Dragons Accept Criticism & Begin Work On 2017

[giboz71]

Mary made his play a while back.

Started with distancing himself from recruitment, publicly hung Benji out to dry by dropping him, then the very public dumping of Rein.

He's made it clear he didn't have the roster to compete and has laid the blame for the failed season squarely on the feet of the players. I'm guessing he used the example of the Raiders and Sharks to highlight what an injection of good players can do, and looks like the Board bought it.

The problem with this logic is, he hasn't proven to be able to attract good players, unlike Stuart and Flanno. So we're effectively back to square one.

Wooden spoon 2017 here we come.

 

[hazzbeen]

Mary made his play a while back.

Started with distancing himself from recruitment, publicly hung Benji out to dry by dropping him, then the very public dumping of Rein.

He's made it clear he didn't have the roster to compete and has laid the blame for the failed season squarely on the feet of the players. I'm guessing he used the example of the Raiders and Sharks to highlight what an injection of good players can do, and looks like the Board bought it.

The problem with this logic is, he hasn't proven to be able to attract good players, unlike Stuart and Flanno. So we're effectively back to square one.

Wooden spoon 2017 here we come.

If that is what it takes to get rid of all the muppets wooden spoon here we come ...

 

[Saint-Fez]

Disgraceful management of the club, can no longer be tolerated.

- You look at a club like Penrith, they were terrible a few years back, so they got a new coach who rebuilt the squad and took them from a bottom 4 team to the prelim final. This year they start slow, realise that while they are now a top 8 side, they need further improvement to contend for the premiership. They immediately punt seggy and sowie, move Wallace to hooker and bring in a new coach. While fans could potentially argue the merit of these decisions, you can't argue with the initiative shown by the Penrith board/management to identify the issue and try to resolve it quickly.

-This is in stark contrast to the dragons, who are content to be down the bottom of the ladder so long as "Some other sides are below us". Instead of the board/football department trying to identify issues at the club and resolve them, they deny/down play them for as long as possible before eventually they are forced into a half-arsed solution which doesn't address the issues (i.e This committee). I have no doubt the club knows Mary has to go at some point, they have just chosen to do it via a committee review (Mike Potter style) and drag it out over 1-2 years instead of 1-2 months. Furthermore, there is a coach available (Cleary) who has rebuilt the warriors (GF) and Penrith (Prelim)...and a cheaper option of JD who has just won 3 straight premierships, yet we stick with Mary.

 

[emu62]

There is no need for us to worry , as I am sure that young Dirk will solve all of the teams problems , he will be our Messiah .

Life of Brian - "He's not the messiah, he's just a very naughty boy"

 

[emu62]

For those without access to the Sydney Morning Herald:


Adrian Proszenko
Published: September 28, 2016 - 4:54PM


Former Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney FC CEO Dirk Melton has led a full review of St George Illawarra after a disappointing end to their premiership campaign in which they

So a former Bulldogs CEO has led our review & surprise surprise McGregor is still coach
That will do me.The Bullgrubs would be pissing themselves laughing

 

[Dragons 09]

Mark Coyne has made it a personal mission to turn St George Illawarra's NRL fortunes around, but admits the responsibility ultimately lies with coach Paul McGregor and chief executive Peter Doust.

The former Dragons skipper has been drafted in to help return the club to it's competitive best following a wide-ranging review of their poor 2016 campaign.

He will join sports scientist Dr Craig Duncan, and coaching and performance specialists Clare Prideaux and Dirk Melton on a four-person football committee for a series of meetings over coming months.

Coyne, who spent more than a decade at the Dragons, said the group's aim was to make sure McGregor and his staff had the right systems in place to be successful as early as next season.

"There's no reason why that can't happen," he told AAP on Thursday.

"I understand that fans are disappointed in the way the club's performed in the previous few years. What the club is attempting to do now is address that by looking at building a football department that is a lot more focused on high performance.

"There's no doubt that Mary (McGregor) is going to be under a bit of pressure. I'm good friends with him, but my role is to make sure he and the people around him have the right focus to put 17 players on the field every day that are going to be extremely competitive."

The retired Australian and Queensland representative said he was taking his role - albeit "very small" - very seriously because part of his heart belonged to the club.

"I've gone for St George since I was seven years old and I've had the honour of leading the club and playing with them for 12 years," he said.

"I absolutely have a lot of investment in that club and I want to see them get back to where they were in 2008, 2009, 2010 and challenge for the premiership."

