St George Illawarra has acknowledged that there is some validity to the “chokers” label, and this acknowledgment served as their driving force to finally secure an NRL premiership.
Between 1979 and their 32-8 victory over the Sydney Roosters this year, the Dragons faced defeat in five grand finals. Their disappointments in 2005, 2006, and last year, when they were also minor premiers, led many to doubt their ability to manage pressure in crucial games.
“We recognized our past failures, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort or trying,” said forward Dean Young.
“Players like myself, Benny Hornby, Benny Creagh, and Coops had great chances in ’05, ’06, and certainly last year; failing and being branded as chokers throughout our lives has been difficult to bear.
“Our theme this year revolved around unfinished business, and we embraced it fiercely throughout the season.”
This tag deeply troubled the players.
“It really bothered us,” Young stated.
“When you observe players who win grand finals compared to those who don’t, you realize how much they desire that victory, and now that we’ve finally achieved it, the reward feels extraordinary.
“Last week, I was incredibly nervous during the preliminary final against the Wests Tigers.
“Talking with Benny Hornby and Matty Cooper, on the day before and particularly on game day, we were extremely anxious.
“We were facing that game again, after having failed so many times before.”
Five-eighth Jamie Soward of the Dragons concurred that the label was hard to overlook.
“Everyone kept insisting we couldn’t succeed, labeling us as chokers with a dull style of play, and then we went on to score 32 points in the grand final while limiting them to just eight,” he remarked.
“I can’t fully express in print how it felt, but walking down the street while being bombarded with choker signs was overwhelming.”
Finally, the long wait is over for Dragons fans, as coach Wayne Bennett has secured his seventh premiership in just his second year with this determined club.
The St George component of the joint venture has claimed 16 titles, while the Illawarra side, part of the merged entity, has finally clinched its first, having lost in the decider back in 1999 during their inaugural season together.
They achieved the win through a dominant second half, scoring five tries to two in a 24-point surge against the Roosters after trailing 6-8 in a notably lackluster first half.
“I felt remarkably calm,” Young shared.
“The players around me were composed; nobody was panicking or stressing.
“I might feel this more intensely than some of the other guys due to my past failures with the club.
“This is the best feeling ever.”
