Dragons Coach 2021 and Beyond

[getsmarty]

Craig Fitzgibbon rules himself out of taking vacant St George Illawarra Dragons job
Dragons

• August 28, 2020 5:28pm
• George Clarke
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Boyd Cordner and Roosters assistant coach Craig FitzgibbonSource: Getty Images
St George Illawarra will not appoint Craig Fitzgibbon as their next coach after the Roosters assistant snubbed a return to his former club.

Fitzgibbon was been considered the frontrunner for the Dragons role ever since the club announced it had parted ways with Paul McGregor earlier this month.

Interim coach Dean Young and ex-Penrith boss Anthony Griffin have also been touted as potential replacements for McGregor.

Round 16
Fitzgibbon, however, still lives close to Wollongong and has long held ambitions to take a head coaching position.

Immortal Andrew Johns labelled Fitzgibbon as the game’s next great coach and urged the Dragons to sign him when news of McGregor’s departure was announced.

“Fitzy is a perfect fit,” Johns said. “He’s from down that way, he’s been in an unbelievable system [at the Roosters] his attention to detail is sensational

“He’s the next really top-line coach, which then comes off the Trent Robinson coaching tree. We’ve seen Paul Green win a premiership [at the Cowboys], Justin Holbrook doing a great job up there at the Titans. He’s the next one.

Dragons interim coach Dean Young has been impressive in his short spell in chargeSource: Getty Images
“But he’s kept his ego in check and he’s said” ‘I just want to stay here and learn for a while’.

“There’s been jobs offered to Craig Fitzgibbon; I understand the Knights one may have been offered to him, which would have been a perfect fit.

“I think the time is right and I think he’s the man for the job.”

However, the 43-year-old has reiterated his loyalty to the Roosters coach Trent Robinson and owner Nick Politis despite a poaching bid from the Dragons.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Fitzgibbon spoke with high-ranking Dragons officials this week and informed them he would see out his contract with the Roosters.

Fitzgibbon is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2022.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/cc4a63c9c5a455e367bb64d783136598

 

[getsmarty]

Fitzgibbon knocks back Dragons as club tries to keep De Belin in bubble
Michael Chammas and Adam Pengilly
August 28, 2020 — 4.34pm
In-demand Sydney Roosters assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon has knocked back an approach from St George Illawarra to coach his old club from next season.

It comes as the Dragons make plans to keep Jack de Belin inside the club's biosecurity bubble for the rest of the season despite exhausting his last hope of returning to the field this year as he prepares to stand trial in November.

Roosters assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon, right, with Boyd Cordner.Credit:Getty

While the Dragons want De Belin at the club next year, the more pressing matter is the coaching appointment the club is expected to make in the next two to three weeks.

The Dragons reached out to Fitzgibbon to gauge his level of interest in the job vacated by the departure of Paul McGregor, with chief executive Ryan Webb and football manager Ben Haran speaking to the 43-year-old in a phone hook-up recently.

While Fitzgibbon was happy to speak to the Dragons, he has decided to remain loyal to the Roosters and won't be on the lookout for a job until at least the end of next season such is his loyalty to Nick Politis and Trent Robinson.

It leaves former Broncos and Panthers coach Anthony Griffin as the frontrunner for the Dragons job, with Dragons directors prioritising defence, discipline and a history of being involved in successful cultures as the three main criteria for the role.

Anthony Griffin is reportedly the frontrunner to take over the head coach's role at the Dragons.

De Belin, who hasn't played since the 2018 finals series, had a pre-trial legal argument ruling go against him in Wollongong on Friday, meaning he will stand trial on sexual assault charges in November. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Dragons have supported the sidelined forward since he was the first player subject to the NRL's "no fault" stand-down policy for players facing serious criminal charges.

De Belin has continued to train with the Dragons for almost two years without playing a game and is on a salary of $595,000 this year.

St George Illawarra even included the 29-year-old on their register of players and officials to adhere to the code's strict biosecurity rules to allow the competition to continue, despite little prospect of the former NSW representative playing this season.

Jack de Belin to face trial over alleged aggravated sexual assault
NRL star Jack de Belin will face trial in November over an alleged aggravated sexual assault in 2018.

