Dragons cashed up

[BLM01]

You are correct TruSaint - in fact the report had said that the cost could be Fizzell - Graham whom is in his final year , possibly and likely De Belin plus a host of our young players . Just whom would they replace Fizzell with has me stumped ? Undoubtedly the one of the best in the game .

However one of the worst aspects of this report is what was left unwritten , but something that many members have realized immediately and that is that season 2020 we will be traveling around with the same players as last in 2019 - will that be good or bad ?

Sorry Gazza...I never saw the report say it would cost us Frizzell or any key players.
$4 mill is just the sum of the players off contract. Clickbait from a journo

 

[TruSaint]

Price v Mary eh ?

One was a disaster for a total of 58 games, then went on to assist elsewhere, coach in the ESL with a win rate of 59%, including a Challenge Cup title over St helens. He is 42 years of age.

The other is still coaching at 139 plus games, has broken every possible home record we didnt need, has thrown dozens under the bus, just missed out on the wooden spoon, has had "the team he wants " twice, and will be head coach next year. Mary is 51...

 

[jak]

.

well said samy

 

[possm]

Mate I really don’t know anymore in respect of who is actually making the decisions when it comes to recruitment. Yes that is undoubtedly Millard’s role , however I get the feeling that there are other fingers in the pie and Millward himself does not have too much say . Of course that is my sentiments only and could be - probably am off the mark .

You could be right. It seems to me that Millward has made just as big a mess as Craig Young did in the Price era. I would really like Brown to take over recruitment/pathways and for him to report to the head coach. Of course it would be great if Mary was not the head coach.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Yeah, the team won the comp 2 years before and the year before he took over were tipped to win it again till Origin hit so he had a decent squad. Can you see the Chooks or Storm having a weak team in a year or 2? He made them a benchmark team to a soft team with no heart in 1 season. Ask Willie Mason. Luckily Mary toughened them up at least. Please watch 2012 - 2013 seasons again to remind you of the disaster that Price was. I dare you. It's Halloween season so will be a good horror show for you.

Plus Price pi$$ed Soward off and put the best hooker at Saints as the half from memory, How did that go? Ask Soward how good a coach Price is. He would know better than us that is for sure.

Hey Slippery, the one thing I do know, is that Price did not make our forward pack soft. That was achieved by poor recruitment & retention, particularly with the losses of Beau Scott, Costigan, Jeremy Smith, Saffy and Mick Weyman...all tough buggers that gave us the hard underbelly and Gonesky from the RedV replaced by cheap journeyman shit!
The Sowie episode, I agree it was a stain on Price and I'm sure plenty of words exchanged between both.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

I don’t think coaches are included in the cap

2010,
Are you saying, our coach is crap?

 

[Coffs dragon]

Price v Mary eh ?

One was a disaster for a total of 58 games, then went on to assist elsewhere, coach in the ESL with a win rate of 59%, including a Challenge Cup title over St helens. He is 42 years of age.

The other is still coaching at 139 plus games, has broken every possible home record we didnt need, has thrown dozens under the bus, just missed out on the wooden spoon, has had "the team he wants " twice, and will be head coach next year. Mary is 51...

A wonderful summary Tru of the past 8 years in the dark Abyss era.

 

[TruSaint]

A wonderful summary Tru of the past 8 years in the dark Abyss era.

Im not excusing pricey mate, but lets keep it real. Mary is our longest serving coach now. Recovery from here will take years. Price was a mistake but was moved on.

 

[Gareth67]

Sorry Gazza...I never saw the report say it would cost us Frizzell or any key players.
$4 mill is just the sum of the players off contract. Clickbait from a journo

After reading it yet again I now see that it did not say that we would be losing them and I have indeed gone and jumped at shadows . I need to go and buy myself a decent pair of glasses so as I can read more clearly and carefully in the future .

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Poor Pricey ...pffttt
Yes maybe his hands were tied by Young & Doust and poor recruiting but I will never see Price as a successful NRL head coach. It is a bit of a bias and personal thing with me but I dont believe he has the real management and team building / coaching innovation skills needed to be successful here.
But probably a great assisstant coach.
Do I rate him better than Mary..from what he has done over here in 2.5 yrs as a head NRL coach...no.
Mary basically took his team from easy beats to leading a comp falling into just semi final bound a year later. But I dont rate Mary as a coach either.

