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Nothing will change

muzby

Village Idiot
Staff member
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45,968
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Belta

Juniors
Messages
1,128
I have a very bad feeling that despite all these ‘ rumours ‘

Nothing will change

Paul McGregor will stay

And the roster will change minimally


I know a coach is not figured in on so called salary cap but I strongly suspect that a lack of cash flow is largely responsible for our poor recruitment in recent times. Hardly any notable signings leaving us with second rate wingers, centres and fullback.

Compare this to the “Ritchie rich clubs” who always miraculously replenish their superstar teams with an endless supply of better and better super stars without even a murmur about over spending from anyone particularly any media sources.

This is why I agree we’ll have little to no change despite all the fan fare. I cant see the necessary cash becoming available to pay out 1.2 mil for Mary and than atleast or likely more to bring in a upgraded replacement and just as important some upgraded players.

I Just can’t see it eventuating, so yeah you’re right on the money. I envisage pain followed by more pain and finishing up with you guessed it even more pain.
 

Wittenberg

Juniors
Messages
1,140
Big Rig I’m with you. He ain’t going. All the noise regarding a ‘review’ has been heard before and the media cheer squad have been pushing the JBD card very strongly. God in yesterday’s Telegraph where they had eight pages on the NRL and put some news item on just about every club, we were not mentioned. No we have him again in 2020 for the first “8 weeks “ at least, same as for the last three years. I cried with laughter when Kent said that Mary should be praised for holding the team together after the DeBelin saga rather than criticised. Siiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhh
 

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,921
I know a coach is not figured in on so called salary cap but I strongly suspect that a lack of cash flow is largely responsible for our poor recruitment in recent times. Hardly any notable signings leaving us with second rate wingers, centres and fullback.

Compare this to the “Ritchie rich clubs” who always miraculously replenish their superstar teams with an endless supply of better and better super stars without even a murmur about over spending from anyone particularly any media sources.

This is why I agree we’ll have little to no change despite all the fan fare. I cant see the necessary cash becoming available to pay out 1.2 mil for Mary and than atleast or likely more to bring in a upgraded replacement and just as important some upgraded players.

I Just can’t see it eventuating, so yeah you’re right on the money. I envisage pain followed by more pain and finishing up with you guessed it even more pain.
We paid plenty for Hunt and will now pay plenty for Graham and will do so for Norman.
Our recruitment has been opportunistic and not very carefully thought out $$$ wise..
 
Messages
2,866
I know a coach is not figured in on so called salary cap but I strongly suspect that a lack of cash flow is largely responsible for our poor recruitment in recent times. Hardly any notable signings leaving us with second rate wingers, centres and fullback.

Compare this to the “Ritchie rich clubs” who always miraculously replenish their superstar teams with an endless supply of better and better super stars without even a murmur about over spending from anyone particularly any media sources.

This is why I agree we’ll have little to no change despite all the fan fare. I cant see the necessary cash becoming available to pay out 1.2 mil for Mary and than atleast or likely more to bring in a upgraded replacement and just as important some upgraded players.

I Just can’t see it eventuating, so yeah you’re right on the money. I envisage pain followed by more pain and finishing up with you guessed it even more pain.
It would be interesting to see actual (true) membership and attendance figures since McGregor took charge and especially 2019.
If the Board sees their income tanking, they have no choice but to do something drastic.
What may be emerging with Gould is a cheap band aid solution whereby they give the impression to the fans that Gould is being hired on a long term mission whereas he will only participate short term in a skewed review in an attempt to exonerate McGregor and keep him on.
That won't cost much and the Board can point to Gould and say how astute their decision was to keep McGregor going if Gould conveniently comes to that conclusion during his review.
The real tragedy is that contract extension earlier in the year. Second time the club has made the same mistake and Johnston threw his total support behind McGregor.
In the objective world of business, the sequence of events should be:
1. Bring in an independent hatchet man - could be Gould or someone else.
2. Fire Johnston for perpetrating and perpetuating this mess.
3. Fire McGregor and all his assistants.
4. Fire Millward as he is a major contributor to this disaster.
5. Install a new coaching regime and let that champion bring in his own support staff.
Then the fans could have something to look forward to instead of dreading the start of the 2020 season.
I know it ain't going to happen but I am just taking a leaf out of Possm's book.
 
Last edited:

Belta

Juniors
Messages
1,128
We paid plenty for Hunt and will now pay plenty for Graham and will do so for Norman.
Our recruitment has been opportunistic and not very carefully thought out $$$ wise..

I’m not disagreeing that the recruitment is poorly balanced and poorly planned , (and I’m not saying I’m right) but to me most of the top 8 sides pay big coin for their halves, yet them seem to have better depth and better quality spread throughout their sides. Us, well - we have some clay that you can work with but we also have some poop which isn’t as easy to mould, and is the difference between us and them.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,251
I’m not disagreeing that the recruitment is poorly balanced and poorly planned , (and I’m not saying I’m right) but to me most of the top 8 sides pay big coin for their halves, yet them seem to have better depth and better quality spread throughout their sides. Us, well - we have some clay that you can work with but we also have some poop which isn’t as easy to mould, and is the difference between us and them.

