Bite the bullet

[getsmarty]

Bite the bullet: It’s time for a complete overhaul of Dragons squad

By Curtis Woodward

Posted on July 5, 2016 by The81stMinute in Feature Story // 0 Comments


When St George Illawarra won the premiership in 2010 nobody seemed to mind how boring their football was. Who cares? At the end of the day, they were the ones holding the trophy aloft on the first weekend in October.
But when you’re losing, boring footy becomes an eyesore that turns into an infection and then full-blown elephantiasis.
Unfortunately, the Dragons are the Elephant Man of the NRL.
On Monday night they gave up 36 points against the struggling Manly Sea Eagles and didn’t get on the scoreboard themselves until the final minutes. Their attack is pedestrian at best and their much-vaunted 2015 defence is a distant memory. Put simply, they look lost.
The question remains if Paul McGregor is the right man for the job. With this squad, McGregor hardly has a leg to stand on but you have to also remember that this is his squad in many ways. When he took over from Steve Price he made changes so it’s hard for McGregor to argue that this isn’t partly his fault.
A much bigger question is whether McGregor’s abilities are enough to shape an entirely new team if he was given the chance to make sweeping changes.
And that’s the issue at play. This squad needs a major overhaul and it needs to happen soon. Tough decisions aren’t made without hurting someone and I believe the following players need to be shown the door. This list includes long serving veterans who know no other club but the Saints but that’s life and that’s business.
If the English can oust Winston Churchill after leading them through World War II then surely this will be a walk in the park.


Out: Mitch Rein
This guy is the right young hooker for the right team but the Dragons need to change plenty and they need a more creative threat coming out of dummy half. Rein is a solid player with a good defensive skillset but he isn’t going to win the Dally M Medal or a grand final for your side.
In: Kodi Nikorima

Out: Benji Marshall
Benji wants to play sideways but the Saints need to play through the middle. His halves partner Gareth Widdop desperately needs someone that is going to play through instead of around and let Widdop run the ball when he wants it.
In: Corey Norman

Out: Jason Nightingale
The Kiwi veteran has been around forever and is one of the Dragons great modern backs but it’s time to give Nightingale a gentle tap on the shoulder and start discussing a respectable way to see him out.
In: Nathan Ross


Out: Tim Lafai
Is it just me or does Lafai look heavier than previous seasons? When the Dragons go wide to Lafai’s side, there simply isn’t the immediate threat that other centres in the competition pose. Lafai was a good centre at Canterbury but hasn’t brought that over since moving across to St George Illawarra.
In: Curtis Rona

Out: Ben Creagh
The old captain is on his last legs after admitting as much recently. This will be Creagh’s final season in the NRL. With Tyson Frizell and Joel Tariq Sims already in the pack, another middle player with punch would be perfect.
In: Nathan Brown
Out:
Josh McCrone
Kurt Mann
Drew Hutchinson
Jake Marketo
Adam Quinlan
Kalifa Faifai-Loa
In: Zak Hardaker

Potential 2017 Dragons Side
1 Josh Dugan
2 Nathan Ross
3 Zak Hardaker
4 Euan Aitken
5 Curtis Rona
6 Gareth Widdop
7 Corey Norman
8 Russell Packer
9 Kodi Nikorima
10 Leeson Ah Mau
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Joel Thompson
13 Tariq Sims
14 Nathan Brown
15 Jack De Belin
16 Mose Masoe
17 Saliva Havili

http://the81stminute.com/2016/07/bite-the-bullet-its-time-for-a-complete-overhaul-of-dragons-squad/

 

[Kuro]

Dreams are free I suppose..

 

[grouch]

[
The question remains if Paul McGregor is the right man for the job.

Nope, there is no question. He is not the right man.

 

[getsmarty]

Nope, there is no question. He is not the right man.

Agree 100%

 

[rasaint]

Good old Duges still protected species

 

[coast_dragons]

That line up is laugable.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Nikorima? Norman? LOL! We can't even sign Keary.

