It appears as though it just might be hunting season.
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Round one is very early to be making any brash predictions, but the St George Illawarra Dragons certainly appear to have the makings of a side which will give their passionate fans a wild ride over the 2018 National Rugby League season.
The Dragons started the year in emphatic fashion with a 22-point win over the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday night in the season-opener.
Star recruit Ben Hunt, the Dragons’ “six-million-dollar man”, made an immediate impact and gives fans huge hopes for the future.
If it was any indication, his partnership with established Dragons star Gareth Widdop will have the Red V – and all league fans alike – salivating.
“Ben likes to go to the game like Gareth so you’ve got two competitive players on the football field,” Dragons coach Paul McGregor said after the game.
“I think they complement each other really well and that was just the start of something we can build over the year.”
Widdop is signed to the Dragons until 2021 and Hunt will be a Dragon until at least 2022.
Fans have every reason to be excited.
This year is a massive year for the Dragons both on and off the field.
Club CEO Peter Doust has called time on his 18-year reign at the helm of the club.
Mr Doust is the longest serving chief executive in the game and quite possibly one of the longest serving in modern world sport.
At the time of the announcement, the CEO noted his decision would allow for succession planning and the board the “the opportunity to plan for the future”.
Looming large in the background is ongoing discussions the Dragons have been having with the WIN Corporation, which now span several years.
There is a lot at stake for the Dragons including who invests in the club and just how sizable and seismic that change is to the future of the club.
There will be many Illawarra fans hoping that it translates again to more games back in Wollongong but only time will tell.
In the meantime, the Dragons’ local fans can look forward to the first game at WIN Stadium by the club on Sunday, April 1.
It will be a steel city clash against the Newcastle Knights and if the game one form is any indication it will be exciting viewing.