Apart from poor on-field execution, Coyne felt the playing roster was the Dragons' biggest issue this season.

But deciding who to let go and who to recruit was beyond the committee's control.

"The CEO and the coach are ultimately responsible for the roster, and in my view, the roster certainly needs to be enhanced," he said.

"They are both jointly responsible for making sure that the roster is going to give them the best opportunity to win a premiership.

"I'll work hard with the committee to make sure that we provide the football department with the tools and the programs to be able to maximise their success, but then it's over to them to implement and execute those programs to make sure that the club is successful."

http://www.sportsfan.com.au/coyne-o...p-dragons/tabid/91/newsid/212262/default.aspx

 

[BringTheNoise]

"I understand that fans are disappointed in the way the club's performed in the previous few years. What the club is attempting to do now is address that by looking at building a football department that is a lot more focused on high performance.

"There's no doubt that Mary (McGregor) is going to be under a bit of pressure. I'm good friends with him, but my role is to make sure he and the people around him have the right focus to put 17 players on the field every day that are going to be extremely competitive."

Well what the hell has the club been focused on in the meantime?

 

[getsmarty]

Mark Coyne has made it a personal mission to turn St George Illawarra's NRL fortunes around, but admits the responsibility ultimately lies with coach Paul McGregor and chief executive Peter Doust.

The former Dragons skipper has been drafted in to help return the club to it's competitive best following a wide-ranging review of their poor 2016 campaign.

He will join sports scientist Dr Craig Duncan, and coaching and performance specialists Clare Prideaux and Dirk Melton on a four-person football committee for a series of meetings over coming months.

Coyne, who spent more than a decade at the Dragons, said the group's aim was to make sure McGregor and his staff had the right systems in place to be successful as early as next season.

"There's no reason why that can't happen," he told AAP on Thursday.

"I understand that fans are disappointed in the way the club's performed in the previous few years. What the club is attempting to do now is address that by looking at building a football department that is a lot more focused on high performance.

"There's no doubt that Mary (McGregor) is going to be under a bit of pressure. I'm good friends with him, but my role is to make sure he and the people around him have the right focus to put 17 players on the field every day that are going to be extremely competitive."

The retired Australian and Queensland representative said he was taking his role - albeit "very small" - very seriously because part of his heart belonged to the club.

"I've gone for St George since I was seven years old and I've had the honour of leading the club and playing with them for 12 years," he said.

"I absolutely have a lot of investment in that club and I want to see them get back to where they were in 2008, 2009, 2010 and challenge for the premiership."

Apart from poor on-field execution, Coyne felt the playing roster was the Dragons' biggest issue this season.

But deciding who to let go and who to recruit was beyond the committee's control.

"The CEO and the coach are ultimately responsible for the roster, and in my view, the roster certainly needs to be enhanced," he said.

"They are both jointly responsible for making sure that the roster is going to give them the best opportunity to win a premiership.

"I'll work hard with the committee to make sure that we provide the football department with the tools and the programs to be able to maximise their success, but then it's over to them to implement and execute those programs to make sure that the club is successful."

http://www.sportsfan.com.au/coyne-o...p-dragons/tabid/91/newsid/212262/default.aspx

Mark Coyne is a legend. That said, I don't buy the Whole Roster argument. We have been a mess since 2012...that's 4 poor years of recruitment. At the beginning of this season, Mary said he now had the Roster he wanted or words to that effect. Sick and tired of the B.S excuses. With a decent coach our team is top 6 material. There lies the problem...the coach.

 

[Gareth67]

The year 1999 held so much promise for the new Joint Venture . The team had some of the best players in the game , from Saints and the Steelers , so much so that we made it to the Grand Final , and for many years after the Dragons done their fans proud .

Not only were the players and coaches responsible for the teams continued success , but also the hard working members of the Board .

Fast forward to the year 2012 , after the Bennett era , the Joint Venture fortunes begin to decline rapidly , so much so , that at the end of 2016 , we find ourselves in the most unenviable position , that any supporter of any Club , of any sport , would wish to find themselves . And that is a season without any hope of success whatsoever !

Season 2017 unfortunately is shaping up that way . There is definitely hostility between Paul McGregor and his players . One only needs to view the post match conference , and notice the look on the teams captains face , they simply do not wish to be in the same room together , let alone speak .

The decisions which had been made by the current members of the Board , have been nothing short of horrendous .
They do have so much to answer for . They gave the coaching role to Paul McGregor , after their first choice , Price failed to measure - up to the task . At the time , we were thankful , more so in to 2015 when he took the team to the semis .

