Dragons Coach 2021 and Beyond

[Gareth67]

Gossip today from a big guy at Foxsports and legend of the game who I see occasionally , not some drunk guy at the pub
His thoughts on Saints if anyone interested

Flanagan leaving Saints end year, doesn’t want job and that’s why he only signed 1year

Fitzgibbon won’t apply job , but would consider it if he was approached and probably take it . He knows Fitzgibbon well and interestingly while saying he is the best assistant and great defensive coach he had concerns re him having the required skill set at this stage and worried he could handle mess at St G

He thinks Green would be the best option if it was him choosing but he has heard Green desperate for the Broncs and likely get it . They are desperate experienced coach and while some segment want Walters , more favour Green

He personally is a fan Bennett , thinks he is a bit too old and past it now ,but likely the best option that we can actually get to move on , if Bennett interested jumping across

When asked about the other old coach options
Griffin
Toovey
Walters etc

Says that these guys are not employed currently for a very very good reason
Knows all of them well and wouldn’t have any of them
Said all 3 a terrible mistake

I thought it was interesting anyway

Good to have another chap on the forum who can supply the rest of us with some first-hand information Mjab .

Keep up the good work buddy .

 

[thebigredv]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/0c7acaddf46505b60ff01f1c3c8b0090

 

[getsmarty]

• 
  Back to the future: Dragons identify the type of coach they are after
  Michael Chammas
  August 19, 2020 — 1.31pm
  • Send via Email
  Leave a comment
  
  St George Illawarra have identified the qualities they want in their next coach, prioritising defence and discipline as the key characteristics in their search for Paul McGregor's successor.
  
  The Dragons board met on Tuesday night and set a four- to six-week timeline on finalising the appointment for 2021, the club hopeful of announcing the new coach before the end of this season.
  
  
  
  
  Wayne Bennett during his time at the Dragons back in 2010.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  The Dragons are after a defence-minded coach with an emphasis on discipline that has experienced a culture of success. It's the same philosophy Wayne Bennett brought to the club when he helped the club break its premiership drought back in 2010.
  
  Roosters assistant coach and former Dragons player Craig Fitzgibbon, who is in charge of the defence of the back-to-back premiers, ticks all those boxes. Although it appears unlikely Fitzgibbon, one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the NRL, will walk out on the Roosters before the end of next season regardless of whether Nick Politis and Trent Robinson provide him with their blessing to take the job.
  
  The board has asked chief executive Ryan Webb to draw up a hit-list of candidates that fits the criteria they outlined on Tuesday night, with some coaches already reaching out to the club to throw their hat in the ring.
  
  Fitzgibbon, Paul Green, Anthony Griffin, Wayne Bennett, Todd Payten and interim coach Dean Young are all expected to be on the club's target list after parting ways with McGregor following last Friday's win against Parramatta.
  
  
  
  
  Roosters coaching duo of Craig Fitzgibbon and Trent Robinson.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  St George Illawarra officials believe they have the attacking prowess in their roster to make a dent in the competition, but defence remains a concern heading into next season.
  
  Shane Flanagan will have to convince the NRL his suspension should be reduced by 12 months if he is to coach the Dragons in 2021, however the governing body appears to have little appetite in revisiting the issue.
  
  Another coach who ticks all the boxes the Dragons are after is Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, who is believed to have recently expressed interest in the Cowboys job via a third party.
  
  The former Rabbitohs premiership-winning coach is renowned for his disciplinarian ways, but hasn't had success with a Tigers roster that is struggling to come to terms with his philosophy. Maguire only has one more season to run on his deal with the Tigers and is no guarantee of earning an extension given the fact he looks set to miss the finals for the second straight year at the club.
  
  The last time the Dragons won a premiership in 2010, their campaign was built on the back of defence, with the club adamant it needs to adopt the same philosophy if it is to once again return to the top of the NRL.
  
  While Bennett was the man at the helm when the Dragons broke their drought a decade ago, there are some at the club who are questioning whether he still has what it takes to do it again considering he turns 71 next year.
  
