The 2009 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was 11th in the joint venture Rugby League club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership under new coach Wayne Bennett and finished the season as minor premiers. However a series of losses late in the season saw them become the first minor premiers to bow out of the McIntyre system with two consecutive losses in the finals.
Season summary Coming off a 2008 Qualifying Final loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and with a new Coach in the office being Wayne Bennett, the Dragons signed a number of new players but lost just as many. The Dragons were hoping to improve the previous years Qualifying Final loss, by making it even further this year. Five Toyota Cup players of 2008 have been promoted to the First Grade squad with more talented juniors rising through the ranks within the club.
St. George led the competition in defence in 2009 and finished the season with the minor premiership, the club's first. Their strong performance also led to new records for home match attendances at WIN Jubilee Oval.
St George exited the finals series in the second week of the finals.
Preseason Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report14 FebruaryTrial Sydney RoostersMembers Equity Stadium, Perth54 – 69,83221 FebruaryMercury Challenge Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWIN Stadium, Wollongong24 – 127,62828 FebruaryCharity Shield South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney6 – 1825,871 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report13 March1 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, Melbourne16 – 1714,87021 March2 Gold Coast TitansWIN Stadium, Wollongong16 – 1013,329 29 March3 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah10 – 620,847 3 April4 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane25 – 1242,435 10 April5 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Parramatta22 – 819,017 18 April6 Newcastle KnightsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah18 – 2414,477 25 April7 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, Sydney29 – 028,926 3 May8 New Zealand WarriorsWIN Stadium, Wollongong12 – 1114,562 9 May9 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville20 – 2416,03115 May10 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah20 – 1818,41523 May11 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium, Cronulla26 – 415,20129 May12 Penrith PanthersWIN Stadium, Wollongong38 – 1010,623 8 June13 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold Coast24 – 2820,416 14 June14 North Queensland CowboysWIN Stadium, Wollongong32 – 1811,374 1526 June16 Wests TigersSydney Football Stadium, Sydney21 – 1015,211 3 July17 Sydney RoostersWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah34 – 1212,472 12 July18 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesWIN Stadium, Wollongong48 – 1816,792 1926 July20 New Zealand WarriorsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland29 – 413,507 31 July21 Melbourne StormWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah26 – 1216,474 7 August22 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium, Penrith25 – 619,987 15 August23 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, Canberra12 – 2417,044 21 August24 Brisbane BroncosWIN Stadium, Wollongong2 – 1214,740 29 August25 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney6 – 4119,218 4 September26 Parramatta EelsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah37 – 017,974 Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report13 SeptemberQualifying Final Parramatta EelsWIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah12 – 2518,174 19 SeptemberSemi-final Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane10 – 2450,225 Legend:
2009 NRL Ladder
Squad
Transfers Gains Player Gained From Darius Boyd Brisbane Broncos Neville Costigan Canberra Raiders Nick Emmett Brisbane Broncos Nathan Fien New Zealand Warriors Mathew Head Wests Tigers Mickey Paea Sydney Roosters Luke Priddis Penrith Panthers Jeremy Smith Melbourne Storm Michael Weyman Canberra Raiders Losses Player Lost To Rangi Chase Castleford Tigers Mark Gasnier Stade Français Josh Morris Canterbury Bulldogs Kirk Reynoldson Retirement Ben Rogers Newcastle Knights Jason Ryles Catalans Dragons Lagi Setu Brisbane Broncos Simon Woolford Retirement
References