Grand Final curse/hoodoo

[theGman]

I don't know if this has been mentioned in previous threads but...
it seems uncanny that in the past three GF's 2003,2004 & 2010 we have been in front at half-time then struggled. WTF???
Just pure coincidence or ???
Any theories.

[Andrew Walker]

Well we were losing at half time in 03 We were ahead when we won in 02

[Guest]

03, 04 and 10 all featured wet weather. It came pouring down in the second half in 03 and 10. Not sure about 04 though.

[Guest]

The boys went out and tried their best in the first half but that was not the same team that came back out for the last 40 minutes.

Everyone is accusing the coach, the refs, the other team, the rain but the actual team seem to be escaping any blame for the loss. Yes, they did so well to get there and they did us proud in 2011 but if we're going to blame anyone for the loss, shouldn't it be those who were actually playing?

And yes, I am still very bitter.

[Guest]

The boys went out and tried their best in the first half but that was not the same team that came back out for the last 40 minutes.

Everyone is accusing the coach, the refs, the other team, the rain but the actual team seem to be escaping any blame for the loss. Yes, they did so well to get there and they did us proud in 2011 but if we're going to blame anyone for the loss, shouldn't it be those who were actually playing?

And yes, I am still very bitter.

Yes the first set of six the Dragons had in the second half worried me as they took the ball back with ease. The defence was not on for some reason, the boys lacked intensity. I honestly believed if we played the way we did in the first half they would not have got a point in the second. Maybe it is their grinding nature , I don't know but maybe they should have started the second half with a couple of different forwards. It may have come just down to that. Also, that forward pass where they got the scrum felt like a turning point for me, they were looking for something easy that wasn't on when they should have beat them at their own game and ground them out.

You could see the Dragons intentions, come out play a hard set and Soward kicks the ball into the corner, that was all they were going to do, so if the boys remained patient and did the same thing and just concentrated on two things, great defence and try to get first points in the second half I believe they would have won.

[player 1]

Yes the first set of six the Dragons had in the second half worried me as they took the ball back with ease. The defence was not on for some reason, the boys lacked intensity. I honestly believed if we played the way we did in the first half they would not have got a point in the second. Maybe it is their grinding nature , I don't know but maybe they should have started the second half with a couple of different forwards. It may have come just down to that. Also, that forward pass where they got the scrum felt like a turning point for me, they were looking for something easy that wasn't on when they should have beat them at their own game and ground them out.

You could see the Dragons intentions, come out play a hard set and Soward kicks the ball into the corner, that was all they were going to do, so if the boys remained patient and did the same thing and just concentrated on two things, great defence and try to get first points in the second half I believe they would have won.

Very good analysis.

We were butt****ed by the officials yet again though. But I thought at half time they would win anyway.

[Andrew Walker]

The boys went out and tried their best in the first half but that was not the same team that came back out for the last 40 minutes.

Everyone is accusing the coach, the refs, the other team, the rain but the actual team seem to be escaping any blame for the loss. Yes, they did so well to get there and they did us proud in 2011 but if we're going to blame anyone for the loss, shouldn't it be those who were actually playing?

And yes, I am still very bitter.

The extra long halftime had something to do with it.

[fletch]

there is nothing wrong with die hard fans venting frustrations after losing a grand final, but much like Lauren I believe we were simply out played on the night.

i'm counting down the days till Anzac day and our first shot at beating those St Merge pricks, it won't make up for sundays loss but it will be one of a few mental hurdles we need to get over before our next tilt at the premiership.

[theGman]

Well we were losing at half time in 03 We were ahead when we won in 02

Really? I seem to recall being up against the Panfers in 2003. Can anyone confirm please.

[player 1]

there is nothing wrong with die hard fans venting frustrations after losing a grand final, but much like Lauren I believe we were simply out played on the night.

i'm counting down the days till Anzac day and our first shot at beating those St Merge pricks, it won't make up for sundays loss but it will be one of a few mental hurdles we need to get over before our next tilt at the premiership.

Fletch I have no problem with gracious people like yourself and Lauren giving credit to Illawarra for their "victory". You both sound like very good sports, good on you. And it is best to move on.

Nothing will change however the fact that although some calls went against Illawarra, the big ones worth points went way way in their favour. I don't need to list them, they have all been done to death. Even the FOX commentators cast legitimate doubt over most of their tries.

AND, I would cop that sweet if the penalties were not 5-1 against us. AND I would cop THAT sweet if we had not been the most penalised side all year.

AND I would accept that too, were it not for the very difficult (for the NRL) to explain stat that on top of THAT, we have also RECEIVED the LEAST penalties of any side this year. That's right, the most penalised AND receiving the least penalties (the NRL would have us believe that every team improves THEIR discipline when and only when they play the roosters.

In short, we have been consistently ****ed over big time by the match officials, and if I had my way I would demand some ****ing answers from the game's administrators.

In spite of all that, we had a team that was in front at half time in the GF. They are bloody legends and I could not love this team any more.

[Andrew Walker]

Really? I seem to recall being up against the Panfers in 2003. Can anyone confirm please.

Mate I can assure you.that we were 6-0 down at half time.We equalised about 8 minutes into the 2nd half with a try to Hefart and a conversion from Fitzgibbon,which from memory bounced in off the post

[theGman]

Mate I can assure you.that we were 6-0 down at half time.We equalised about 8 minutes into the 2nd half with a try to Hefart and a conversion from Fitzgibbon,which from memory bounced in off the post

Thanks AW.
Interestingly enough, i was watching the early exchanges of that game up at Easts Leagues before the 12noon game. Painful memories.

[Roostarz]

i think this year it might have been the 'Dragons half-time curse'
all three times we led by 2 at half time, all three we lost
i thought about that at the GF half time break when we were two up, maybe if bloody Anh Do got his penalty and made it 8 all at half time we could've won it?

[Guest]

maybe if bloody Anh Do got his penalty and made it 8 all at half time we could've won it?

Hey, Jamie Coward does look like Anh Do! I knew he looked familar but I could never quite get it!

[novice chook]

It's the freaking rain.

It rained in 03, 04 and 10. 3 losses.

We were in front in 04 and 10 at half time but just couldn't deal with the wet conditions in the second 40 mins.

Our guys have not played many wet weather games this year and have lost at least 2 - to the Warriers and Sharks. The only wet weather game I can recall us winning is against the Vermin that Friday night. And that was only just.


NC