  
  
  
  St George Illawarra Dragons players during the win against Parramatta last week.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ba...-of-coach-they-are-after-20200819-p55n7c.html

 

[getsmarty]

I don’t want to give myself a wrap’: Wayne Bennett’s genius revealed in 2010 Grand Final halftime speech
NRL Premiership

• August 19, 2020 4:49pm
• Mark St John@markdfstjohn
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Wayne Bennett after the 2010 Grand Final.Source: News Corp Australia
Paul Kent has lifted the lid on Wayne Bennett’s halftime speech during the 2010 Grand Final that saw the Dragons overcome a Roosters lead and storm home to win the premiership.
The Dragons won the minor premiership that year by four points, but the Roosters were in red hot form going into the decider and held a slender 8-6 lead at the break.

Roosters coach Brian Smith was benefiting from a more relaxed approach to previous grand final attempts, but Kent revealed the difference in halftime speeches that went a long way towards deciding the title that year.

“The Roosters were leading 8-6 at halftime and there was some vision of the coaches from the cameras in the dressing sheds,” Kent said on The Matty Johns podcast.

“Wayne Bennett walks in and says something to St George and I would only find out later what he said. But he just walked around arms folded talking.

“Then you see the Roosters dressing room with Brian Smith going berserk on the whiteboard.

“I thought Mate too much information. So suddenly he is pointing and telling them to do this, do this, do this.

“The players were getting inundated with information while they were trying to cop a breather.”

The Roosters came out and didn’t score another point as the Dragons stormed home to win 32-8 to claim a drought-breaking premiership.

It was Bennett’s seventh and to date last premiership win, while Smith sadly never won a grand final from three attempts with the Dragons, Eels and Roosters.

Kent set out to find what Bennett said to inspire such a turnaround in his until then underperforming troops.

“I said to Bennett after the game what did you say to them at halftime,” Kent recalled.

“He said, I’m not telling you. And I said, why aren’t you telling me. He said because I don’t want to give myself a wrap.

Wayne Bennett at the 2010 Grand Final breakfast.Source: News Limited
“I thought well it won’t be long before I get this out then. But I found out what he said. He walked in and the Dragons who had a great season and had been building to this for years. That was why Bennett was brought in.

“He walked in at halftime and he said, guys when are we going to start playing like St George?

“And that was all he said. That was his message. Just go out and play your game and do what you do.”

Wayne Bennett, Jamie Soward (L) and Dean Young celebrate the 2010 Grand Final win.Source: News Limited
The simplicity of Bennett’s message struck a chord with his players who saved their best 40 minutes until the last 40 minutes of the season.

Smith’s far less relaxed approach across in the other dressing room left his players confused about how to go about winning the game.

“Poor old Brian Smith with the whiteboard,” Kent recalled.

Roosters coach Brian Smith digests the 2010 Grand Final defeat.Source: News Limited
“I felt sorry for him because he got to the end of that game and he was gutted because you could see him thinking, I’ve done everything right this time, where have I gone wrong?

“He had it right for everything but the last 40 minutes.”

Matty Johns pinpointed that ability to know when to tighten and loosen the reins that makes Bennett such a special coach.

“It is the ability to handle the pressure and to know when to pull back,” Johns said.

“That is the key. Some coaches go in there and they can almost touch it and they overcoach.”


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/0c7acaddf46505b60ff01f1c3c8b0090

P.S thank you @thebigredv

 

[Coffs dragon]

• 
  Back to the future: Dragons identify the type of coach they are after
  Michael Chammas
  August 19, 2020 — 1.31pm
  • Send via Email
  Leave a comment
  
  St George Illawarra have identified the qualities they want in their next coach, prioritising defence and discipline as the key characteristics in their search for Paul McGregor's successor.
  
  The Dragons board met on Tuesday night and set a four- to six-week timeline on finalising the appointment for 2021, the club hopeful of announcing the new coach before the end of this season.
  
