Ben Hunt is clearly going to do everything in his power to make sure St George Illawarra start winning games and, more importantly, his good mate Anthony Griffin has a some sort of chance of keeping his coaching job.
Hunt was excellent as the Dragons thumped the Dolphins 38-12 in front of an equally excellent 16,472 fans who braved the murky conditions in Wollongong on Saturday evening.
Hunt was filthy about the Dragons’ second-half fade-out against Cronulla last week, and even labelled the team’s performance “embarrassing”.
The skipper responded against the Dolphins with a try, a try assist, and put a decent shot on local junior Tom Bostock to deny him a certain four-pointer on debut for the visitors. Hunt generally looked at ease having his little five-eight pal Talatau Amone back along side him in the halves.
Amone, 20, was playing his first game for the year since he was charged over an alleged hammer attack on a roofing contractor last November. He was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, destroying property and intimidation, and initially sidelined under the game’s no-fault stand-down policy, only for the ban to be later overturned when his hearing was shifted from the district court to the local court.
It was an Amone kick that took a wicked bounce straight after half-time and confused the Dolphins’ ‘Hammer’ – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow – and sat up for Zac Lomax to score.
Ben Hunt scored a try, provided a try assist, and made a try-saving tackle on the Dolphins’ Tom Bostock.Credit:NRL Photos
It is safe to say the honeymoon is well and truly over for the NRL newcomers.
The Dolphins were unable to lift for Jesse Bromwich’s 300th game, and lost Anthony Milford to a hamstring injury midway through the first half. The scary thing was Milford broke down when barely breaking out of a canter. Milford joins halfback Sean O’Sullivan in the casualty ward, which only heaps more pressure on rookie half Isaiya Katoa.
Maybe all the emotion surrounding last weekend’s Brisbane derby sapped the energy from the players, a bit like Souths and the trying to back up after John Sattler’s tributes.
The Dragons, on the other hand, can build up some steam with the Titans and Raiders awaiting them the next fortnight.
At 33, Hunt remains the best player at the Dragons, and the fans and Griffin know it. Hunt has made no secret of his admiration for Griffin who basically needs wins to keep his name in the mix for the top job beyond this season.
Griffin appreciates Hunt’s loyalty, almost as much as he would have enjoyed seeing the little No.7 with his blue boots being the last player trying to stop Tabuai-Fidow from scoring late in the game.
Jaydn Su’A failed to finish the game because of a calf complaint, while Jack de Belin was placed on report in his comeback game from a calf injury for a cannonball tackle on Ray Stone. Replays, however, appeared to show de Belin’s initial contact being made with Stone’s hip.
Jamayne Isaako kicked a penalty goal after the de Belin incident to reduce the Dragons’ lead to 12-8 at half-time.
Blake Lawrie crashed over for his second try this year, which is pretty impressive considering the big fella only got across the line once in the first six years in the NRL.
A streaker did his best to run the length of the field nearing full-time before being brought down by security. NRL chief Andrew Abdo was in town for Bromwich’s post-match milestone presentation. Hunt could not wipe the smile off his face.
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