Changes at the Dragons.

[dragon-83]

Department 2017
URL LINK: http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2016/11/08/dragons_football_dep.html

Tue 8th November, 06:00AM

Click Here For Further Information On The Rugby League Performance Committee

In the Pre-Season, in particular, the Rugby League Performance Committee will be reviewing and monitoring performance at all levels with particular emphasis on the execution and accountability for new programs being implemented.

The NRL Coaching Staff for 2017 will consist of Head Coach Paul McGregor, Assistant Coaches Ben Hornby and Dean Young and a range of specialist external coaches and consultants across the areas of specialist skills and team dynamics in high performance including leadership.

With the anticipated involvement of many 2016 NYC Players in the NSW Cup in 2017, Mathew Head will progress with these players and take on the role of NSW Cup & Transition Coach, following the recent unexpected release of Jason Demetriou.

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Head Assistant Coach Wayne Collins will replace Head as the NYC Head Coach and also assist with the NRL Squad.

Collins has spent the past four seasons with South Sydney, prior to that he held Assistant Coach roles with both the Penrith Panthers (2007-2011) and Canberra Raiders (2004-06).

Collins has also had a successful first-grade playing career with the Raiders (1988-90), St George Dragons (1991-94), South Queensland Crushers (1995-96) and Leeds Rhinos (1997).

“All the Coaches and Performance Staff are refreshed and excited about 2017 as are the players,” said McGregor after the first day of training.

“We left no stone unturned in our review of 2016 and have implemented changes for 2017 which we believe, combined with new additions to our squad, will ensure an improved performance all round."

Within the Performance Department, Nathan Pickworth has been has been appointed as Head of Athletic Performance and will take the lead performance role following the release of Tony Ayoub.

Pickworth is an experienced sports performance professional with qualifications in Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning and Physiotherapy.

He has worked within the Dragons Football department in various capacities since 2011, having joined the Dragons from previous roles with the ACT Brumbies and New South Wales Institute of Sport.

The Club will have two new Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Andrew Rondinelli and Alex Clarke.

Rondinelli joins the Club in a dual role, which also includes performance nutrition, having previously worked with both Port Adelaide FC and Carlton FC.

Clarke joins the Dragons from his role as Physical Performance Consultant with the Chinese Olympic Track and Field team and has previous held roles with both the Brisbane Lions FC and Hawthorn FC.

Additionally, Chris Bailey arrives as the new NRL Physiotherapist after previous roles with both the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (2014-2016) and Australian Rugby Union (2011-2014) while Billy Hulin as another Sport Scientist will work on an expanded role that will include our scientific and performance analytical activities.

Ian Millward will continue his role as Director of Rugby League Pathways overseeing the Club’s recruitment and retention program across all age groups working alongside Recruitment Manager David Warwick.

Executive Manager of Football - Ben Haran continues in his role of management of the Football Department.

The Dragons are still finalising the structure and staffing of an expanded Education, Welfare and Wellbeing Department and will update stakeholders when these details and arrangements are finalised.

 

[Lethal25]

“We left no stone unturned in our review of 2016 and have implemented changes for 2017 which we believe, combined with new additions to our squad, will ensure an improved performance all round."

Truly, it couldn't have been much worse, so yeah performance should be improved

 

[Dragsters]

Is it just me or is anyone else struggling to see where the tactical improvement is going to come from???

 

[2010]

Is it just me or is anyone else struggling to see where the tactical improvement is going to come from???

Easy, the coach, we are doomed

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

“We left no stone unturned in our review of 2016 and have implemented changes for 2017 which we believe, combined with new additions to our squad, will ensure an improved performance all round."

I call Bullshit, we still have one obvious stone that wasn't turned in the 2016 review,
We still have McGregor

 

[Smurf]

I love my dragons but it's hard to get excited reading this dribble.

However I would be sooooooo excited if they just made one change , only one , and got rid of McGregexit.

 

[twinkletoes]

Sounds like a lot of people on the gravy train in support roles...but is there anyone teaching basic football skills which have been lacking for a number of seasons??

 

[BringTheNoise]

I'm as excited about this as 2012 when Steve Price appointed Matt Shirvington as speed coach. Oh what an exciting season that was!

 

[BringTheNoise]

but is there anyone teaching basic football skills which have been lacking for a number of seasons??

We made the top 8 in 2015 so ease up please.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Is it just me or is anyone else struggling to see where the tactical improvement is going to come from???

With 2 former AFL trainers I would expect that we would be bombing into the corners where our wingers and centres will be taking huge hanging speckies (AFL style).

 

[Old Timer]

My dad only drank Reschs

For the youngsters here in the old days NSW pubs could only stock one brand - pubs were either a Tooheys or a Reschs pub.

My dad and his mates were all Reschs drinkers so they always went to a "Reckers" pub.

When we were in the country and there was only a Tooheys pub in the town dad would get a Black and Tan Tooheys as it was as close to a "decent" beer as he could get !!

Hi S S,
Almost 100% correct but there were a few Millers pubs as well.
I believe Millers at one stage had The Brighton, The Domino at Riverwood and maybe the old Sundowner at cnr Canterbury Rd and Punchbowl Rds.
Millers also at one stage had a mortgage on the Sydney race tracks.
It was a shit beer and couldn't hold a candle to a Reschs Pilsener or a Tooth's Old or 50.
They all talk about TPA's etc today but back in that era the great footy players would be given a "brewery run" namely a truck and a set run of pubs to service.
Many a great Dragon, Rabbitoh and Magpie player started out poor but after making their way on the footy field, topped their income up with the brewery run which they all initially worked themselves.
Of course a brewery run back then was like having a taxi plate a licence to print money providing you worked hard.
Imagine some of these prima donnas today holding down a real job and playing footy and in fact many are poorer for the fact they don't.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Wow. How many people do you have to sack until the
Coach and CEO are in the firing line?