  
  
  
  Wayne Bennett during his time at the Dragons back in 2010.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  The Dragons are after a defence-minded coach with an emphasis on discipline that has experienced a culture of success. It's the same philosophy Wayne Bennett brought to the club when he helped the club break its premiership drought back in 2010.
  
  Roosters assistant coach and former Dragons player Craig Fitzgibbon, who is in charge of the defence of the back-to-back premiers, ticks all those boxes. Although it appears unlikely Fitzgibbon, one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the NRL, will walk out on the Roosters before the end of next season regardless of whether Nick Politis and Trent Robinson provide him with their blessing to take the job.
  
  The board has asked chief executive Ryan Webb to draw up a hit-list of candidates that fits the criteria they outlined on Tuesday night, with some coaches already reaching out to the club to throw their hat in the ring.
  
  Fitzgibbon, Paul Green, Anthony Griffin, Wayne Bennett, Todd Payten and interim coach Dean Young are all expected to be on the club's target list after parting ways with McGregor following last Friday's win against Parramatta.
  
  
  
  
  Roosters coaching duo of Craig Fitzgibbon and Trent Robinson.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  St George Illawarra officials believe they have the attacking prowess in their roster to make a dent in the competition, but defence remains a concern heading into next season.
  
  Shane Flanagan will have to convince the NRL his suspension should be reduced by 12 months if he is to coach the Dragons in 2021, however the governing body appears to have little appetite in revisiting the issue.
  
  Another coach who ticks all the boxes the Dragons are after is Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, who is believed to have recently expressed interest in the Cowboys job via a third party.
  
  The former Rabbitohs premiership-winning coach is renowned for his disciplinarian ways, but hasn't had success with a Tigers roster that is struggling to come to terms with his philosophy. Maguire only has one more season to run on his deal with the Tigers and is no guarantee of earning an extension given the fact he looks set to miss the finals for the second straight year at the club.
  
  The last time the Dragons won a premiership in 2010, their campaign was built on the back of defence, with the club adamant it needs to adopt the same philosophy if it is to once again return to the top of the NRL.
  
  While Bennett was the man at the helm when the Dragons broke their drought a decade ago, there are some at the club who are questioning whether he still has what it takes to do it again considering he turns 71 next year.
  
  
  
  
  St George Illawarra Dragons players during the win against Parramatta last week.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ba...-of-coach-they-are-after-20200819-p55n7c.html

In other words, unless the club can get a Bennett, Maguire, Bellamy to break a contract....then we are screwed in 2021 for limited choices.

 

[since77]

• 
  Back to the future: Dragons identify the type of coach they are after
  Michael Chammas
  August 19, 2020 — 1.31pm
  • Send via Email
  Leave a comment
  
  St George Illawarra have identified the qualities they want in their next coach, prioritising defence and discipline as the key characteristics in their search for Paul McGregor's successor.
  
  The Dragons board met on Tuesday night and set a four- to six-week timeline on finalising the appointment for 2021, the club hopeful of announcing the new coach before the end of this season.
  
  
  
  
  Wayne Bennett during his time at the Dragons back in 2010.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  The Dragons are after a defence-minded coach with an emphasis on discipline that has experienced a culture of success. It's the same philosophy Wayne Bennett brought to the club when he helped the club break its premiership drought back in 2010.
  
  Roosters assistant coach and former Dragons player Craig Fitzgibbon, who is in charge of the defence of the back-to-back premiers, ticks all those boxes. Although it appears unlikely Fitzgibbon, one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the NRL, will walk out on the Roosters before the end of next season regardless of whether Nick Politis and Trent Robinson provide him with their blessing to take the job.
  
  The board has asked chief executive Ryan Webb to draw up a hit-list of candidates that fits the criteria they outlined on Tuesday night, with some coaches already reaching out to the club to throw their hat in the ring.
  
  Fitzgibbon, Paul Green, Anthony Griffin, Wayne Bennett, Todd Payten and interim coach Dean Young are all expected to be on the club's target list after parting ways with McGregor following last Friday's win against Parramatta.
  