However since then , as we are all aware , he also has not measured - up to what is expected of a top class coach . However , the fall in overall improvement in the team has been dramatic . Any half decent coach would be able to , at the very least , instruct his troops on some very basic attacking movements . But not at the Dragons !

Most forum members have expressed their point of views and in some cases vented their
frustrations and even anger . The end of season Reviews are terribly disappointing , The once hardworking Board appears to have taken the easy option , once again .

The St.George Illawarra joint venture seems destined to be on its way to a funeral , it's own . Saddens me to have said that , but the Board must make sure , absolutely sure , that the correct decisions are made . And if not , replace the Board .the only good news to have come out of the review , is the appointment of Mark Coyne . At least we know with him on board , albeit , in a temporary position , that he WILL make the correct decisions .

 

[Lethal25]

Mark Coyne is a legend. That said, I don't buy the Whole Roster argument. We have been a mess since 2012...that's 4 poor years of recruitment. At the beginning of this season, Mary said he now had the Roster he wanted or words to that effect. Sick and tired of the B.S excuses. With a decent coach our team is top 6 material. There lies the problem...the coach.

Look how quickly Canberra were able to turn their roster over.

Problem is the guy pulling the strings with respect to the roster has been pulling the wrong ones

 

[cussy]

I'm none the wiser in what this committee does? Will it try and get a revenue stream to attract players?

 

[tumbidragon]

I like the fact Coyne doesn't f**k around and directly points at Mary and Doust in regards to recruitment failures. More of that please. Perhaps Mark should be our new CEO?

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I'm none the wiser in what this committee does? Will it try and get a revenue stream to attract players?

No. Based on what has been said so far, Dirk Melton is making sure systems are in place for the club to look after its intellectual property, the others are there to recommend ways of improving performance with what they have. Mary is off limits, as is recruitment, so those issues will not form part of any recommendations. As one of the team is a sports scientist, you can guarantee more sports science will be one of the recommendations.

Beyond that, who knows.

 

[TruSaint]

No. Based on what has been said so far, Dirk Melton is making sure systems are in place for the club to look after its intellectual property, the others are there to recommend ways of improving performance with what they have. Mary is off limits, as is recruitment, so those issues will not form part of any recommendations. As one of the team is a sports scientist, you can guarantee more sports science will be one of the recommendations.

Beyond that, who knows.

Improving the IP of the club is fine, and agree there is upside.

My concern is recruitment and retention have been left to those whom have failed already in this regard, as you rightly mention, and was clarified by Coyne.

In essence, these 4 professionals have no say in the current fundamental issues. They make enhance certain parts of the business, but at days end, Mary still controls player status and game management.

 

[Dragons 09]

As one of the team is a sports scientist, you can guarantee more sports science will be one of the recommendations

Said sports scientist will need Victor Frankenstein like ambitions and credentials to turn this circus around..............a body part from here, a body part from there, a brain from someone who has never even heard of Wollongong or Kogarah and preferably a head from someone who has a chin and some hair and you just never know what is possible.............the inner sanctum muppets might even take the piss out of this supercoach creation only for it to turn rogue and exacts its revenge on them.
If i don't laugh about this Shite i would probably cry.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Improving the IP of the club is fine, and agree there is upside.

My concern is recruitment and retention have been left to those whom have failed already in this regard, as you rightly mention, and was clarified by Coyne.

In essence, these 4 professionals have no say in the current fundamental issues. They make enhance certain parts of the business, but at days end, Mary still controls player status and game management.

I've got no issue with getting someone in to make sure the IP is looked after. I just didnt think the Dragons had any. Or if they do, its not the sort of IP anyone else would be interested in. Anyway I'm sure there's a lot more they've been asked to look at, we just don't know what it is.

 

[Dea]

So the committee is put in place because our coach of the last 2 years doesn't know how to do his job. And the coach before him had no clue either.

I can hear the recruitment spiel now. "Come play for us, we are the Mighty Red V. Our coaches have no idea how to do their job but we have something other clubs don't. We have a committee! Sign here!"

 

[TheOnlyTeam]

Wouldn't need a highly expensive committee if the coach was a coach.

 

[SBD82]

I still haven't been able to put my thoughts together to coherently comment on this.

I'm just so f**king disappointed.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I still haven't been able to put my thoughts together to coherently comment on this.

I'm just so f**king disappointed.

Take your time. I'm pretty confident we'll still be talking about this next week.