Wibble's ratings for Cronulla vs St George Illawarra (NRL Premiership, Round 21, 2008
CRONULLA:
1. Brett Kearney - 8
Fantasic game in attack and defense. One of the few Sharks to look dagerous most of the time. Some of his kick returns gave us real momentum.
2. Misi Taulapapa - 6
Looked reasonable with the few opportunities he had.
3. Ben Pomeroy - 6
Mixed game. Made many metres and was involved in a lot of half breaks. Also butchered a try and was stood up terribly to concede a try.
4. David Simmons - 7
Fairly typical solid game from Simmons, without doing anything excepional.
5. Luke Covell - 7
Took a great take to diffuse a bomb at a critical time, scored a try. Let himself down with a poor missed goal that luckily din't cost us the game.
6. Brett Seymour - 7
Fantastic toughness in defense and set up a try with a nice flick pass behind the back. Not as good a short kicking game as we would want, and his inside passes were well read by Dagons.
7. Brett Kimmorley - 7
Great kick chase, as always, but short kicking was mixed. Made some line breaks running at the line.
8. Ben Ross - 7
Aother strong performance from Ross, with very powerful runs.
9. Isaac De Gois - 7
Was handled well by Dragons defense most of the evening, but made a crucial break to give field position for the winning field goal.
10. Luke Douglas - 8
Super prop's game, and helped set up the match equalling try with a kick.
11. Paul Gallen - 9
Made many crucial metres, particularly before the crucial De Gois break. Also had his usual truckload of tackles, all of them brutal, and offloads.
12. Fraser Anderson - 7
Threatened running wide of the ruck, but didn't turn that threat into anything concrete. Tackled solidy.
18. Grant Millington - 7
Shows great potetial, with some big tackles in him.
14. Danny Nutley - 7
His game may be one dimensional, but it was a dimension (forward) that helped in the second half to keep the Sharks in the Dragons half.
15. Kade Snowden - 7
Still playing tough, sometimes too tough for his own good. Combines well with the backline for a big man.
16. Adam Peek - 6
Was quite consistent, though unspectacular, coming off the bench.
13. Greg Bird - 7
Dragged in a lot of dfenders when he ran at the line, but didn't turn that into anything dangerous. Pressured the Dragons kickers into errors. A fine return from injury.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA:
1. Brett Morris - 5
Played very well for the first 30 minutes until injured. The Dragons missed him.
2. Jason Nightingale - 7
Made some great runs 1st and 2nd hit up off kick returns. Was kept under control in the air.
3. Chase Stanley - 7
Good defense on the line. Was quiet in attack, as were most the backs.
4. Matt Cooper - 8
Ran very strongly, showed great footwork and speed. A usual, showed his defensive qualities that stamp him as one of the best deenders in the game.
5. Josh Morris - 8
Played well as a centre on either side of the ruck. Was the most penetrative outside back in the game.
6. Jamie Soward - 9
Superb game, tackling much bigger players to save tries, diffusing bombs, and kicking to open space. Was a menace all night.
7. Ben Hornby - 7
Solid without being brilliant.
8. Justin Poore - 7
Was very aggressive. One of the best until he was injured.
9. Dean Young - 7
A workman like game, but the Dragons probably want more from Young with Ryles and Creagh out.
15. Dan Hunt - 7
When big hit ups were needed, he put his hand up, but was mostly lacking the impact to trouble the Sharks defense.
11. Beau Scott - 7
Played with a lot of niggle against his former club, and was penalised a few times and lucky not to be binned. Also had his usual crucial error. But apart from that he ran very well and was punishing in defense.
12. Jarrod Saffy - 7
Quieter than a lot of other forwards but the plays he made were solid.
13. Stuart Webb - 7
Often put the Sharks halves under pressure with his defense. Played as a harasser and dummy half runner rather than a creative link man.
Matt Prior - 6
For a new kid in a big pressure match, he looked to have potential.
Lagi Setu - 7
Should be starting, he has the strength and footwork to be very dangerous.
Simon Woolford - 6
Was a routine effor when called in off the bench.
Ricky Thorby - 6
Should continue to develop into a good player.