  
  
  
  Roosters coaching duo of Craig Fitzgibbon and Trent Robinson.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  St George Illawarra officials believe they have the attacking prowess in their roster to make a dent in the competition, but defence remains a concern heading into next season.
  
  Shane Flanagan will have to convince the NRL his suspension should be reduced by 12 months if he is to coach the Dragons in 2021, however the governing body appears to have little appetite in revisiting the issue.
  
  Another coach who ticks all the boxes the Dragons are after is Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, who is believed to have recently expressed interest in the Cowboys job via a third party.
  
  The former Rabbitohs premiership-winning coach is renowned for his disciplinarian ways, but hasn't had success with a Tigers roster that is struggling to come to terms with his philosophy. Maguire only has one more season to run on his deal with the Tigers and is no guarantee of earning an extension given the fact he looks set to miss the finals for the second straight year at the club.
  
  The last time the Dragons won a premiership in 2010, their campaign was built on the back of defence, with the club adamant it needs to adopt the same philosophy if it is to once again return to the top of the NRL.
  
  While Bennett was the man at the helm when the Dragons broke their drought a decade ago, there are some at the club who are questioning whether he still has what it takes to do it again considering he turns 71 next year.
  
  
  
  
  St George Illawarra Dragons players during the win against Parramatta last week.Credit:NRL Photos
  
  https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ba...-of-coach-they-are-after-20200819-p55n7c.html

If this report is true it gives me some hope that Webb is actually putting thought into this process.

 

[Inisai Toga]

I don’t want to give myself a wrap’: Wayne Bennett’s genius revealed in 2010 Grand Final halftime speech
NRL Premiership

• August 19, 2020 4:49pm
• Mark St John@markdfstjohn
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Wayne Bennett after the 2010 Grand Final.Source: News Corp Australia
Paul Kent has lifted the lid on Wayne Bennett’s halftime speech during the 2010 Grand Final that saw the Dragons overcome a Roosters lead and storm home to win the premiership.
The Dragons won the minor premiership that year by four points, but the Roosters were in red hot form going into the decider and held a slender 8-6 lead at the break.

Roosters coach Brian Smith was benefiting from a more relaxed approach to previous grand final attempts, but Kent revealed the difference in halftime speeches that went a long way towards deciding the title that year.

“The Roosters were leading 8-6 at halftime and there was some vision of the coaches from the cameras in the dressing sheds,” Kent said on The Matty Johns podcast.

“Wayne Bennett walks in and says something to St George and I would only find out later what he said. But he just walked around arms folded talking.

“Then you see the Roosters dressing room with Brian Smith going berserk on the whiteboard.

“I thought Mate too much information. So suddenly he is pointing and telling them to do this, do this, do this.

“The players were getting inundated with information while they were trying to cop a breather.”

The Roosters came out and didn’t score another point as the Dragons stormed home to win 32-8 to claim a drought-breaking premiership.

It was Bennett’s seventh and to date last premiership win, while Smith sadly never won a grand final from three attempts with the Dragons, Eels and Roosters.

Kent set out to find what Bennett said to inspire such a turnaround in his until then underperforming troops.

“I said to Bennett after the game what did you say to them at halftime,” Kent recalled.

“He said, I’m not telling you. And I said, why aren’t you telling me. He said because I don’t want to give myself a wrap.

Wayne Bennett at the 2010 Grand Final breakfast.Source: News Limited
“I thought well it won’t be long before I get this out then. But I found out what he said. He walked in and the Dragons who had a great season and had been building to this for years. That was why Bennett was brought in.

“He walked in at halftime and he said, guys when are we going to start playing like St George?

“And that was all he said. That was his message. Just go out and play your game and do what you do.”

Wayne Bennett, Jamie Soward (L) and Dean Young celebrate the 2010 Grand Final win.Source: News Limited
The simplicity of Bennett’s message struck a chord with his players who saved their best 40 minutes until the last 40 minutes of the season.

Smith’s far less relaxed approach across in the other dressing room left his players confused about how to go about winning the game.