Rein out: Realistic in, Cherrington
Marshall out: Realistic in, Mann, Ash Taylor
Nightingale out: Realistic in, Dufty, Milne. Any quick kid in the lower grades
Lafai out: Realistic in, again someone from the cutters/20's. These kids need to be blooded.
Creagh out: I think Nathan Brown is a realistic option, but I'd be promoting Leulia.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

I forgot the biggest out, Mary: In Cleary, Toovey, McGuire, Hasler (If grubs flop again, he'll be shown the door)

 

[Gareth67]

Mr Woodward- a most impressive cast of newbies ,however where is the green-stuff ,the mulah , the thing that tinkles in ones hands , coming from ? Remember , our bank balance is not what it should be , we , most unfortunately must rely on hand outs from the NRL ,at least until our fantasy benefactor comes along . Still I suppose we can dream a little, it may keep us warm through the rest of the cold winter months .

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Let me say up front that I usually enjoy reading Mr Woodwards writing. But this is pie in the sky stuff. The assumption is that somehow STGI management can make this happen when all indications are to the contrary. The ability of the club to attract players they want and/or need has been discussed many times on this forum. The impediments remain the same. Lack of money. Lack of access to TPA's. Lack of faith in the coach. Lack of trust in the management. A feeling that other clubs have much better premiership credentials. In short Mr Woodward's article is fantasy land stuff and it doesn't help.

 

[mobels]

Getting rid of Marshall would be a good start, throw all of Benji and Farrells money at Corey Norman who is an absolutely fantastic player. Unfortunately due to our stubbornness we have no option but to keep Rein for another year, when we had the chance of picking up either Peats or Segeyaro. I'd also give Milne a chance to establish himself in first grade at Lafais expense. Another thing we'd have to look at is grabbing some cheap young props with lots of upside such as Abraham Pappalli (absolute wrecking ball), Siosai Vave and Patrick Kafusi.

Cherrington's been in terrible form in NSW Cup and can't even get a run over Halatau or Taylor (Hooker) at the Tigers. However if Rein is wanting any form of upgrade to his contract i'd let him walk and rotate between Cherrington and Havilli until Reece Robson is physically ready for first grade.

We'd also need a new coach ASAP in order to get any improvement with in our squad no matter what upgrades we make to the squad, either Madge, Toovey or Cleary would be great.

 

[Dragonscales]

Lafai, Marshall, Rein and Creagh do need to go.

Nightingale is underrated and has been playing solid footy, extremely safe under the high ball, experienced, prolific off-loader and takes a lot of hit ups. Keep him.

The idiot who wrote this "article" can't even figure out what position Kodi Nikorima plays at. He's not a Hooker, he is just put there to speed up the game and provide spark. He can't defend in the middle for long periods of a game. He's a half/fullback and he wouldn't move to any club to be their hooker.

Lafai should be shopped around to ESL, Possibly the worst centre in the competition right now.

I like Rein, but i can't see us having success with such an erratic, rushed and extremely inconsistent hooker. Sign Segeyaro, i think it's possible to get him.

I still don't know who Marshall's replacement should be...

 

[Dragster]

Swap Aitken for Milne and I agree 100%

 

[2010]

As long as nighty sees the season out he. Should be given to opportunity as a legend one team player who respected and played his gut out for thr big red V

 

[Saints Forever]

If anyone can get our attack going it is Browny.

I suspect he would also help Rein lift his game to another level.

 

[Lethal25]

If anyone can get our attack going it is Browny.

I suspect he would also help Rein lift his game to another level.

115 games and over 5 seasons of first grade is enough evidence to suggest there is no other level.

Happy to arrange a farewell dinner at the Taj for him

 

[goggles]

Until Doust and the rest of the board goes, we know what we are getting. It is nice to dream, but that's all we're doing...

 

[slippery5]

Swap Aitken for Milne and I agree 100%

finally someone else doesn't rate Aitken, good defender but is too slow no ball skills & no footwork, all required ( or at least one of these ) for playing in the centres, Milne & Herbert 20's capt. have shown more this year but if they want a first grade start they better go to the panthers where age doesn't matter. or maybe poach Griffin !!! now there's a thought:lol::lol::lol: