# 2015 St. George Illawarra Dragons season

The 2015 St. George Illawarra Dragons season is the 17th in the joint venture club's history. Coached by Paul McGregor, and captained by Ben Creagh, they compete in the NRL's 2015 Telstra Premiership season.

## Squad movement
### Gains

| Player | Signed from | Until end of |
| Dane Nielsen | New Zealand Warriors | 2016 |
| Eto Nabuli | Penrith Panthers | 2016 |
| Kris Keating | Hull KR | 2015 |
| George Rose | Melbourne Storm | 2015 |
| Rulon Nutira | Gundagai Tigers | 2015 |
| Beau Henry | Gold Coast Titans | 2015 |
| Heath L'Estrange | Sydney Roosters | 2015 |
| Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard | New Zealand Warriors | 2016 |

### Losses

| Player | Signed to | Until end of | Notes |
| Dane Nielsen | Sacked mid-season | - | |
| Brett Morris | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2018 | |
| Kyle Stanley | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2015 | |
| Gerard Beale | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2017 | |
| Jack Bird | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2016 | |
| Jack Stockwell | Newcastle Knights | 2017 | |
| Sam Williams | Canberra Raiders | 2016 | |
| Matt Groat | Salford Red Devils | N/A | |
| Josh Ailaoma | Released | - | - |
| Bronson Harrison | Released | - | - |
| Willie Mataka | Released | - | - |
| Shane Pumipi | Released | - | - |

## Ladder

2015 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 591 | 300 | +291 | 40 |
| 2 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 574 | 379 | +195 | 38 |
| 3 | North Queensland Cowboys (P) | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 587 | 454 | +133 | 38 |
| 4 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 467 | 348 | +119 | 32 |
| 5 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 522 | 480 | +42 | 32 |
| 6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 469 | 476 | −7 | 32 |
| 7 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 465 | 467 | −2 | 30 |
| 8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 435 | 408 | +27 | 28 |
| 9 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 458 | 492 | −34 | 26 |
| 10 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 577 | 569 | +8 | 24 |
| 11 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 399 | 477 | −78 | 22 |
| 12 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 448 | 573 | −125 | 22 |
| 13 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 445 | 588 | −143 | 22 |
| 14 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 439 | 636 | −197 | 22 |
| 15 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 487 | 562 | −75 | 20 |
| 16 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 458 | 612 | −154 | 20 |

## Fixtures
### NRL Auckland Nines

The NRL Auckland Nines is a pre-season rugby league nines competition featuring all 16 NRL clubs. The 2015 competition was played over two days on 31 January and 1 February at Eden Park. The Dragons feature in the Rangitoto pool and played the Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Parramatta Eels | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 4 |
| 2 | Newcastle Knights | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 4 |
| 3 | St George Illawarra Dragons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 4 |
| 4 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 55 | 67 | −12 | 0 |
| Date | Time (Local) | Round | Opponent | Score | Tries | Goals |
| Saturday 31 January | 9:55 am | 1 | Newcastle Knights | 7-18 | Etonia Nabuli | Josh Dugan (1) |
| Saturday 31 January | 1:50 pm | 2 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 25-22 | Etonia Nabuli (2), Joel Thompson, Kiti Glymin | Josh Dugan (1), Benji Marshall (1) |
| Sunday 1 February | 8:10 am | 3 | Parramatta Eels | 12-10 | Kiti Glymin, Benji Marshall, Shannon Crook | |