“Poor old Brian Smith with the whiteboard,” Kent recalled.

Roosters coach Brian Smith digests the 2010 Grand Final defeat.Source: News Limited
“I felt sorry for him because he got to the end of that game and he was gutted because you could see him thinking, I’ve done everything right this time, where have I gone wrong?

“He had it right for everything but the last 40 minutes.”

Matty Johns pinpointed that ability to know when to tighten and loosen the reins that makes Bennett such a special coach.

“It is the ability to handle the pressure and to know when to pull back,” Johns said.

“That is the key. Some coaches go in there and they can almost touch it and they overcoach.”


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/0c7acaddf46505b60ff01f1c3c8b0090

P.S thank you @thebigredv

Wow, what a scoop, give me break! Hardly Sigmund Freud psychological insight from other parties comments into coaching. Great to hear about Saints winning and Bennett talents but .....?

 

[redandwhite4evr]

If this report is true it gives me some hope that Webb is actually putting thought into this process.

One of the three criteria- having coached in a winning culture- surely rules Young out of the long-term job- but the cynic in me wouldn't rule out the Board, even with Albert excusing himself, ignoring their own guidelines to keep the nepotistic culture intact.

 

[_Johnsy]

No mention of Wane in that article, that in itself could be very telling. When the club is drip feeding info to “journos” what’s omitted is sometimes more important than the information contained in the article.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons $6m man says Red V should go on Hunt for experienced coach

Christian Nicolussi
59 mins ago

Getty
Rookie coach Dean Young has been widely endorsed to be the man to steer St George Illawarra next year, but Dragons star Ben Hunt believes the club would be best suited to appoint an experienced coach.

The Red V's $6 million man also said he would have no problems being reunited with Wayne Bennett if the club were serious about luring the veteran back.

Hunt is signed until the end of 2023 and has plenty of interest in who the club appoints to succeed Paul McGregor.

While the Queensland and Kangaroos utility has a lot of time for Young, and backed him to do the job if given the nod, he believed the ideal situation would be to go with an experienced campaigner with a proven record who could coax the best out of the young playing group.

Bennett has reiterated his desire to see out his deal at Souths until the end of 2021, but is expected to feature on the Dragons' short-list along with Paul Green, Anthony Griffin, Todd Payten, Young and Craig Fitzgibbon, who like Bennett has made it clear he won't cut and run a year early from the Roosters.

A decision is expected in the next four to six weeks. Young has a lot of support, but so did first-time head coach McGregor and Steve Price before him, and both failed to deliver any silverware.

"I'm definitely interested in who they appoint, and from the moment I heard we were moving on from 'Mary' [McGregor], I was like, 'who are we going to get?' " Hunt told the Herald.

"Straight away you start thinking about which coaches are available.

"There's been talk about what we've done with the past couple of coaches and how we've hired within.

"In my opinion I think an experienced coach is probably the way to go.

"We have a young group, I'm 30 and I'm the second eldest in the group.

"With Wayne I'd happily play under him again. We had an up and down ride at Brisbane, but I always thought he was a great coach and he did the right thing by the team.

"If he did get the job I'd be happy. I respect him and I'm pretty sure he respects me. He always gets the best out of the players he's got."

Hunt has been impressed with Young who starts his six games in charge as caretaker coach on Friday night against the Broncos.

What he lacks in experience, Hunt said, could be offset by having Shane Flanagan supporting him.

"We've only had a few days at training but Deano has been very clear about what he expects from us and what he wants," said Hunt, as he took time out from a VB Thirst promotion this week.

"Deano hasn't given me a long-term plan but as of right now he'll keep playing me at No.9, we spoke about how our team is set up at the moment and he thinks that's the best position for me the rest of this year.

"He is pretty solid in what he wants from players and he sticks with it and drives it. He demands we're 'on' whenever we start training."

Hunt is determined for the Dragons to succeed. He has lost count the number of times he has been asked about the pressure that comes with his whopping price tag, with the Queenslander taking up an option for 2023 during the COVID-19 shutdown.

