2011 St. George Illawarra Dragons season explained
The 2011 St. George Illawarra Dragons season was the 13th in the joint venture club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Ben Hornby they competed in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership as defending champions. The Dragons finished the regular season 5th (out of 16) before being knocked out of the finals by the Brisbane Broncos. This was Bennett's last match with the Dragons as he moved to the Newcastle Knights for the 2012 NRL season.
Pre Season
In the pre-season the Dragons won their annual Charity Shield match against South Sydney before travelling to take on reigning Super League champions, Wigan Warriors.
The Dragons won all three of their pre-season games. This included victory in the 2011 World Club Challenge, giving them the title of best club rugby league team in the world.[1]
Regular season
By the middle of the regular season the Dragons were leading the competition.
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Attendance | Report |
|---|
| 12 March | 1 | Gold Coast Titans | Skilled Park, Gold Coast | 25–16 | 21,709 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103531/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=34263&title=dragons-down-titans-25-16 |
| 21 March | 2 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Toyota Stadium, Cronulla | 10–16 | 12,183 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110316061827/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display |
| 27 March | 3 | New Zealand Warriors | | 25–12 | 11,651 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110405205507/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=34834&title=dragons-bounce-back-against-warriors |
| 3 April | 4 | Newcastle Knights | Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle | 20–18 | 20,986 | http://www.dragons.com.au/?s=article-display&id=35111 |
| 10 April | 5 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 25–6 | 31,122 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110412224611/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=35403&title=dragons-too-strong-for-bulldogs |
| 18 April | 6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 16–0 | 22,771 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120404142955/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=35784&dragons-soundly-defeat-rabbitohs |
| 25 April | 7 (ANZAC Day Test) | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 24–10 | 34,976 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110630040925/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=36015&title=dragons-retain-anzac-day-trophy |
| 1 May | 8 | Parramatta Eels | WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah | 30–0 | 19,319 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110510131357/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=36272&title=dragons-notch-impressive-homecoming-victory |
| 8 May | 9 | North Queensland Cowboys | | 22–8 | 13,056 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110510124152/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=36507&title=dragons-rise-against-cowboys |
| 13 May | 10 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 15–10 | 34,322 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110530101224/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=36788&title=dragons-make-it-eight-in-a-row |
| 11 | | | | | | |
| 29 May | 12 | Wests Tigers | WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah | 24–18 | 19,892 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110620152841/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=37326&title=dragons-clinch-milestone-win-in-thriller |
| 3 June | 13 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | 14–14 | 16,066 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110606081543/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=37577&title=dragons-share-spoils-with-eels |
| 10 June | 14 | Gold Coast Titans | WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah | 14–28 | 10,139 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110619192908/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=37869&title=dragons-suffer-defeat-to-titans |
| 17 June | 15 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 14–21 | 34,185 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110619150221/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=38107&title=dragons-fall-short-in-brisbane |
| 27 June | 16 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 24–6 | 18,974 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110701194807/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=38505&title=dragons-return-to-winning-ways |
| 3 July | 17 | Newcastle Knights | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 10–14 | 17,205 | https://web.archive.org/web/20110928031705/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=38735&title=knights-outclass-dragons-for-the-win |
| 18 | | | | | |
| 18 July | 19 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah | 38–8 | 16,897 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010420/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=39328&title=dragons-are-rivalry-round-victors |
| 25 July | 20 | Canberra Raiders | Canberra Stadium, Canberra | 19–24 | 10,425 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120404144825/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=39658&title=dragons-undone-in-last-minute-misery |
| 31 July | 21 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 24–34 | 18,980 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010653/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=41118&title=dragons-suffer-rabbitohs-misery |
| 5 August | 22 | Wests Tigers | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 14–16 | 27,687 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010441/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=41470&title=dragons-dealt-cruel-blow |
| 14 August | 23 | Sydney Roosters | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 12–20 | 14,141 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010451/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=41897&title=dragons-fall-to-the-roosters |
| 19 August | 24 | Melbourne Storm | AAMI Park, Melbourne | 6–8 | 24,081 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010457/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=42208&title=storm-extinguish-dragons-fire |
| 28 August | 25 | New Zealand Warriors | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 26–22 | 15,732 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010501/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=42672&title=dragons-return-to-winning-ways |
| 2 September | 26 | Penrith Panthers | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | 32–12 | 13,621 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111011010516/http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=43020&title=dragons-make-panthers-purr |
| Legend: |
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Finals
Transfers
Gains
Losses Notes and References
- News: Wigan Warriors make brave attempt but Dragons are still worlds apart. Andy. Wilson. The Guardian. 27 February 2011. 23 February 2024.
Peter Doust