### Regular season

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| Monday 9 March | 1 | Melbourne Storm | Jubilee Oval | 4-12 | Eto Nabuli | | 10,028 |
| Monday 16 March | 2 | West Tigers | Campbelltown Stadium | 4-22 | Dane Nielsen | | 11,837 |
| Saturday 21 March | 3 | Canberra Raiders | GIO Stadium | 22-20 | Trent Merrin, Jason Nightingale, Mitch Rein, Joel Thompson | Gareth Widdop (3/5) | 11,774 |
| Saturday 28 March | 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Jubilee Oval | 12-4 | Jason Nightingale | Gareth Widdop (4) | 12,087 |
| Saturday 4 April | 5 | Newcastle Knights | Hunter Stadium | 13-0 | Eto Nabuli, Josh Dugan | Gareth Widdop (2/3) Benji Marshall (FG) | 14,261 |
| Sunday 12 April | 6 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium | 31-6 | Josh Dugan, Peter Mata'utia, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson Euan Aitken | Gareth Widdop (5), Benji Marshall (FG) | 20,273 |
| Friday 17 April | 7 | Brisbane Broncos | Jubilee Oval | 12-10 | Eto Nabuli, Matt Cooper | Gareth Widdop (2/3) | 13,029 |
| Saturday 25 April | 8 | Sydney Roosters | Allianz Stadium | 14-12 | Peter Mata'utia, Mitch Rein | Gareth Widdop (3/4) | 35,110 |
| Monday 11 May | 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ANZ Stadium | 10-16 | Gareth Widdop, Jason Nightingale | Gareth Widdop (1/3) | 14,126 |
| Sunday 17 May | 10 | Canberra Raiders | WIN Stadium | 32-18 | Gareth Widdop, Jason Nightingale, Euan Aitken, Joel Thompson, Benji Marshall | Gareth Widdop (6/7) | 13,102 |
| | 11 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE |
| Sunday 31 May | 12 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Jubilee Oval | 42-6 | Josh Dugan, Mitch Rein, Will Matthews, Jack de Belin, Peter Mata'utia, Eto Nabuli | Gareth Widdop (9) | 18,011 |
| Monday 8 June | 13 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium | 16-29 | Gareth Widdop (2), Peter Mata'utia | Gareth Widdop (2/3) | 27,291 |
| | 14 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE |
| Monday 22 June | 15 | Sydney Roosters | Allianz Stadium | 14-19 | Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop | Gareth Widdop (3) | 10,185 |
| Saturday 27 June | 16 | Parramatta Eels | Pirtek Stadium | 12-16 | Euan Aitken (2) | Gareth Widdop (2/3) | 15,046 |
| Saturday 4 July | 17 | North Queensland Cowboys | WIN Stadium | 12-18 | Euan Aitken, Mark Ioane | Gareth Widdop (2) | 11,813 |
| Sunday 12 July | 18 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Remondis Stadium | 8-28 | Charly Runciman (2) | | 12,792 |
| Saturday 18 July | 19 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sydney Cricket Ground | 8-24 | Justin Hunt, Josh Dugan | | 18,217 |
| Saturday 25 July | 20 | Melbourne Storm | McLean Park | 4-24 | Peter Mata'utia | | 14,532 |
| Sunday 2 August | 21 | Newcastle Knights | Jubilee Oval | 46-24 | Josh Dugan, Mitch Rein, Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell, Benji Marshall, Will Matthews | Gareth Widdop (9) | 10,236 |
| Saturday 8 August | 22 | New Zealand Warriors | Westpac Stadium | 36-0 | Justin Hunt, Mitch Rein, Jake Marketo, Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell | Gareth Widdop (6/8) | 18,317 |
| Friday 14 August | 23 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium | 6-32 | Justin Hunt | Gareth Widdop (1) | 33,480 |
| Thursday 20 August | 24 | Penrith Panthers | WIN Stadium | 19 – 12 | Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop | Gareth Widdop (5/5 (3 Penalty Goals)), Benji Marshall (FG) | 9,145 |
| Sunday 30 August | 25 | Gold Coast Titans | Cbus Super Stadium | 26 – 28 | Mitch Rein, Michael Cooper, Benji Marshall, Gareth Widdop | Gareth Widdop (5/5 (1 Penalty Goal)) | 12,335 |
| Saturday 5 September | 26 | Wests Tigers | ANZ Stadium | 32 – 30 (After Extra Time) | Euan Aitken (2), Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Tyson Fritzell, Jason Nightingale | Josh Dugan (4/7 (1 Penalty Goal)) | |

## Finals

| Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 11 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 11 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 11 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Sydney Roosters | 18 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Melbourne | 20 | 18 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 18 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 18 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | | | | |
| | | | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Roosters | 38 | | | | |
| 12 Sept, Stadium Australia | 12 Sept, Stadium Australia | 12 Sept, Stadium Australia | Canterbury | Canterbury | 12 | 26 Sept, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | 26 Sept, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | 26 Sept, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | | | |
| 5 | Canterbury | 11 | | | | Melbourne | Melbourne | 12 | |
| 8 | St. George Illawarra | 10 | | | | North Queensland | North Queensland | 32 | 4 Oct, Stadium Australia | 4 Oct, Stadium Australia | 4 Oct, Stadium Australia |
| | | | | | | | | | Brisbane | Brisbane | 16 |
| 13 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 13 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 13 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | | | | 25 Sept, Lang Park | 25 Sept, Lang Park | 25 Sept, Lang Park | North Queensland | North Queensland | 17 |
| 6 | Cronulla | 28 | | | | Brisbane | Brisbane | 31 | | |
| 7 | Souths | 12 | 19 Sept, Willows Sports Complex | 19 Sept, Willows Sports Complex | 19 Sept, Willows Sports Complex | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Roosters | 12 | | |
| | | | North Queensland | North Queensland | 39 | | | | | | |
| 12 Sept, Lang Park | 12 Sept, Lang Park | 12 Sept, Lang Park | Cronulla | Cronulla | 0 | | | | | |
| 2 | Brisbane | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | North Queensland | 12 | | | | | | | | |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| Saturday, 12 September | Elimination Final | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium | 11 – 10 | Nabuli | Widdop (3/3 (2 Penalty Goals)) | 33,854 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw ||||||||

## Players

| Player | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
| Leeson Ah Mau | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Euan Aitken | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Mike Cooper | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ben Creagh | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack De Belin | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Josh Dugan | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Dylan Farrell | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyson Frizell | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Craig Garvey | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yaw Kiti Glymin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nathan Green | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Hunt | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Drew Hutchison | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Ioane | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Heath L'Estrange | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Marketo | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Benji Marshall | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Peter Mata'utia | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Will Matthews | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Trent Merrin | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Etonia Nabuli | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Dane Nielsen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jason Nightingale | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Rory O'Brien | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Page | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitch Rein | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| George Rose | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charly Runciman | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Joel Thompson | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Gareth Widdop | 21 | 7 | 60 | 0 | 148 |
Source=