The Dragons are definitely his home, even though his former club and Friday's opponents Brisbane could do with his experience and playmaking qualities.

While the Dragons' fans demand excellence, Hunt said their expectations were nothing compared to those in love with the Broncos.

"They've had a lot of success up there, and when you lose a few games it feels like the whole city turns against you," said Hunt, who spent nine seasons at Red Hill.

"Every day I look at my phone something new pops up about that club. I've still got some good mates there. It's tough because you go out and do your best, you don't get the results, and it's hard to perform each week when there's so much going on around the place."

The Dragons stunned the Eels last week in McGregor's farewell game, but know repeating it will be a big challenge.


https://www.msn.com/en-au/sports/ru...-go-on-hunt-for-experienced-coach/ar-BB18bKro

 

[thebigredv]

I agree with Ben. Good on him for speaking his mind.

 

[George Dragon]

with the Queenslander taking up an option for 2023 during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Interesting

 

[Dragon David]

Interesting

It could mean that Hunt is a happy Dragon and likes the environment for his family and that he might also like where the club is heading with players and coaches going forward.

 

[matPORTS]

What we need is, not so much a Bellamy or a Hasler (although it would be great), but a type of coach in this mold who can lead the joint for the next 10-15 years. Three key criteria which come to mind.

Authoritarian-type - expects absolute excellence from his players and staff.

Someone to develop a blue-print of the style of footy the club will play based on it's identity and culture - we are a minimum 2-3 years away from being a genuine minor-premiership / top four contender again This is what Bellamy did in his first three years at the Storm. In those early years they were mid-lower top 8. Since then, always in contention for the minor premiership (barring the cheating scandal of course).

Someone who has an eye for talent - not just nurturing the juniors through the system but also bringing in the right talent from outside the club who fits into the system and culture. Someone who can find that next C Smith, Slater, Cronk or Trboijevic Brothers in our system (maybe a bit much to ask but there is no denying the potential of talent we have coming through). Someone who can stop the current rot of us being a retirement village for over the hill players, and think outside the box in terms of our recruitment.

My belief - in terms of who the St George Illawarra Dragons are in the modern day. We need to pay homage to the St George history of excellence and success. But we also need to be a mold of what Melbourne & Manly are. Strive for excellence in everything that we do (Melbourne style) while also having that (Manly style) siege mentality of our rivals hating us and hating to come play at Kogarah and Wollongong.

Again, Bellamy or Des are extremely unlikely.

Is that person a Wayne Bennett? He isn't going to lead the place long term (but see next points).

Is that person a Dean Young or Ben Hornby? Under the guidance of Bennett as a coaching director whilst we build the blue-print I refer to above? Will either be able to sustain an authoritarian nature, sustain the blue print long term and have that sharp eye for talent to keep the club successful long term?

Is that person a Craig Fitzgibbon or Jason Ryles? Both of whom have spent time in quality systems as both players and assistant coaches, and also understand the Dragons culture. Will they still need a quality assistant / coaching director to see through the early years?

Is that person a Shaun Wane? He could no doubt be his own man without the need for a quality coaching director or assistant in the background. He strikes me as someone who could meet the criteria outlined abvoe. However, hailing from the UK, how long could he realistically be in the job? If pressure starts to build down the road because the results aren't coming, how long before he gets "home sick" and wants out?

Is that person Shane Flanagan? Despite the scandals there was no doubt he built a very good & successful Sharks team that had a good mix of their own junior talent and quality recruits from outside. Given his ban until 2022... do we keep Young in the job as interim? If we go down this path, I'd really like to see lots of focus on the talent criteria in 2021 (give those juniors a red hot crack and prepare to go nuts in 2022).

Geoff Toovey, Anthony Griffin, Paul Green - all have varying levels of experience and will no doubt be their own men. Not sure how long term any of them would be.

 

[Dragon David]

What we need is, not so much a Bellamy or a Hasler (although it would be great), but a type of coach in this mold who can lead the joint for the next 10-15 years. Three key criteria which come to mind.

