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Pressure Gauge: Why this is the year we judge Paul McGregor, according to Mark Gasnier
NRL Premiership
- March 6, 2018 6:00am
- by Simon Brunsdon and John Dean
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Pressure Gauge: NRL round one 2018.Source: FOX SPORTS
ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor faces a boom or bust season and will be under pressure to prove his coaching credentials in 2018, according to club legend Mark Gasnier.
McGregor is about to kick off his fourth full season in charge of the Dragons, having been catapulted into the job midway through 2014 to replace the sacked Steve Price.
The Red V finished 11th that year and have since finished eighth (2015), 11th (2016), and ninth (2017), while only playing a solitary finals game.
Dragons season preview
But Gasnier says the past three years has merely been building up to this coming season, when we will finally be able to gauge just what ‘Mary’ is made of.
“You’ve got to remember he came in at a tough time when a lot of people were leaving. Without any disrespect to the players he inherited a roster he probably didn’t want,” Gasnier told foxsports.com.au.
“This year I think Mary can genuinely be judged on his coaching.
“The last two years I thought to be honest he punched above his weight. I thought he overachieved in regard to the squad he actually had.
“I think this year they’ve got a genuine top-eight team and I think he’ll go really well.”
St George-Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor. Picture: John AppleyardSource: News Corp Australia
This time 12 months ago McGregor was one of the most under-pressure coaches in the NRL.
But a hot start to the season had the Dragons sitting atop the competition ladder after a third of the season, and he was re-signed on a new two-year deal.
The Red V performed admirably in 2017 but they’ve added representative halfback Ben Hunt and veteran forward James Graham to their roster, sparking plenty of excitement and expectation among fans.
Gasnier says a pass mark will be qualifying for finals.
“I think their roster is a lot better this year because there is stability in key areas,” he said.
“I think it’s a better balanced team. I think Ben Hunt is crucial, Cameron McInnes off the season he had would hopefully grow in confidence.
“I think they are a lot better balanced.
“Their attack might take a little time to click because of the two new key men in the spine, but I think they’ll be good.”
The Dragons kick off the season against Brisbane at Kogarah on Thursday night.
See who’s under the pump this week in Pressure Gauge!
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...r/news-story/9b2d0694fc61925e67630ba319f5f944
Really mate we have been putting up with the same Sh*t since 2011 ...
OKB I'm starting to think you may not like our coach?
Pressure Gauge: Why this is the year we judge Paul McGregor, according to Mark Gasnier
NRL Premiership
- March 6, 2018 6:00am
- by Simon Brunsdon and John Dean
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Pressure Gauge: NRL round one 2018.Source: FOX SPORTS
ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor faces a boom or bust season and will be under pressure to prove his coaching credentials in 2018, according to club legend Mark Gasnier.
McGregor is about to kick off his fourth full season in charge of the Dragons, having been catapulted into the job midway through 2014 to replace the sacked Steve Price.
The Red V finished 11th that year and have since finished eighth (2015), 11th (2016), and ninth (2017), while only playing a solitary finals game.
Dragons season preview
But Gasnier says the past three years has merely been building up to this coming season, when we will finally be able to gauge just what ‘Mary’ is made of.
“You’ve got to remember he came in at a tough time when a lot of people were leaving. Without any disrespect to the players he inherited a roster he probably didn’t want,” Gasnier told foxsports.com.au.
“This year I think Mary can genuinely be judged on his coaching.
“The last two years I thought to be honest he punched above his weight. I thought he overachieved in regard to the squad he actually had.
“I think this year they’ve got a genuine top-eight team and I think he’ll go really well.”
St George-Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor. Picture: John AppleyardSource: News Corp Australia
This time 12 months ago McGregor was one of the most under-pressure coaches in the NRL.
But a hot start to the season had the Dragons sitting atop the competition ladder after a third of the season, and he was re-signed on a new two-year deal.
The Red V performed admirably in 2017 but they’ve added representative halfback Ben Hunt and veteran forward James Graham to their roster, sparking plenty of excitement and expectation among fans.
Gasnier says a pass mark will be qualifying for finals.
“I think their roster is a lot better this year because there is stability in key areas,” he said.
“I think it’s a better balanced team. I think Ben Hunt is crucial, Cameron McInnes off the season he had would hopefully grow in confidence.
“I think they are a lot better balanced.
“Their attack might take a little time to click because of the two new key men in the spine, but I think they’ll be good.”
The Dragons kick off the season against Brisbane at Kogarah on Thursday night.
See who’s under the pump this week in Pressure Gauge!
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...r/news-story/9b2d0694fc61925e67630ba319f5f944
Fitness.
Well it sure wasn’t to shake things up selection wise.
I'm not sure it's an excuse more a recognition that they need to be better in the second halves this year?
So wait, a change in just two players and only now we can judge him? It's exactly the same underperforming team with added Hunt and Graham.Pressure Gauge: Why this is the year we judge Paul McGregor, according to Mark Gasnier
NRL Premiership
- March 6, 2018 6:00am
- by Simon Brunsdon and John Dean
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Pressure Gauge: NRL round one 2018.Source: FOX SPORTS
ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Paul McGregor faces a boom or bust season and will be under pressure to prove his coaching credentials in 2018, according to club legend Mark Gasnier.
McGregor is about to kick off his fourth full season in charge of the Dragons, having been catapulted into the job midway through 2014 to replace the sacked Steve Price.
The Red V finished 11th that year and have since finished eighth (2015), 11th (2016), and ninth (2017), while only playing a solitary finals game.
Dragons season preview
But Gasnier says the past three years has merely been building up to this coming season, when we will finally be able to gauge just what ‘Mary’ is made of.
“You’ve got to remember he came in at a tough time when a lot of people were leaving. Without any disrespect to the players he inherited a roster he probably didn’t want,” Gasnier told foxsports.com.au.
“This year I think Mary can genuinely be judged on his coaching.
“The last two years I thought to be honest he punched above his weight. I thought he overachieved in regard to the squad he actually had.
“I think this year they’ve got a genuine top-eight team and I think he’ll go really well.”
St George-Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor. Picture: John AppleyardSource: News Corp Australia
This time 12 months ago McGregor was one of the most under-pressure coaches in the NRL.
But a hot start to the season had the Dragons sitting atop the competition ladder after a third of the season, and he was re-signed on a new two-year deal.
The Red V performed admirably in 2017 but they’ve added representative halfback Ben Hunt and veteran forward James Graham to their roster, sparking plenty of excitement and expectation among fans.
Gasnier says a pass mark will be qualifying for finals.
“I think their roster is a lot better this year because there is stability in key areas,” he said.
“I think it’s a better balanced team. I think Ben Hunt is crucial, Cameron McInnes off the season he had would hopefully grow in confidence.
“I think they are a lot better balanced.
“Their attack might take a little time to click because of the two new key men in the spine, but I think they’ll be good.”
The Dragons kick off the season against Brisbane at Kogarah on Thursday night.
See who’s under the pump this week in Pressure Gauge!
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...r/news-story/9b2d0694fc61925e67630ba319f5f944
Top 6 ???? not with the 2,3,4 & 5, we currently have in the starting side.
Gasnier was a great player but not a pundit's backside.