We also have virtually zero 3rd party.
 

SaintPeter

Juniors
Messages
318
Starting, (I dont know why now, because its been on us for ten years already) to get the impression we need to get used to average and mediocre years ahead.
The club is now centered around a very low TPA availability area and limited supporter base area due to the changing demographic of the St George district and Wollongong as well, in respect to Rugby League in general.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,251
Dragons draft in Gould to help with end-of-season review
Author
Brad Walter NRL.com Senior Reporter
Timestamp
Fri 6 Sep 2019, 05:51 PM
walterbrad-head.png

Phil Gould will begin a review of St George Illawarra football operations next week after being approached by Dragons coach Paul McGregor.

Gould, NSW’s most successful State of Origin coach and a two-time premiership-winning mentor with Canterbury and Penrith, has more than 30 years experience as a coach, administrator and commentator and is considered one of the most knowledgeable people in the game.

He was a guest at the annual Illawarra Rugby League luncheon in Wollongong, which was a roast in honour of McGregor and attended by many of his former team-mates and coaches.

McGregor later asked Gould to help out with St George Illawarra’s annual review of football operations and offer an outsider’s perspective on areas he and the club can improve.

After confirming his interest to Dragons CEO Brian Johnston, Gould will be involved with the review once the team’s season officially ends after Saturday’s match against Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium.

“Paul McGregor asked me a couple of weeks ago if I could provide an external set of eyes and ears over the Dragons' end-of-year review process,” Gould said. “I spoke with Brian Johnston this week. Brian, Paul and I will meet again next week after the Dragons' final game.”



Dragons out to honour milestones

While the specific details of Gould’s role are unclear, it is not expected that the review will lead to him taking on a permanent role with St George Illawarra.

Gould has previously been involved in end-of-season reviews at other clubs, most notably at North Queensland where he recommended to the Cowboys in 2010 that Neil Henry should remain as coach and Johnathan Thurston as captain.

“The end-of-year review process, conducted by every NRL club every year, represents part of the process of future planning,” Gould said.

“I’m happy to lend a hand. It's not a paid job. Every year, even during my time at Panthers, I get NRL coaches, assistant coaches, chairmen, CEOs and even players requesting to catch up and have a cup of coffee to talk about life, their football clubs and their careers. I've always been more than happy to help if I can.

“I’m looking forward to speaking with the Dragons club next week.”

Johnston said that while the club undertakes a review at the end of every year, it will have added significance this season given St George Illawarra’s disappointing 2019 campaign.

"Nobody at the club is happy with how the Dragons have performed and that's extended to all our stakeholders including members and supporters," Johnston said.

"We are committed to reviewing all aspects of our football department to ensure improvement in 2020."

There is no suggestion that McGregor’s job is under threat, and he is expected to commence his new two-year contract in 2020, but changes to the club’s coaching staff have been predicted.

A series of changes were made after the 2016 review overseen by a panel comprising former Dragons skipper Mark Coyne, sport scientist Dr Craig Duncan and performance specialists Dirk Melton and Clare Prideaux.

Among their recommendations was that McGregor leave recruitment decisions to St George Illawarra head of pathways Ian Millward so he could focus solely on coaching and the Dragons fell one win short of a finals berth in 2017 before finishing seventh last season after leading the premiership for 18 rounds.

Without the services of key forward Jack de Belin for the entire season due to the ARLC’s no-fault stand-down policy and captain Gareth Widdop for most of it after a shoulder injury, the Dragons have struggled and will finish 15th regardless of the result of Saturday’s match against Gold Coast.



Widdop reflects on Dragons memories

Tyson Frizell (ruptured testicle), James Graham (broken leg), Korbin Sims (broken arm), Corey Norman (fractured cheekbone), Tim Lafai (ankle), Zac Lomax (broken thumb) and Jeremy Latimore (knee) have also spent extended time on the sidelines.

Once the team was no longer in finals reckoning, Tariq Sims underwent surgery for a groin injury he had battled since round three and rookie winger Jason Saab had shoulder surgery, while hooker Cameron McInnes broke his leg in last weekend’s loss to Wests Tigers.

Besides the loss of Widdop (Warrington) and Jeremy Latimore (retiring), the Dragons roster will be largely unchanged in 2020, with the likes of Saab, Tristan Sailor and Jackson Ford expected to feature more regularly in the top team after making their debuts this season.

The club’s Canterbury Cup team are minor premiers and their under-20s are also in the finals of their NSWRL competition.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/09/06/dragons-draft-in-gould-to-help-with-end-of-season-review/
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,251
" McGregor later asked Gould to help out with St George Illawarra’s annual review of football operations and offer an outsider’s perspective on areas he and the club can improve."


Bingo...safe as Houses...its all smoke and mirrors....

I never thought I would get to a point were I dislike our club....that day is fast approaching thanks to the muppets on the Board.
 

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