Authoritarian-type - expects absolute excellence from his players and staff.

Someone to develop a blue-print of the style of footy the club will play based on it's identity and culture - we are a minimum 2-3 years away from being a genuine minor-premiership / top four contender again This is what Bellamy did in his first three years at the Storm. In those early years they were mid-lower top 8. Since then, always in contention for the minor premiership (barring the cheating scandal of course).

Someone who has an eye for talent - not just nurturing the juniors through the system but also bringing in the right talent from outside the club who fits into the system and culture. Someone who can find that next C Smith, Slater, Cronk or Trboijevic Brothers in our system (maybe a bit much to ask but there is no denying the potential of talent we have coming through). Someone who can stop the current rot of us being a retirement village for over the hill players, and think outside the box in terms of our recruitment.

My belief - in terms of who the St George Illawarra Dragons are in the modern day. We need to pay homage to the St George history of excellence and success. But we also need to be a mold of what Melbourne & Manly are. Strive for excellence in everything that we do (Melbourne style) while also having that (Manly style) siege mentality of our rivals hating us and hating to come play at Kogarah and Wollongong.

Again, Bellamy or Des are extremely unlikely.

Is that person a Wayne Bennett? He isn't going to lead the place long term (but see next points).

Is that person a Dean Young or Ben Hornby? Under the guidance of Bennett as a coaching director whilst we build the blue-print I refer to above? Will either be able to sustain an authoritarian nature, sustain the blue print long term and have that sharp eye for talent to keep the club successful long term?

Is that person a Craig Fitzgibbon or Jason Ryles? Both of whom have spent time in quality systems as both players and assistant coaches, and also understand the Dragons culture. Will they still need a quality assistant / coaching director to see through the early years?

Is that person a Shaun Wane? He could no doubt be his own man without the need for a quality coaching director or assistant in the background. He strikes me as someone who could meet the criteria outlined abvoe. However, hailing from the UK, how long could he realistically be in the job? If pressure starts to build down the road because the results aren't coming, how long before he gets "home sick" and wants out?

Is that person Shane Flanagan? Despite the scandals there was no doubt he built a very good & successful Sharks team that had a good mix of their own junior talent and quality recruits from outside. Given his ban until 2022... do we keep Young in the job as interim? If we go down this path, I'd really like to see lots of focus on the talent criteria in 2021 (give those juniors a red hot crack and prepare to go nuts in 2022).

Geoff Toovey, Anthony Griffin, Paul Green - all have varying levels of experience and will no doubt be their own men. Not sure how long term any of them would be.

IMO a good analysis matPORTS. Who would you like to see as the head coach that would fit the criteria you outlined? Who would be capable of instilling into the future players we engage of what is consistently required to maintain top of the ladder positions like the Storm and Roosters?

 

[matPORTS]

IMO a good analysis matPORTS. Who would you like to see as the head coach that would fit the criteria you outlined? Who would be capable of instilling into the future players we engage of what is consistently required to maintain top of the ladder positions like the Storm and Roosters?

In all honesty, if I am running the club right now, I am more than prepared to wait on Flanagan and leave Young as interim for one year. Seeing I'm also running the club, Dean Young would be told this is what is happening and he should either be prepared for an assistant role or another job on staff in 2022, or if he wants out then we can perhaps put James Shepherd in as the interim face.

My hope is that Flanno will have by now learnt from the mistakes of his past while also leaning on the experience and success he's also got/had.

Give Flanno a new contract as an assistant for 2021, allow him to do as much as he can in terms of creating structures (attack, defense, etc), thinking about what his list might look like for 2022, and also keeping an eye on the juniors + pathways (someone with experienced head will be needed in there next year to help/mentor to the junior coaches given how things have stalled this year due to COVID - and it's also the time for him to assess what he needs in there from a coaching and staffing standpoint to set things up for longer term success).