Sources at the club said they would speak to de Belin in coming days and indicate they want him to stay in the bubble and help the club's unlikely finals assault.

Given he cannot play for the rest of the season, de Belin wouldn't be subject to the harsh measures in place to keep the competition going if he was to apply to leave St George Illawarra's bubble.

Senior Dragons officials have previously spoken of de Belin's influence at training on the squad - in particular younger players - and want that to continue through the final weeks of the year, in which caretaker coach Dean Young is auditioning for the top job.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/fi...-keep-de-belin-in-bubble-20200828-p55qbf.html

 

[Dragonslayer]

Tonights game proved one thing and that is we need to appoint and announce our 2021 head coach sooner rather than later.
A performance like that, added to the indecision about the coaching appointment and the prospect of Young still in the frame, would put any prospective signings on 'alert'.

Add this issue that a 'clean-out' of players although necessary, cant happen if players of quality or like-for-like dont want to come here.

It's a very big hole we are currently in.

 

[Dragon David]

Just watching the end of the Roosters v Broncos game and what can I say, Brett and Josh have scored 7 tries between them in 2 matches. Just unbelievable and there was Drew Hutchison playing 5/8th and having a great game. I saw him offload to Cordner then it went to J Morris to score. We had these players and no way will they ever want to come back to us even as waterboys at 40 years old.

I have said it so many times on this Forum. Our cattle is just not good enough. More than half of the forwards and backs need to go. The Titans No.7 Fogarty runs hard and fast because he is stronger and tougher than Clune.

We just are not consistently making line breaks. Just 5 tackles and then kick so predictable and easy to defend against.

The new coach will have a massive job to turn us around. He has to show no favouritism to any of the players. At best, most of our players are less than average from 1-17.

Mary has most probably laughed his head off at how we player tonight.

 

[twinkletoes]

We’re all desperately hoping a new coach will provide the impetus for a new Red V dynasty. However after having a number of opportunities over the past several seasons to poach one of the top tier coaches, sadly we are left with only the leftovers to choose from making me feel quite depressed about any future revival. Whoever we now get will not be the “ anointed” one to truly lead the Dragons out of the wilderness, albeit almost any new coach will be an improvement on McGregor. But is that what we really want, merely an improvement ...yes that would be nice, but We should be aiming to be a serious premiership contender. Unfortunately none of the available coaches will lead us to that goal... as I said all very depressing

 

[Dragon David]

We’re all desperately hoping a new coach will provide the impetus for a new Red V dynasty. However after having a number of opportunities over the past several seasons to poach one of the top tier coaches, sadly we are left with only the leftovers to choose from making me feel quite depressed about any future revival. Whoever we now get will not be the “ anointed” one to truly lead the Dragons out of the wilderness, albeit almost any new coach will be an improvement on McGregor. But is that what we really want, merely an improvement ...yes that would be nice, but We should be aiming to be a serious premiership contender. Unfortunately none of the available coaches will lead us to that goal... as I said all very depressing

I think that even if we had Bellamy or Robinson as a coach for our players, we still would not be that great. It is the players that were recruited by Millward (with possibly Mary's say so) that are second rate. We just haven't been able to attract the right players we need for a very long time because of McGregor.

Tyson Frizell is escaping the Dragons and there are no good signings on the horizon. Graham and Widdop were happy to go as well.

The young ones we have have not had first grade experience so it is hard to gauge if they would be good.

This year is over for us. Bring on some of the youngsters and see how they go. Next year is a big query I am afraid.

 

[SaintPauli]

The ship has sunk. That was a woeful performance. We need an experienced hard nose coach. 2 years contract and a coach who will attract players.

 

[redv13]

The ship has sunk. That was a woeful performance. We need an experienced hard nose coach. 2 years contract and a coach who will attract players.

Yep that was like picking up dog shit in the backyard. Bloody woeful performance and that’s 2 weeks in a row our bench has been dreadful with its rotation. Dragons footy 101

 

[Gareth67]

If ever there was a time for the WIN Corp. or for that matter the Gordon’s to show that they truly want the best for their / our rugby league team - being the St.George Illawarra Dragons then - then this is it .

