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Russell Moriarty
The signing of Jack Littlejohn as captain/coach for the Mudgee Dragons has worked wonders.
After finishing 7th last year the Dragons are back, this year they finished in 3rd place and boast the 2nd best attack and the best defence in the competition. Now they will be playing in the 2019 Grand Final against Bathurst Panthers at Carrington Park on Sunday.
The road to the Grand Final wasn't an easy one for the Dragons either. In week one of the semis the Dragons got smashed 40-18 by a red hot Bathurst Panthers at Carrington. They bounced back a week later to win a tense final against Lithgow Workies at GlenWillow where after 21 minutes they were down by 16-0, but they dug deep and found a way to win 36-30.
Last week's match against Orange Hawks at Wade Park was their best win of the season so far, a grinding 14-0 result. It was their defence that made the difference, holding the minor premiers, who have had the best attack in the group to Zero was simply amazing.So the Dragons will be full of confidence coming into the Grand Final against Bathurst Panthers.
Bathurst Panthers have been the best team all year and have beaten us 3 times this year. But in the pressure cooker for a Grand Final that means nothing. All of Mudgee's players are coming good when it matters so Mudgee can get the win.
Expect "try scoring machine" Jered Robinson to bag a try or two, Hamish Bryant to have a big match and Jack Beasley to be calm under pressure when taking on the kicking duties. Grand Final history is on the Dragons side too, having played the Panthers at that level twice since the turn of the century (2000 and 2004) the Dragons won on both occasions.
Des Kennedy
The Dragons have come good at the right end of the season. They have been well lead by the Coach Jack Littlejohn who had his best game of the season last week.
I think they will be winning on Sunday.
Go the Dragons!
Ken Sutcliffe
I thought the Dragons were really impressive against Lithgow Workies and then backed it up with a gutsy win last Sunday to make the grand final.
Self belief is a big thing in the big games and based on what the Dragons have done in the last couple of weeks anything is possible.
The Panthers are big and physical and believe they have already won it, that attitude will serve the Dragons well.
As the saying goes the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Come on Mudgee make it a triple treat.
Jay-Anna Mobbs
This has only been my first year watching the Dragons because, well, I haven't had much to do with them, I have seen many highs and lows in terms of performance but overall, they're a very fierce side.
The more I watched them, the more I realised just how talented all of the players are and how well they work together, and show so much respect for not only each other but the game too.
Jack Beasley, Jack Littlejohn, the Burgess brothers and Ben Thompson are a select few who stand out for me but, all of them will do Mudgee justice.
While Bathurst are obviously a very confident, established side, I think Mudgee will certainly give it all they've got - never underestimate the underdogs.
I think it'll be a very close game. With the Dragons' determination, they might just do it.