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Pressure at all-time high on St George Illawarra Dragons ahead of must-win Panthers clash
Written By Liam O'Loughlin
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Pressure is continuing to mount on the St George Illawarra Dragons ahead of their must-win clash with the Penrith Panthers on Friday night - and rumours are beginning to circulate about player unrest at the club.
The Dragons currently sit in 14th place on the NRL ladder and will need to win at least six of their last eight games to be a chance of making the finals, and there has been mass uproar from the Red V faithful about coach
Paul McGregor opting to rest Ben Hunt for this weekend's game.
And on Friday morning, rumours began to circulate that Tyson Frizell may be unhappy at the Dragons and is looking to move away from the club.
Rumour Mill: Tyson Frizell looks likely to join Roosters. Frizell is desperately unhappy at the Dragons, particularly with the club's position on Jack De Belin, and has already asked for a release.
https://t.co/glP92aQBTO
- ReadingThePlay (@ReadingThePlay)
July 18, 2019
It's no joke. Frizell asked for a release two weeks ago..
- ReadingThePlay (@ReadingThePlay)
July 18, 2019
But Andrew Webster refuted those rumours when asked by radio host and former NSW coach Laurie Daley on the
Big Sports Breakfast, and also spoke on the decision to rest their star playmaker in Hunt.
"I haven't heard it at all, but Frizell is signed long-term and I don't think they would ever want to get rid of him," he said.
"Mary thought it was time to rest Ben, there aren't any other halfbacks that had to play three 80- minute performances at hooker for the Maroons. I can't understand what he is thinking.
"I just think he has got a tired squad; it has been hard on all of them. People are underestimating how much the De Belin thing took the wind out of their sails."
It has been a long year for the Dragons
after losing De Belin to NRL's 'no fault stand down policy' and
skipper Gareth Widdop to a shoulder injury - but there is no excuse for their position on the ladder with five Origin players in their ranks.
Webster said he had a 'long chat' to McGregor this week and while
he doesn't believe he will be going anywhere, he can understand why there is such great pressure on the coach.
"He has had adversity but I also understand the pressure on him," he said.
"He has been there since 2014 and he has only had two matches in the finals.
"They are a club that demands success and yes there has been some extenuating circumstances this year, but you look at the team though and they had five Origin players against the Raiders."
The Dragons will take on a resurgent Panthers side who are aiming for seven wins in a row and have made their way into the top eight, and a loss for the Saints will all but end their season.
https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...n-frizell-ben-hunt/1w9p1zbzgxfur1xysxbeewl9sq
