How can you compare Mary and Seibold who is 5 games into his tenure at the Broncos?
You miss the whole point about McGregor.
It's too late to go through a "get to know McGregor, the Player's coach" media exercise with him.
We know his capabilities...many examples and a very modest win/loss ratio.
it's already been more than 5 years + another 2 coming up.
The real issue is his appointment in the first place - all arguments about McGregor's coaching start and finish right there.
This business about harmony in the squad is nonsense.
Does it mean that another half a dozen coaches would not have fostered the same type of harmony in our squad?
Bennett has been doing it for years but you don't see him using palsy nick names in the media conferences.
It's not a Mary exclusive is all I am saying - if it is even true.
No player is going to come out publicly and rubbish their coach no matter how bad he is.
Ultimately, what is missing is accountability and real results.
Fans and sponsors want to see St. George playing finals footy and challenging for the title.
That has never happened under McGregor and he has never been held accountable.
Good post, Dennis!
My own feeling was that it was ok to give Mary a go in 2014 but after that shocking 2016 season following the promise of 2015 he should certainly have been sacked.
Now I do not feel as angry as I did when his contract was reconfirmed for 2017. I thought at the time his incompetence was clear enough even for blind Freddie to see. Having failed to sack him then it is no surprise that he is again being extended. But why the decision is made so early in the season remains a paricular mystery to me.
At the beginning of 2017 I made the decision to continue my lifelong support of the Dragons despite Mary. That decision has been rewarded with some wonderful highs- Panthers, Game 1 2017, Broncos, Game 1 and Elimination Final, 2018 - and some terrible lows - Eels and Bulldogs 2018. Mary deserves credit for the long succession of victories in both seasons and deserves criticism for his inability to arrest the decline in each season.
I hope over the rest of this season and the next two we get more highs than lows. I do believe Mary has shown improvement as a coach yet I doubt that any other club would accept the slow rate at which he learns his lessons. It is just disappointing that he could so easily improve the team's performance by simple changes like using the bench more fully with the application of a little common sense and being prepared to give talented youngsters more than 5-10 minute cameos in the NRL.
But the deed is done! Like so many supporters despite this disappointment I will continue to support the Dragons - they always have been and always will be my team. The consolation will be the laughs I will continue to get from Mary's Press Conferences. Win or lose he can't help but draw attention to his own shortcomings.