You are kidding right?
McGregor was responsible for transforming us from easy beats to comp leaders?
He was plucked from obscurity with absolutely zero qualifications or time as an NRL assistant, his CV reads like a Jersey Flegg coaching candidate - not a FG head coach.
If you can seriously stand in front of this forum after 5 years and rationalize McGregor's achievements then you are not a serious commentator of the sport.
Price had a much better grounding and was infinitely more qualified than McGregor to coach a NRL team..
Even his results after he left St.George, have shown he had some ability as a coach.
More than McGregor for sure.
There is no comparison actually.
The reality is that Price and then McGregor were just poor appointments from the Board.
Embarrassingly, Price was extended and failed and then McGregor was extended (twice) and has failed miserably.
We've heard the excuses, the rationalizations, the end of season reviews that are meaningless when confronted by the results.
Let's stop kidding ourselves, McGregor was an unmitigated disaster who continues to drag this team down.
He is the worst coach in the NRL and has been throughout his tenure.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Price v Mary....Mary had Saints in top 8 more times than Pricey ever did. Mary had then top 4 for half a season. He has had some good moments. Price had no good moments? I cannot think of a single game Saints played well under him, where as Mary that Bronco's semi was 1 of my favourite all time games under tough circumstances. Saints were tipped to get belted. Not saying Mary is a good coach at all but a hell of a lot better than Price that is for sure. There is no way in the world Saints beat the Bronco's in the semi if Price was coach.

Everyone remembers the Broncos semi and the half season euphoria which gave all the fans hope.
Unfortunately, many of us more weather beaten fans, also remember the many, many embarrassments that we have had to endure on McGregor's watch.
Getting flogged by the Dogs at Kogarah in Lance Thompson's memorial and Flo's last game.
The team getting booed off the park on three separate occasions.
Numerous floggings at regular intervals with 40+ score lines.
Being kept scoreless at Kogarah more than at any other time in our history.
Getting Bumped out of the finals on the last day of the comp by the Dogs in 2017.
That was after leading the comp at the half way mark mind you.
Do I need to mention 2019 season?
Do I need to go on?
If you don't believe me then just check out the crowd numbers this year.

 

[Warabrook saint]

Price still works as a professional in rugby league......when mcgregor's punted from SGI he never will. No other team will want him anywhere near their club

 

[BLM01]

You are kidding right?
McGregor was responsible for transforming us from easy beats to comp leaders?
He was plucked from obscurity with absolutely zero qualifications or time as an NRL assistant, his CV reads like a Jersey Flegg coaching candidate - not a FG head coach.
If you can seriously stand in front of this forum after 5 years and rationalize McGregor's achievements then you are not a serious commentator of the sport.
Price had a much better grounding and was infinitely more qualified than McGregor to coach a NRL team..
Even his results after he left St.George, have shown he had some ability as a coach.
More than McGregor for sure.
There is no comparison actually.
The reality is that Price and then McGregor were just poor appointments from the Board.
Embarrassingly, Price was extended and failed and then McGregor was extended (twice) and has failed miserably.
We've heard the excuses, the rationalizations, the end of season reviews that are meaningless when confronted by the results.
Let's stop kidding ourselves, McGregor was an unmitigated disaster who continues to drag this team down.
He is the worst coach in the NRL and has been throughout his tenure.

Not kidding 2014-2015. No decent additions signings. I not letting current anger with our situation obscure the facts
Have a look how we started and of couse how we finished 2015 McGregor style with Benji & Widdop which Price 1st got his hands on.
I dont like McGregor either and dont think he should of been appointed in the 1st place but that is another argument.
I dont care about their history or how they came into being. Price had 2.5 years and went no where near making semis. Just pointing out facts that Price never achieved
Worst coach in NRL since his been around since 2014?..not far off but
I suggest you look at Kearney's, Brennan & even Cleary's record for 2015 on1st.

