It was a proud club. One with an enviable record of winning eleven straight premierships. It had a record of playing tough and of player commitment to the big red V. Last night it died.
In it's place we saw a team that executed poorly, was very predictable in attack and missing in defence. We saw that team cop some *** decisions from the match official, and lie down instead of using that to galvanise spirit. We saw a coach looking at bringing Jamie Soward back, only to be talked out of it players Cooper and Gasnier. While Ben Rogers played OK, he was nervous and that showed. During his stint at playmaker Coops and Gaz had seen more ball, and that was again evident last night. But Rogers was never going to win the game for the Dragons. The Dragons are a victim of a club that has coached and managed on consensus, and it just doesn't work.
So where to now. We are losing some players. Some will be sorely missed, like Josh Morris. Others will leave with our blessings like Jason Ryles. They talk about the great career of Gasnier. Yes it was a great INDIVIDUAL career with Origin and Test Highlights, never a TEAM highlight with a Premiership. Did Gaz lift the Dragons and make them a better team?
Next year, the wily old master Wayne Bennett comes to the club. He knows of the tradition, he knows of the pride, he knows the passion. He cannot do it alone. One man can not change the culture of this club, in which ALMOST GOT THERE has become the determinant of success.