The 2010 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was the 12th in the joint venture club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2010 Telstra Premiership, securing their second successive minor premiership. The Dragons went on to compete in the 2010 NRL Grand Final, defeating the Sydney Roosters to gain the club's first premiership since their formation as a joint venture club in 1999.
Season summary Restarting their ambitions of a maiden Premiership, the Dragons began the 2010 season without dual international Wendell Sailor after the winger announced his retirement during the pre-season. The Dragons had been competition favourites since day one of the 2010 season, and for all but three rounds of the entire regular season were on top of the ladder (the Sydney Roosters were on top after rounds 1 and 2 and the Melbourne Storm were on top after round 4, when they defeated the Dragons 17-4).
In the regular season of 2010, the Dragons lost only seven matches, against Melbourne in round 4, Manly in round 9, Canberra in rounds 11 and 24, Penrith in round 17, the Gold Coast in extra time in round 20 and Brisbane in round 21. The Dragons built their season on defence and when they finished the regular season, they became only the 2nd team in the NRL to concede less than 300 points in a season. 299 points were scored against them at an average of 12.4 points per game. The St George Illawarra Dragons headed into the week one of the finals and had a great victory against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles winning 28 - 0. After the week off the St George Illawarra Dragons faced the Wests Tigers in the preliminary final and won 13 - 12. The Dragons then faced the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final and despite trailing 6–8 at halftime they scored 26 unanswered points in a wet second half to win 32-8 and secure the first NRL Premiership for the joint venture.
A major coup for the club was the re-signing of former captain and star centre Mark Gasnier following his stint in French rugby union.
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report14 FebruaryTrial Parramatta EelsMembers Equity Stadium, Perth34 – 209,45020 FebruaryMercury Challenge Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWIN Stadium, Wollongong16 – 1427 FebruaryCharity Shield South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney26 – 2627,221 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report12 March1 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Parramatta18 – 1218,29319 March2 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWIN Stadium, Wollongong26 – 616,177 26 March3 North Queensland CowboysWIN Stadium, Wollongong33 – 813,267 2 April4 Melbourne StormEtihad Stadium, Melbourne4 – 1725,480 9 April5 Brisbane BroncosWIN Stadium, Wollongong34 – 1615,374 16 April6 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold Coast19 – 621,336 25 April7 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, Sydney28 – 636,212 1 May8 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksWIN Stadium, Wollongong38 – 015,779 8 May9 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, Manly6 – 2416,74514 May10 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney19 – 637,77323 May11 Canberra RaidersWIN Stadium, Wollongong14 – 2214,72828 May12 Parramatta EelsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah30 – 015,068 6 June13 New Zealand WarriorsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland22 – 208,312 14 20 June15 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium, Cronulla22 – 416,773 25 June16 Wests TigersWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah34 – 1016,574 5 July17 Penrith PanthersWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah8 – 1212,974 1816 July19 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney16 – 1322,368 23 July20 Gold Coast TitansWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah10 – 1112,688 1 August21 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane6 – 1042,269 8 August22 Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney19 – 1237,994 16 August23 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah32 – 1014,740 22 August24 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, Canberra16 – 3220,445 28 August25 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle26 – 1823,148 5 September26 South Sydney RabbitohsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah38 – 2418,274 Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report12 SeptemberQualifying Final Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah28 – 015,574 25 SeptemberPreliminary Final Wests TigersANZ Stadium, Sydney13 – 1271,2123 OctoberGrand Final Sydney RoostersANZ Stadium, Sydney32 – 882,334 Legend:
2010 NRL Ladder
Squad
(GK)
*VC - Vice Captain *GK - Goal Kicker
Transfers Gains Player Gained From Michael Greenfield South Sydney Rabbitohs Peni Tagive Wests Tigers Junior Paulo Parramatta Eels Mark Gasnier Stade Français Losses Player Lost To Mickey Paea Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Justin Poore Parramatta Eels Wendell Sailor Retirement Chase Stanley Melbourne Storm Dean Whare Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
References