Forget about any factions that may exist in the Joint Venture and open their wallets to purchase the services of the best coach that is available at this point in time .

Tonight’s performance was a half-hearted effort by the players who appear to lack the will to win that all other clubs possess , without it they are and will always be only making up the numbers in this competition .

And that means that the Dragons will always be one of the NRL’s also-ran teams , the supporters do not want that , we wish to be proud of our chosen team and therefore expect the powers to be in the hierarchy to feel likewise - if not more so.

Over to you - gentlemen of the board .

 

[St Georgio]

Seriously if Dean Young is appointed head coach I will throw, Wane or Griffin are a must!

 

[St Tangles]

Whoever becomes our new coach will need time to fix the mess were in

We will expect to much to fast and they will be crucified

In all reality our recruitment has been rubbish and we don't have the cattle at present to be anything more than a 7th to 13th placed team

 

[SaintPauli]

Yep that was like picking up dog shit in the backyard. Bloody woeful performance and that’s 2 weeks in a row our bench has been dreadful with its rotation. Dragons footy 101

Agee, the bench rotation was out of sink. How few minutes did Kerr play.

 

[possm]

Tonights game proved one thing and that is we need to appoint and announce our 2021 head coach sooner rather than later.
A performance like that, added to the indecision about the coaching appointment and the prospect of Young still in the frame, would put any prospective signings on 'alert'.

Add this issue that a 'clean-out' of players although necessary, cant happen if players of quality or like-for-like dont want to come here.

It's a very big hole we are currently in.

Appoint a Wane or Griffin, let them choose their own staff and then you will see players become willing to come to the Dragons.

Young needs to go elsewhere to further develop his coaching career. There will always be the question of nepotism if he remains at the Dragons.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Who ever the coach is in 2021, they need control over recruitment and retention. Millward needs to go based on his decision alone to sign chief duds Norman & Merrin.
Flush out can’t come quick enough.

 

[blacksafake]

Why do I get the feeling young will be appointed for one year while we wait for Fitzgibbon

 

[possm]

Why do I get the feeling young will be appointed for one year while we wait for Fitzgibbon

I believe that Robinson is going to France with his family at the end of season 2021 and that Fitzgibbon will take over as head coach of the Rooster in season 2022.

For each week that Young is left in charge, we will find us less likely to attract the players we need. There is absolutely no substance to the idea that Young is a potential first-grade coach.

 

[redv13]

Why do I get the feeling young will be appointed for one year while we wait for Fitzgibbon

Omg please no!!

 

[ChocOConnor]

The real problem is there is no coach who we Really need on the market.

Accepting being comfortable at being uncomfortable is like a mechanism for us as we have put up with garbage and bullshit spiel from Mcmoron.

We had ample opportunity to get a coach over the last 3-4 years yet we persisted with shit.

There is a saying that shit just sticks to you and you need to wash it away with a water blaster.
Unless we wash away anything and everyone to do with McGregor we will always have that stench of shit hanging around which is going to turn off everyone

 

[Dragon David]

Whoever becomes our new coach will need time to fix the mess were in

We will expect to much to fast and they will be crucified

In all reality our recruitment has been rubbish and we don't have the cattle at present to be anything more than a 7th to 13th placed team

So true St Tangles.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Whoever becomes our new coach will need time to fix the mess were in

We will expect to much to fast and they will be crucified

In all reality our recruitment has been rubbish and we don't have the cattle at present to be anything more than a 7th to 13th placed team

This 100%

The real legacy of McGregor will be length and depth he went to to survive. Not coach.
Our new coach, whoever that may be, will not have a magic bullet that will instantly solve our problems. This will take at least 2yrs to achieve any semblance of consistant performance and achievement. Then of course we will return to Young as our next 'career' coach thereafter and the cycle will rinse and repeat.

The dream of signing this player and that player is just that, a dream.
Players are avoiding us like the plague as are their managers.

Unfortunately, we will become a Knights clone of seasons past, relying on juniors to even fill a squad nonetheless fielding an NRL squad. How long did it take for them to dig themselves out? Thats our reality.