Similarly, to the Newcastle Knights, the St George Illawarra Dragons were left in the lurch after the departure of legendary coach Wayne Bennett and experienced some seriously lean years, having to contend with an aging and overpaid roster.
However, off the back of a major recruitment and retention overhaul led by club legend and now head coach Paul โMaryโ McGregor and Director of list management Ian Milward, the Dragons have assembled a roster stocked full of representative talent.
While the squad the Red V currently have at their disposal is impressive, this came about as a result of a large-scale revamp in Wollongong, with more than a few favourite sons of the club forced out the door.
Here are the top 10 players the Dragons have let go, not re-signed or released since 2000.
The players have been listed in accordance with the contribution they made whilst at the Dragons as well as considering the influence they have had at the clubs they left the Dragons for.
Honourable mentions: Brett Morris, Luke Bailey, Trent Merrin, Jamie Soward, Trent Barrett
6. Michael Ennis
Widely regarded as the gameโs pre-eminent niggler and regularly referred to as one of โthe games most hated playersโ, Michael Ennis bounced between short stints at the Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, and Brisbane Broncos before establishing himself as a top-class hooker at the Bulldogs.
Ennisโ sole season at the Dragons was in 2005, then a brash 21-year-old still trying to make his name in the sport, the menace made 24 appearances for the red and whiteโs, being forced to share the hooking duties with future Dragons legend Dean Young.
The Dragons would go within one match of the Grand Final that year, going down to eventual premiers the Wests Tigers. After a consistent season for the Red V, the Dragons opted against re-signing Ennis, alternatively entrusting Dean Young as their long-term hooker.
Ennis would then go onto join the Brisbane Broncos, where with limited opportunities across his three-year stint, playing 43 games across the three seasons, he would establish himself as one of the gameโs premier up and coming hookers. With his performances drawing the eye of the Bulldogs, who would promptly sign him up to a three-year deal.
As they say, the rest is history, with Ennis going onto forge himself into the niggler we now all know, but I canโt say all love. He made an immediate impact at the Bulldogs, with his brilliant early season form earning him an NSW State of Origin jumper in his first season at Belmore, and going onto be named club captain in 2011, only two years after joining.
Ennis would go onto make a further eight appearances for NSW, with his combative and in-your-face style of play perfectly suited to the Origin arena. However, Ennisโ subtle ball-playing and deft short-kicking game where also valuable traits he utilised throughout his glittering career.
Ennis would eventually depart the Bulldogs at the end of the 2014 season and would go onto win a well-earned premiership with new club the Sharks.
While he may not have been the most physically imposing or naturally skilled player, former Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore summed up the player Ennis was quite concisely after re-signing with the Bulldogs in 2011, saying โMick is the kind of player that any head coach would love to have in his side. He leaves nothing to chance, heโs a natural leader, is about the fittest bloke in the team and gives us outstanding direction on and off the field.โ
Slow news day…
Firstly J Moz left because he could not get a start in front of Gasnier and then Gasnier left and came back half way through the premiership winning season (Obviously to get a ring) which the dragons didn’t need him. Signed for bihg bucks and screwrfd the dragons by retiring early. (He didn’t retire because of injury).
The rest such as Pattern, Ennis, Cook left very young. No one knew they were going to go onto better things
Well said – 100% agree with you.
I wish we could add Tim Lafai to the list……..
Salary cap played a big part in this as did Gasnier with J Moz and Bennett also.
Another contributor is the youth coming through the system, the Dragons can’t keep everyone (ask Penrith fans they’ll agree)
and also injuries (Young, Creagh etc)
The only thing Dragons have got wrong imo is the way they’ve used some of the youth, relied to heavily on the old heads instead of blooding. For example all those times we played De Belin in the halves when younger players would’ve jumped at the chance.
Cheers
Bennet didn’t want J Moz, didn’t think he was up to it. J Moz did not want to leave. More fool us. Can’t believe Leeson Ah Mau isn’t on the list, awesome forward and how’s he going at the worriers?
Luke Bailey deserves far than an honourable mention, Iโd have him at 2 after Fitzgibbon. Iโm also surprised Riddell isnโt on the list, he was more of a loss than someone like Kite.