 

[Gareth67]

WHACKO ! Christmas has come early this year . We can all sleep easy now , knowing that ' the powers to be ' , have finally sorted out the teams problems , with some very astute recruitment of key off-field personel .

Personally , I would much prefer that the players all wear ear-plugs , nod their heads in agreement with the coaching staff and go out and play to a pre-arranged game plan , that they themselves have thought up .

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Hard to get excited about this. There is no longer an attack coach after Demetriou couldn't do anything or wasn't allowed to do anything to help. I can't see Young and Hornby having any meaningful input - they are featherweights when it comes to coaching. Matty Head may go well but he doesn't have Demitriou's experience or record, so it's a gamble. I don't know what to make of appointing ex-AFL conditioners to an NRL side. Presumably they are good at managing leg injuries, maybe not so much on the neck, pecs and arms side. Doesn't inspire me with confidence.

 

[Coffs dragon]

"We left no stone unturned in our review of 2016 season".......there was no stone to turn as it was a complete pile of bullshit only. Same bulls left in the paddock with a few new farm animals to kick and blame.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Depressing this. They did a full review after a pathetic 2016 season they had and the result of that was to grant a release to the best performing coach of the lot and gave the worst performing coach new staff to blame for next year. Did they promote Young or Hornby? Or where they assistants last year during the crap season?

Not looking forward to the ANZAC game against the chooks. I am still haunted by the announcement of Price getting an extension. The way it is going they may announce the extension of Mary then too.

 

[Gareth67]

Hi S S,
Almost 100% correct but there were a few Millers pubs as well.
I believe Millers at one stage had The Brighton, The Domino at Riverwood and maybe the old Sundowner at cnr Canterbury Rd and Punchbowl Rds.
Millers also at one stage had a mortgage on the Sydney race tracks.
It was a shit beer and couldn't hold a candle to a Reschs Pilsener or a Tooth's Old or 50.
They all talk about TPA's etc today but back in that era the great footy players would be given a "brewery run" namely a truck and a set run of pubs to service.
Many a great Dragon, Rabbitoh and Magpie player started out poor but after making their way on the footy field, topped their income up with the brewery run which they all initially worked themselves.
Of course a brewery run back then was like having a taxi plate a licence to print money providing you worked hard.
Imagine some of these prima donnas today holding down a real job and playing footy and in fact many are poorer for the fact they don't.

That last sentence , really does show the difference between the the men of those days playing the game , compared to some of those now .

Brewery runs for the well connected league player and garbage runs for the not so well connected , all made the players very fit and built muscles on them .

They all felt privileged to be playing the game , and to represent their respective teams , until that final siren called an end to their careers . They retired with their dignity intact , not any way tainted , by some of the ' crep ' that occurs with some players of today .

 

[Old Timer]

Gareth
A few years ago Thurston was leading a player action to get the $$$$ paid for test match appearances upped to some extraordinary amount.

The ABC interviewed Billy Smith and asked what his thoughts were.

He simply said
We were invited to play for our country and were proud to accept the honour.
In the end we were glad that most of the expenses of hotels and meals were paid for.
He said It was never about the $$$$ and the players of today should be ashamed for wanting so much.

Were these blokes any lesser heroes or of lesser ability and you have to wonder how this game ended up where it is today.

 

[Como Connection]

Hi S S,
Almost 100% correct but there were a few Millers pubs as well.
I believe Millers at one stage had The Brighton, The Domino at Riverwood and maybe the old Sundowner at cnr Canterbury Rd and Punchbowl Rds.
Millers also at one stage had a mortgage on the Sydney race tracks.
It was a shit beer and couldn't hold a candle to a Reschs Pilsener or a Tooth's Old or 50.
They all talk about TPA's etc today but back in that era the great footy players would be given a "brewery run" namely a truck and a set run of pubs to service.
Many a great Dragon, Rabbitoh and Magpie player started out poor but after making their way on the footy field, topped their income up with the brewery run which they all initially worked themselves.
Of course a brewery run back then was like having a taxi plate a licence to print money providing you worked hard.
Imagine some of these prima donnas today holding down a real job and playing footy and in fact many are poorer for the fact they don't.

Plus the Bexley North Millers Pub.
Headaches next morning after a session on the Millers, but apart from the beer great pubs with bands and lovely ladies to dance with.

 

[Gareth67]

Gareth
A few years ago Thurston was leading a player action to get the $$$$ paid for test match appearances upped to some extraordinary amount.

The ABC interviewed Billy Smith and asked what his thoughts were.

He simply said
We were invited to play for our country and were proud to accept the honour.
In the end we were glad that most of the expenses of hotels and meals were paid for.
He said It was never about the $$$$ and the players of today should be ashamed for wanting so much.

Were these blokes any lesser heroes or of lesser ability and you have to wonder how this game ended up where it is today.

To answer your question , no , certainly not . If anything , they were greater , as the memories of the individual player ( wether that be at Test , or Club level ) still lingers today , even after all those years . There was always a chance , remote perhaps , of coming across a player in his normal day job , you would be surprised , however later on , it would occur to you that he had to work also . But not today , so many are doing these strict training regimes ?

As gifted as so many of today's players are , a little bit of humility would ot not go astray .
I believe that is what the main difference was , the players of those days were proud men , money was not the over-riding factor , the jersey itself was .