FOOTBALLERS love the "must-win" situation. Any player worth his salt yearns to play in the high-stakes games.
There's something special about competing in the match you just have to win if you want to be there at finals time. It's like the old-fashioned gun fight in which the victor lives to fight another day and the loser leaves town in a pine box. It's a chance to show true substance.
You bring your greatest passion, toughest attitude, best defence and most skilful play and put it all on the line. You know in the end, this result will come down to a test of wills. Who wants it the most? There's no shame in losing - only in not trying with everything you've got.
It was with these images in mind that I drove to WIN Stadium yesterday salivating over the prospect of watching the New Zealand Warriors carry their last-ditch fight to St George Illawarra. The Warriors had to win to keep their finals dream alive.
I expected to see rampaging forwards, intimidating charges, bone-rattling tackles and never-say-die heroics.
Unfortunately, the Warriors delivered nothing of the sort.
They meekly surrendered the two competition points (and with it their season), with what can only be described as a totally uninspired display.
From the opening whistle, they played second fiddle to a much-improved Dragons team and never really looked like winning.
What causes a team or an athlete to perform so poorly on such a big occasion has baffled players, coaches and fans since sport was first played.
Despite the robotic appearance of many teams in the NRL, the combatants are, after all, only human.
The Warriors' tactics were poor. They had a strong wind at their backs in the first half but still failed to dominate field position. Poor ball control, an inaccurate kicking game and ill-disciplined penalties offered the Dragons plenty of opportunities.
When the teams changed ends after half-time, the Warriors were well behind and had the strong breeze blowing in their faces. They were not up to the challenge and mentally lost touch with any hope of winning.
Their diminishing self-belief produced increasing instances of poor execution.
Their tactics of trying to play around the Dragons' athletic defensive line proved fruitless. The Dragons' outside backs employed a patient, sliding defence that herded the Warriors' attackers across the field. In their frustration, the Warriors came up with soft forward passes, dropped balls and even ran into touch searching for more space. The Warriors' defence had no answer to the Dragons, either.
This was probably one of the most composed and controlled performances I have seen in a long time from St George Illawarra. They showed glimpses of brilliance only their centres - Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier - can provide. However, this win was based on diligence, discipline control and togetherness.
That's right - togetherness.
The Dragons actually played as a team. That might sound a little too simplistic to explain such a decisive victory, but that's the biggest improvement I saw in their game.
The teams at the top of the premiership table should start looking over their shoulders.
The Dragons came to the big match and delivered their best of the season. As winners, they get to move on. The losers have now left the country.