THERE'S never a dull Anzac Day match but this year's running of the annual milestone fixture is more intriguing than most, particularly when looking at the corresponding clash last season.
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If anything, it showed the way a side starts a season isn't always an indication of how it will finish. Dragons fans are well aware of that fact having made yearly habit of starting seasons much stronger than they've finished them.
Anzac Day last year was a case in point for both sides. The Dragons took their season to 7-1 on the back of 24-8 win. Ben Hunt continued a red-hot start to his career at his new club with a try and a hand in a few others as Paul McGregor's men shot to the competition lead.
Cooper Cronk left the ground with a Tariq Sims-shaped imprint in his ribs. The new-look, and notably pricey, spine was horribly out of sorts. Cronk's career looked to be on the decline after departing Melbourne - that list is a long one.
He was struggling to link with Luke Keary in the halves and their use - or lack thereof - of Latrell Mitchell was so minimal Andrew Johns likened it to leaving "a Ferrari in the garage." The comments came in his guise as a Channel 9 commentator but, tellingly, he was the Roosters halves coach at the time.
Coach Trent Robinson has become more and more withdrawn, even surly, as a media performer with each passing season, but even he couldn't deny the validity of the criticism coming his way.
"It's fair," he said in the post-match.
"It's more on coaches, I think. These guys are trying really hard in that area. We're making them work hard on structure at the moment. We're not giving them freedom with their eyes up footy, which we'll get to."
It seemed the sort of 'trust the process' line any number of coaches trot out through a season (Anthony Seibold anyone?) but as the season wore on it became apparent the comments were the product of self-awareness more the pressure.
From that day they went 13-4 into a grand final demolition of the Storm. In contrast, the Dragons effectively limped into the finals. Hunt the competition's form player to its most maligned, McGregor from coach of the year candidate to supposed flop.
This time around, it's the Roosters who've shot out of blocks. In contrast the Dragons produced a an 0-2 start before grafting their way to 4-2 after six rounds, a new spine still finding it's feet. As last year showed, it's not necessarily an indication of where either side will finish.
When Robinson spoke ahead of his side's rematch with the Dragons in round 20, he labeled their Anzac-Day loss to the Dragons "a lifetime ago." The 36-18 result proved just how true that was. Whatever happens on Thursday, it'll seem a lifetime ago come finals time.