I can write on this forum and rationalize (not McGregor as a coach) but the point of my original argument (price v mcgregor) a lot more with facts than what your rave says. We all dont like mcGregor but dont make it personal.

I suppose I am a serious commentator on this sport being on this forum as you are.... but also have had nearly 38 years in the game either playing, coaching and 15 years on executive committee positions at senior level CRL.
But if you like Price more than Mcgregor thats fine but if we wind back the clock to 2015, would you have said the same..and give me any facts about their NRL records over their first 2.5 years as NRL coaches that proves Price was superior at NRL then I will step down.
Price 2012 - mid 2014. Mary mid 2014 - end of 2016. No marquee signings in that time for mcgregor.
Price got Widdop, Dugan & Benji

 

[getsmarty]

Not kidding 2014-2015. No decent additions signings. I not letting current anger with our situation obscure the facts
Have a look how we started and of couse how we finished 2015 McGregor style with Benji & Widdop which Price 1st got his hands on.
I dont like McGregor either and dont think he should of been appointed in the 1st place but that is another argument.
I dont care about their history or how they came into being. Price had 2.5 years and went no where near making semis. Just pointing out facts that Price never achieved
Worst coach in NRL since his been around since 2014?..not far off but
I suggest you look at Kearney's, Brennan & even Cleary's record for 2015 on1st.

I can write on this forum and rationalize (not McGregor as a coach) but the point of my original argument (price v mcgregor) a lot more with facts than what your rave says. We all dont like mcGregor but dont make it personal.

I suppose I am a serious commentator on this sport being on this forum as you are.... but also have had nearly 38 years in the game either playing, coaching and 15 years on executive committee positions at senior level CRL.
But if you like Price more than Mcgregor thats fine but if we wind back the clock to 2015, would you have said the same..and give me any facts about their NRL records over their first 2.5 years as NRL coaches that proves Price was superior at NRL then I will step down.
Price 2012 - mid 2014. Mary mid 2014 - end of 2016. No marquee signings in that time for mcgregor.
Price got Widdop, Dugan & Benji

Come on chief...there is a Silver lining...Squad still weak = McGregor gone....

P.S note to Flanno....let McGregor run the show for the first 10 rounds....

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Not kidding 2014-2015. No decent additions signings. I not letting current anger with our situation obscure the facts
Have a look how we started and of couse how we finished 2015 McGregor style with Benji & Widdop which Price 1st got his hands on.
I dont like McGregor either and dont think he should of been appointed in the 1st place but that is another argument.
I dont care about their history or how they came into being. Price had 2.5 years and went no where near making semis. Just pointing out facts that Price never achieved
Worst coach in NRL since his been around since 2014?..not far off but
I suggest you look at Kearney's, Brennan & even Cleary's record for 2015 on1st.

I can write on this forum and rationalize (not McGregor as a coach) but the point of my original argument (price v mcgregor) a lot more with facts than what your rave says. We all dont like mcGregor but dont make it personal.

I suppose I am a serious commentator on this sport being on this forum as you are.... but also have had nearly 38 years in the game either playing, coaching and 15 years on executive committee positions at senior level CRL.
But if you like Price more than Mcgregor thats fine but if we wind back the clock to 2015, would you have said the same..and give me any facts about their NRL records over their first 2.5 years as NRL coaches that proves Price was superior at NRL then I will step down.
Price 2012 - mid 2014. Mary mid 2014 - end of 2016. No marquee signings in that time for mcgregor.
Price got Widdop, Dugan & Benji

