Mark Levy: Time Dragons board was accountable for dark cloud over once-proud club
By Mark Levy
6 hours ago
There is a dark cloud hovering over
the St George Illawarra Dragons again this season and it isn't the playing group or the coaching staff.
It's the NRL club's board, which is never held accountable for the questionable decisions frustrating their rusted-on supporters.
I want to preface what you're about to read by insisting the Dragons hold a special place in my heart, because I grew up in the St George area and thoroughly enjoyed sitting amongst the passionate supporters on the famous hill at Kogarah.
That being said, I'm still struggling to understand how they've allowed one of their best and most consistent players and someone who was elevated to the captaincy last year, Cameron McInnes, to sign with their nearest and fiercest rivals, the Cronulla Sharks.
We're talking about a bloke who's held in high regard by all of his teammates and the paying members of the club, yet the people running the show were happy to let him waltz up the freeway and sign a four-year deal with the Sharkies.
I know there's no more loyalty in rugby league, but what about some respect?
I really feel for McInnes, who not only has to leave the Dragons at the end of the season, the hooker will also be forced to watch on from the grandstand after rupturing his ACL during the pre-season.
It's a cruel game sometimes.
The decision to sign veteran hooker Andrew McCullough from the Brisbane Broncos came with plenty of question marks and rightfully so, given he's in the twilight of his career; but in the end it's proven to be a lucky move by the recruitment staff, with a player like McInnes now missing the entire season.
The question remains though: would you prefer to hold onto a player like Cameron McInnes, who's still got plenty to offer in the NRL or someone like McCullough, who's likely to hang up the boots at the end of the year or finish his career overseas?
You've then got the sideshow that came with Israel Folau and his potential return to the NRL. Were the Dragons really serious about signing him or were they just smothering the moronic decision to allow McInnes to sign with the Sharks?
They've certainly done the rest of the competition a favour by showing the 15 other clubs the circus that comes with entertaining the idea of signing someone like Folau, who still hasn't taken down his offensive post on social media suggesting homosexuals and other 'sinners' will go to hell.
If you've listened to me on Radio 2GB over the years, you'll know I'm a staunch defender of the need for freedom of speech in this country, but when you become a role model and derive a wage as a professional athlete, you're held accountable for your comments, be them fair or offensive.
Peter V'landys and Andrew Abdo keep telling us we're an "inclusive game", so how can we possibly entertain the idea of Folau making a return?
The Dragons should be celebrating the start of a new season and a fresh approach under coach Anthony Griffin, whose record speaks for itself. They've instead dominated the back pages of the newspapers and TV news bulletins because of the dumb decisions made by the people running the club.
I've requested to speak to their CEO Ryan Webb on a number of occasions, but the boss must be petrified of the television cameras and his mobile phone because he's never available when I'm being bombarded by supporters who are demanding answers.
I was relatively optimistic when the St George Illawarra Dragons signed Griffin as their coach, because I've got to know the respected mentor over the last couple of years on the Continuous Call Team, but it's clear to me his hands are tied.
The Red V supporters are running out of patience and if they don't turn things around quickly, the signs will be up again demanding a change.
I just wish they'd start focusing their attention on the real problem at the Dragons - and that's the board members who are obviously a protected species.
