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St George Illawarra build attacking arsenal - Illawarra Mercury 11/11/15
DEFENCE will continue to be the bedrock of the Dragons success but coach Paul McGregor is expecting a huge improvement in his sides attack in 2016.
How a side featuring the likes of Josh Dugan, Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall could struggle to find the stripe proved the biggest head-scratcher for fans but McGregor is expecting a bolstered roster to show a lot more with the ball next year.
As a team you always have to have a culture and an identity and I wanted ours to be about defence. Thats what we built our year around last year and that will continue. McGregor said.
We finished fourth in the competition for defence so we want to stay on target with that and then simplify your attack around the key personnel that weve brought in.
Last year our attack suffered a little bit because of the formation of our side at different stages of the year, having a running fullback more than a ball-playing fullback and having two halves that like to play on the ball.
With the roster changes you can obviously change your structure to one that suits the players that we have and we can be a lot more rounded in what we do.
Its always a challenge for Gareth and Benji because theyre both really really dominant players and they like being on the ball, McGregor said.
Its just about getting that balance right and whats the best fit for the team and obviously its got to suit their own playing ability as well.
Their presence and theyre ability to know whats required for us as a team and a coaching staff is certainly a big start for them and the rest of the team going forward.
Full article can be found at: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3484738/dragons-to-breathe-attacking-fire-in-2016/?cs=3713
This, plus McGregor's video overview of the new recruits on Dragons TV makes me think positional changes may be on the way. It is good that Mary is realistic about the fact our attack is broke, so he is going to fix it. I know this time of the season is about conditioning and refining skill levels, but he gives me hope that sending our the same backline that failed the last couple years will not be his solution.
DEFENCE will continue to be the bedrock of the Dragons success but coach Paul McGregor is expecting a huge improvement in his sides attack in 2016.
How a side featuring the likes of Josh Dugan, Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall could struggle to find the stripe proved the biggest head-scratcher for fans but McGregor is expecting a bolstered roster to show a lot more with the ball next year.
As a team you always have to have a culture and an identity and I wanted ours to be about defence. Thats what we built our year around last year and that will continue. McGregor said.
We finished fourth in the competition for defence so we want to stay on target with that and then simplify your attack around the key personnel that weve brought in.
Last year our attack suffered a little bit because of the formation of our side at different stages of the year, having a running fullback more than a ball-playing fullback and having two halves that like to play on the ball.
With the roster changes you can obviously change your structure to one that suits the players that we have and we can be a lot more rounded in what we do.
Its always a challenge for Gareth and Benji because theyre both really really dominant players and they like being on the ball, McGregor said.
Its just about getting that balance right and whats the best fit for the team and obviously its got to suit their own playing ability as well.
Their presence and theyre ability to know whats required for us as a team and a coaching staff is certainly a big start for them and the rest of the team going forward.
Full article can be found at: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3484738/dragons-to-breathe-attacking-fire-in-2016/?cs=3713
This, plus McGregor's video overview of the new recruits on Dragons TV makes me think positional changes may be on the way. It is good that Mary is realistic about the fact our attack is broke, so he is going to fix it. I know this time of the season is about conditioning and refining skill levels, but he gives me hope that sending our the same backline that failed the last couple years will not be his solution.
