Rugby league great Peter Sterling believes it’s no coincidence St George Illawarra’s season spiralled in the aftermatch off BBQ-gate.
The infamous barbecue hosted by Paul Vaughan – which saw Vaughan sacked and 12 others sanctioned – has derailed the Dragons’ season with the club going from finals contenders to now 12th on the ladder.
On the night before the infamous event that breached New South Wales’ COVID-19 restrictions, the Dragons had just defeated the Warriors courtesy of three tries in the final 10 minutes to pull off arguably the season’s greatest comeback performance.
That Round 16 win had the Dragons sitting comfortably in seventh spot on the NRL ladder and only one win outside of the top six.
Since beating the Warriors back in July, the Dragons are yet to register a single win with one game remaining.
“It doesn’t look like that’s (BBQ-gate) a coincidence, does it,” Sterling told Wide World of Sports’ Sterlo’s Wrap.
“That’s when their season imploded. They were close enough and good enough.
“Jayden Sullivan going to dummy-half because Cameron McInnes went out, then they lose Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt… they’ve had some things they’ve had to contend with.
“If I’m a Dragons fan, I’m irate at the fact where this was a season where they could’ve possibly played finals football.
“I thought they cut their own throat.”
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