviewed and commentary
(Nathan Blacklock makes history)

465 Kb .WAV file

SCRAP BOOK
FROM GOLD COAST BULLETIN. Monday July 31st.

OBVIOUSLY I'm disappointed that the St George Illawarra Dragons couldn't make the final eight but all is not lost
Basically, they had too many injuries with nine regular first graders out against Parramatta on Saturday and it was always going to be a tough ask.
Injuries have been the story of the Dragons' year and combined with their dramas off the field, including an early feud between two players, the Anthony Mundine retirement and the demise of coach David Waite, there has been a lot happening to takes their eyes off rugby league.

I KNOW that the Dragons have been front running for Brisbane halfback Ben Walker even though there have been expressions of interest from Auckland and Northern Eagles.
St George Illawarra are very keen to get Walker after missing out on Paul Green, who will join the Sydney Roosters.
The fact that Brett Kimmorley is going to Eagles and Matt Orford is heading to Melbourne, and that the Dragons are possibly losing Luke Branighan to Wests Tigers, means the club is desperate for a good halfback to feed Trent Barrett.
The Dragons have room under their salary cap for one player. That player is likely to be Ben Walker.

-with Steve Hunt

REFEREE & TOUCH JUDGES & VID REF

REFEREE: TIM MANDER

Total Referee or Touch Judge errors = 12
Errors in favour of Saints = 0
Errors in favour of Parramatta = 12
Penalty Count: Saints 5 - Parramatta 6
Comments:
Tim Mander had a bloody terrible game tonight. He was all but inept when it came to the keeping the players back the 10 metres. Parramatta are notorious for this style of play and surely it must be common knowledge to the refs how skilful players like Dymock are at tackling players while standing wide of the marker. Sometimes the Eels were so far offside that we thought for a moment they had swapped allegiances and decided to play in the Dragons' backline. Mander seemed oblivious to this as his brain went out to lunch for most of the match.
The first try to the Eels was a dead set double movement. I don't care what the vid ref thinks on this. The vid ref did the same to Brisbane on Friday night and this area must be addressed by the NRL. When a player lifts his elbow, momentum or not, he has committed a double movement. If the player goes hits the ground and is travelled across the tryline, then it's a fair try, but the moment he lifts his elbow (after being tackled) to advance his position, then it becomes illegal.
Most of the Eels tries came directly following ref or touchie or vid ref error. The fact is, Parramatta would not have won if not for the ineptitude of the adjudicators. Saints simply helped them by monotonously dropping the ball.
Mander is one of the most mind-lazy refs in the NRL. Here are the lowlights of his 'effort' tonight:
2 min: It only took a couple of minutes for Mander to miss his first knock on. Parra push ball and force a pass. The ball is knocked forward into Saints player. Ref says nothing. Even in fast motion it was a knock-on. Error favours Parra
5 min: Saints get a penalty 12 metres from Parra line. Treacy sees a huge gap and goes for the quick tap. An offside Parramatta player (PJ Marsh) hangs on to him for dear life and manages to not only stop Treacy racing away but also avoids being penalised and (surely) sin binned. Deadhead in his wisdom informs Treacy that the defender was 'caught up' in his jersey which was a load of swill. The irony is that the original penalty was for offside. Saints get 2 points instead of 6. Error favours Parra
8 min: Parra are clearly targeting Barrett as he kicks forward and is taken out late. This will be the game plan from Brian Smith for the rest of the night. The ref is looking for some comfy chair by the sideline. Error favours Parra
12 min: Barrett is caught up with the tackled player and trying to get loose. Unfortunately, his hand is pinned to the tackled players chest and the ref penalises Barrett for not letting go. It has now become apparent that Deadhead has become selective with his rulings. Error favours Parra
15 min: Parra score try following double movement (see above). Error favours Parra
28 min: Amos Roberts runs onto a Branighan kick into the in-goal after some broken play. Amos will score if he falls on the ball but is badly checked by a Parramatta player who should have been reeled in by the ref. Looks like a penalty try but Mander was looking towards his hotel room and trying to decide which slippers he'll wear. Error favours Parra
36 min: Saints have just scored and look like they will go into the halftime break with a lead but the ref stuffs up again. From the kick off, Bailey has the ball blatantly stripped in a 2 man tackle. Parra score a lucky try a few minutes later. Should have been a penalty to Saints. Mander by now has slipped on his tweed jacket, lit his pipe and is considering how many G&Ts he will sink after fulltime. Error favours Parra
HALF TIME SCORE: Saints 8, Parra 10, Mander 6
41 min: Barrett kicks and is taken out via a high charge. The ref is busy calling room service. Error favours Parra
43 min: Blacklock is taken out by Dymock as he follows a grubber into the Parra in-goal. Ref misses it. Fortunately for Mander, Saints' Blacklock scores anyhow when the Parra player loses the ball behind his tryline. Ref off the hook.
48 min: Dymock knocks on at dummy half. Ref lets it go and Parra score a minute later from a Dymock kick. By now, Mander is dottering about, half asleep and looking for his hot water bottle. Error favours Parra
52 min: Ref rules a forward pass against Saints which is at worse a good flat pass. Error favours Parra
72 min: Parra score try as fullback Patten is taken out by a chaser after Parra bomb. The ref lends his mind to subtle thoughts under the bed sheets as he dozes off to sleep. Error favours Parra
78 min: Saints go wide and Wes Patten is almost pushed into touch but passes the ball back to Hooper. Wes was half a metre in from touch (see pics) and even on fast forward it looked good for Saints. Amazingly, the touch judge put up his flag. This was so typical of the match. Saints fumble shortly afterwards and Parra score an undeserved try. The commentary team thought Wes was too small but they're as lazy as the ref and the touchie. Too lazy to call what they see. The touch judge slips on his G-String, meanders down the hallway and invites himself into the ref's room for a night cap. They talk about what a great job they did today and admit to their mutual yearnings. Error favours Parra

Overall rating: pathetic / 10

Email

WANT TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?
YOUR UNCENSORED MATCH SUMMARY OR REVIEW OR COMMENTARY CAN BE PUBLISHED IN OUR SUPPORTERS LETTERS PAGE ->GO FOR IT!!
To email your opinion click here