Just google "zero tackle dragons". Excellent article.
Apologies for the layout, on the iPad & couldn’t remove the blank section.
For full context, consider this. The St George-Illawarra Dragons sit 14th on the NRL premiership ladder; equal with the Bulldogs on 14 points and just two wins clear of the cellar dwelling Titans.
The Red V had the good fortune of facing the Bulldogs on two occasions this season, compiling an impressive 76 cumulative points to the blue and white’s 16.
My hypothesis here is that such wins against struggling clubs mean little and the Dragons are nothing more than a poorly coached rabble.
Moreover, with two upcoming clashes against the Titans in the final weeks of the season, they are still a reasonable chance to walk away with rugby league’s most undesirable award; the wooden spoon.
It will sit very uncomfortably at Kogarah if it is indeed won. In a season where improvement was predicted by many and an extinguishing of the memories of recent fade outs appeared likely, the clubs’ year has been nothing but an unmitigated disaster. If it was a train wreck, it would be stunning.
Of the six wins the Dragons have registered, just one came against a current top eight team. Manly-Warringah suffers that rather embarrassing reality, although the Sea Eagles did avenge that 12-10 loss with a 34-14 thumping on the northern beaches just seven weeks later.
Aside from that outlying win against the Sea Eagles and the two comfortable victories against Canterbury, the Dragon’s list of victims reads sombrely.
Only Brisbane, Newcastle and North Queensland have succumbed to Paul McGregor’s men, with Newcastle also avenging their loss by returning serve just weeks later and thumping the Dragons 45-12.
Such numbers confirm the Dragons as an unquestionable flop in 2019. Curiously, the media has been relentless when it comes to discussions around the coaches of other clubs lurking at the depths of the ladder, yet Paul McGregor appears to have been somewhat protected from the same level of scrutiny.
Garth Brennan fell on his sword in mid-July amidst a horror stretch for the Titans and Dean Pay has been under the pump from day one at the Bulldogs.
In his fifth full season as Dragon’s mentor, McGregor wins matches at a moderate 48 per cent success rate. After taking over the reins from former coach Steve Price in May 2014, he has guided the club into the finals just twice, with the team limping in on both occasions and never looming as a serious threat.
Their recent 8th, 11th, 9th and 7th place finishes and a likely 14th -16th place in 2019, solidifies a sad reality for St George-Illawarra fans. The stone cold fact remains, that in spite of the talent in the squad, there is an obvious disconnect between reputation and performance that makes them nothing more than a mid-table also-ran.
That disconnect must fall on the shoulders of the coach. Considering the time he has had to build the squad he feels he needs to win the joint-venture’s second premiership, the true failure of his tenure is clear.
Strangely, the Dragons board do not see things in the same way and despite a disappointing start to the 2019 season, re-appointed McGregor for a further two years in May.
His appointment came in spite of a pair of losses to start the season against the Cowboys and the Rabbitohs. That poor start was somewhat softened by two closely fought one point victories against Brisbane and Newcastle, yet the form was nothing to write home about and considering his unconvincing track record, the Board’s decision to move on McGregor’s future was perplexing.
Now it appears the fans have turned, many calling for the coach to stand aside immediately via some passionate signage held aloft on Sunday, as the Dragons lost 12-4 to the Eels.
In a strange twist, assistants Dean Young and Ben Hornby are rumoured to be under pressure, with Trent Barrett’s name being bandied about as a potential new addition to the Dragon’s coaching structure in 2020.
With McGregor contractually bound until the end of the 2021 season, having Barrett on board would provide two clear advantages. Firstly, should McGregor fail to improve results in the early part of 2020 and the board grow weary of the pain, Barrett would be a ready-made replacement with NRL experience.
Secondly, if the board wish to honour McGregor’s deal and avoid paying out his contract should he be terminated early, Barrett will most likely be willing and able for 2022.
Taking that option could be fraught with danger, as the fans continue to lose faith and the chances of a Red V premiership appear to wane further under McGregor’s guidance.
Sure there were injury concerns in 2019 and Jack de Belin’s off-field issues were distracting at best, however, there is far too much talent, potential and representative quality in the Dragons’ squad for them to be grappling with the Bulldogs and Titans at the foot of the ladder.
For that, someone must carry the can. Paul McGregor should be that person.