I appreciate your response and respect your background in the game.
I also have high level coaching qualifications and a modest playing background in soccer so I am only making commentary from my many years following and watching league.
An armchair critic for sure.
Having said, I always like a good debate and would certainly like to put forward a different point of view based on facts.
1. Price was in charge for 58 games with an overall win/loss ratio of 36%
McGregor has been in charge for 139 games with a win/loss ratio of 47%
2. If we take a closer look at the two coaches' results during their tenure and split each season in 2.
First half and second half ratios look a little different.
Price - 1st half win/loss of 42%
McGregor - 1st half an impressive 56.9%
Second half of the season though tells the real story and provides a more relevant comparison.
Price - 2nd half win/loss ratio of 33%
McGregor - 2nd half win/loss of 37%
The forum has been vocal and commentary logical that titles, aren't won during the first half of the season.
Obviously Price had less than half the time at the helm as McGregor who obviously has not been able to resolve our late season fades.
3. I don't like Price better than McGregor - I am only interested in our club having the best quality mentors in charge.
Bennett was quality, David Waite was quality, Harry Bath was quality.
They all brought results and joy and celebration to our great club.
Price didn't work out but they still extended him.
McGregor has been just as bad and they still extended him twice.
Why is McGregor perpetuated and why should Price be judged differently?
4. If you don't care about the history of these two guys and how they came to be appointed as head coaches of one of the most iconic rugby league teams in history, then you should.
That is precisely our problem.
Collectively, the club has wasted 8 years dabbling in mediocrity waiting for some kind of coaching miracle to occur.
McGregor has no qualifications and should never have been appointed.
Maybe that can be explained away because of his old boy status but the two extensions cannot be explained or rationalized under any circumstances.
5. Making it personal - I have no interest in making it personal with regards to McGregor.
I have been consistently critical of McGregor as a coach.
I have also been highly critical about the way he was appointed and the criteria used to hire him.
That's not being personal.
6. Worst coach in the NRL - my opinion is McGregor is the worst coach in the NRL.
Is that a subjective point of view? Absolutely.
You put forward some stellar candidates but that's what I think.
The stats back me up especially when you overlay the roster McGregor has had at his disposal for most of his stint in charge.
7. Subjective considerations - Price at least had some coaching qualifications leading up to his appointment.
He also served an assistant's apprenticeship under Bennett which lead to his appointment.
While you compare Price and McGregor as coaches, you forgot to mention that McGregor was Price's assistant during his time in charge.
Pretty hard to exonerate McGregor from Price's results don't you think?
Subsequently, Price has done pretty well first with Cronulla and then with Warrington in the ESL.

I think Price vs McGregor comparison is a little pointless but I hope that I have provided more facts to go along with my rave.

 

[BLM01]

I appreciate your response and respect your background in the game.
I also have high level coaching qualifications and a modest playing background in soccer so I am only making commentary from my many years following and watching league.
An armchair critic for sure.
Having said, I always like a good debate and would certainly like to put forward a different point of view based on facts.
1. Price was in charge for 58 games with an overall win/loss ratio of 36%
McGregor has been in charge for 139 games with a win/loss ratio of 47%
2. If we take a closer look at the two coaches' results during their tenure and split each season in 2.
First half and second half ratios look a little different.
Price - 1st half win/loss of 42%
McGregor - 1st half an impressive 56.9%
Second half of the season though tells the real story and provides a more relevant comparison.
Price - 2nd half win/loss ratio of 33%
McGregor - 2nd half win/loss of 37%
The forum has been vocal and commentary logical that titles aren't won during the first half of the season.
Obviously Price had less than half the time at the helm as McGregor who obviously has not been able to resolve our late season fades.
3. I don't like Price better than McGregor - I am only interested in our club having the best quality mentors in charge.
Bennett was quality, David Waite was quality, Harry Bath was quality.
They all brought results and joy and celebration to our great club.
Price didn't work out but they still extended him.
McGregor has been just as bad and they still extended him twice.
Why is McGregor perpetuated and why should Price be judged differently?
4. If you don't care about the history of these two guys and how they came to be appointed as head coaches of one of the most iconic rugby league teams in history, then you should.
That is precisely our problem.
Collectively, the club has wasted 8 years dabbling in mediocrity waiting for some kind of coaching miracle to occur.
McGregor has no qualifications and should never have been appointed.
Maybe that can be explained away because of his old boy status but the two extensions cannot be explained or rationalized under any circumstances.
5. Making it personal - I have no interest in making it personal with regards to McGregor.
I have been consistently critical of McGregor as a coach.
I have also been highly critical about the way he was appointed and the criteria used to hire him.
That's not being personal.
6. Worst coach in the NRL - my opinion is McGregor is the worst coach in the NRL.
Is that a subjective point of view? Absolutely.
You put forward some stellar candidates but that's what I think.
The stats back me up especially when you overlay the roster McGregor has had at his disposal for most of his stint in charge.
7. Subjective considerations - Price at least had some coaching qualifications leading up to his appointment.
He also served an assistant's apprenticeship under Bennett which lead to his appointment.
While you compare Price and McGregor as coaches, you forgot to mention that McGregor was Price's assistant during his time in charge.
Pretty hard to exonerate McGregor from Price's results don't you think?
Subsequently, Price has done pretty well first with Cronulla and then with Warrington in the ESL.