 

[Craig93]

Interesting

Maybe he has an idea on who will be coaching next year already

 

[Dragon David]

In all honesty, if I am running the club right now, I am more than prepared to wait on Flanagan and leave Young as interim for one year. Seeing I'm also running the club, Dean Young would be told this is what is happening and he should either be prepared for an assistant role or another job on staff in 2022, or if he wants out then we can perhaps put James Shepherd in as the interim face.

My hope is that Flanno will have by now learnt from the mistakes of his past while also leaning on the experience and success he's also got/had.

Give Flanno a new contract as an assistant for 2021, allow him to do as much as he can in terms of creating structures (attack, defense, etc), thinking about what his list might look like for 2022, and also keeping an eye on the juniors + pathways (someone with experienced head will be needed in there next year to help/mentor to the junior coaches given how things have stalled this year due to COVID - and it's also the time for him to assess what he needs in there from a coaching and staffing standpoint to set things up for longer term success).

That's how I would see it as well. I'm interested to see how Young puts it all together during the next say 4-5 games. If he loses more than he wins, his confidence could be shot and I am wondering whether or not he has the ability to be the one with all of the attributes to maintain consistent good results of which is what we want. He might very well be on target with wins in all games and who knows, this might get him the full time head coach for 2021 and beyond.

Flanagan as we know has been able to get good blending of the roster when he was at the Sharks and in all likelihood John Morris will get a new contract there which will mean that Flano will either renew his assistant coaching contract with the Dragons for the next year if he fails to have his balance of the ban dismissed by the NRL and quite possibly be contracted at the latter part of 2021 as the head coach which will enable him to make his selections for assistant coaches and playing squad.

This would mean that Young might be offered a year as interim coach for 2021. I know not many of us would want this but if Flanagan is the guy the BOD want longer term, then an interim coach is needed - this might suit Young. There would not be any other coach on the market willing to take on a contract for a year as interim I would hazard a guess. Other coaches such as Bennett, Wane and Fitzgibbon etc have commitments so in all likelihood won't be available in 2021.

There is so much for the BOD to consider in the next 4-6 weeks. A lot to do with who they are targeting and if their priority will be available and prepared to join the coaching staff at the Dragons.

 

[possm]

In all honesty, if I am running the club right now, I am more than prepared to wait on Flanagan and leave Young as interim for one year. Seeing I'm also running the club, Dean Young would be told this is what is happening and he should either be prepared for an assistant role or another job on staff in 2022, or if he wants out then we can perhaps put James Shepherd in as the interim face.

My hope is that Flanno will have by now learnt from the mistakes of his past while also leaning on the experience and success he's also got/had.

Give Flanno a new contract as an assistant for 2021, allow him to do as much as he can in terms of creating structures (attack, defense, etc), thinking about what his list might look like for 2022, and also keeping an eye on the juniors + pathways (someone with experienced head will be needed in there next year to help/mentor to the junior coaches given how things have stalled this year due to COVID - and it's also the time for him to assess what he needs in there from a coaching and staffing standpoint to set things up for longer term success).

I'm leaning more and more towards Bennett right now with Young and Hornby as assistants. An apprenticeship under Bennett is worth something but if they do not wat to do this, then Bennett can pick his own assistants.

If the NRL don't lift Flanagan's suspension at the end of this season, I doubt he will sign on for another season as an assistant without a guarantee of the head coach job in 2022.

Players who like to have a bludge and like a more care-free environment would like the easy-going Young to take over as coach. Those same players including Hunt would not be please if the tough guy Bennett was appointed head coach. The bonus with Bennett as head coach, the players who don't want to do the work will request a release, which is good for both parties.

Millward and Craig Young would be two voices who would not like Bennett to be appointed purely for self interest reasons.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I think the next 4-6 weeks will be very interesting, we can all speculate and put forward our personal preferences, but, at the end if the day our CEO Mr Webb will be charged with making a pretty monumental decision on who our coach will be moving forward.

Everyday we see new columns written on this subject,ceach one directing focus on a different candidate.

However, what still concerns me tbh is that the Cowboys still haven't announced their new coach. Once they do, then our picture becomes much clearer (imo). What are they waiting for?