George Rose's 150th NRL game is smashing fun

GETTING slammed to the turf after a heavy impact to your rib cage is not everyone’s idea of fun, but on Saturday night it was a feeling the Bathurst rugby league graduate George Rose embraced.

The former Bathurst Penguin made his 150th NRL appearance on Saturday as his St George Illawarra Dragons took on the Wests Tigers in the final round of the regular home and away season.

Rose started on the bench but when given his chance, steamed onto the ball. Moments later he was picking himself up off the deck, but the man nicknamed ‘Gorgeous George’ was delighted to have taken the hit up.

“I was that excited to get out there, first run I get to wind up from the drop-out, so it was fun,” he said.

“I actually got absolutely hammered through my ribs, but it was good, it was good fun.”

Rose played 13 minutes of the match, which his Dragons won 32-30 in golden-point extra-time. 

The Dragons had led 30-8 with 20 minutes remaining, but switched off as the Tigers ran in four quick tries to draw level and send the match into extra-time.

Rose’s team-mate Benji Marshall and Tigers winger Pat Richards both had shots at field goal waved away before the decisive moment came.

Tigers hooker Robbie Farah was penalised for not being square at marker on the stroke of half-time of golden point. Josh Dugan stepped up and slotted the penalty from in front and 18 metres out.

“It was a bit more of a nail-biter than I thought it was going to be,” Rose said.

“It [150 games] was something I had in my sights for a little while, so to get here and do it in Dragons colours is an absolute honour.”

The prop made 53 metres for the match, including one line break, and completed seven tackles in what was his eighth game for the Dragons this season.

It added to his six games between 2004-05 for the Sydney Roosters, 127 in Manly colours which included coming off the bench in their 2011 grand final win over the Warriors, and nine NRL appearances in Melbourne Storm colours.

The win ensured the Dragons finished the regular season in eight place, meaning Rose will embark on yet another NRL finals campaign.

The Dragons will meet the Bulldogs this Saturday night at ANZ Stadium in an elimination final.

Having won their last five consecutive games to finish the regular season in fifth place, the Bulldogs will start as favourites. 

They won their most recent match against the Dragons – a 29-16 result in round 13 – but Rose’s side did get the better of the Bulldogs in round six to the tune of 31-6.

It is that sort of effort Rose is hoping for this weekend. 

That and a chance to add to his 10 career tries at NRL level.

“A lot of people wrote us off at the start of the season, so for us to make the eight is a huge over achievement for us already,” he said.

“We are hoping to continue our finals campaign and continue a bit longer than what people would expect from us.”