I think Price vs McGregor comparison is a little pointless but I hope that I have provided more facts to go along with my rave.

You chimed in on a debate I was having with someone else about that very point and when off track!
You have gone to great lengths when all my comments were originally and debate was who was a better NRL coach?. Price or McGregor
I said mcGregor...you said Price...I can back that up with results on field
Great stats you provide but none proves Price the winner which all it was about, not how they got there, we all know that answer.
Price was in charge for 58 games. Now match that to McGregor's first 58 games and you will have the answer I stand by and debating. Nothing else..and the fact he took Price's side into a Top 8 and kicking a bit of arse early in 2015. He improved (somewhat) on what Price could not do in the same time.
I dont like and never liked Mary as a coach and nor agreed with any of his appointments but between the 2...
Mary achieved little more at NRL level...to date.
Kearney is the worse coach with the better roster. Look who he has had at the warriors over the past 3 seasons.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

You have gone to great lengths when all my comments were originally and debate was who was a better NRL coach. Price or McGregor
I said mcGregor...you said Price...I can back that up with results on field
Great stats you provide but none proves Price the winner which all it was about, not how they got there, we all know that answer.
Price was in charge for 58 games. Now match that to McGregor's first 58 games and you will have the answer I am looking for and debating. Nothing else

You can't honestly make that comparison.
58 vs 58 games.
It doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
You also conveniently ignored the fact that McGregor was an integral part of Prices 58 game tenure.
That fact alone nullifies your position.
You called my post a rave.
All I did was back up my argument with facts.
That's what you asked for.

 

[muzby]

You have gone to great lengths when all my comments were originally and debate was who was a better NRL coach?. Price or McGregor

Dennis has a habit of doing this..

Plenty of times you need ask a question a few times before you get the answer..

On the plus side, you do get to hear all kinds of weird and wonderful things instead..

 

[BLM01]

You can't honestly make that comparison.
58 vs 58 games.
It doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
You also conveniently ignored the fact that McGregor was an integral part of Prices 58 game tenure.
That fact alone nullifies your position.
You called my post a rave.
All I did was back up my argument with facts.
That's what you asked for.

Hahaha..LOL
1. Why?..cant you make that comparison. Because you dont want to!. Does not stand up to scrutiny!.. How?
It is a fact or stat and relevant to my original debate before you came in. After 58 games..who got better results?
2. Who cares that Mary was an assistant. Ben Hornby or Dean Young would of been no better and this about who is a better coach. No need to consider it and does nothing to nullify the facts...only in your mind and thats your pregorative
3. I called you 1st post a rave questioning my ability to post on this sport on the forum. Not you most recent post. Wrong again. You called your own post a rave!
4. Your facts did nothing to support who was better in fact your stats still show Price worse. I asked for something to prove you right. You again went off track looking for reasons to turn the facts into meaning something else. Wrong again
I get your venting your anger re Mary and how poor he is and I agree. He is a crap coach for mine.
But I stand by my original post who has a better record at NRL level.
Agree to disagree as you wish

 

[BLM01]

Dennis has a habit of doing this..

Plenty of times you need ask a question a few times before you get the answer..

On the plus side, you do get to hear all kinds of weird and wonderful things instead..

You dont say... including I now need to look for another sport to comment on
I think Dennis may be right...its doing my head in....and I am still waiting for the answer!
Now..Darts or Snooker...that is something simple I can relate to!