Under-fire Paul McGregor admits Dragons ‘looked like strangers’ in Warriors shutout
NRL Premiership
Dragons coach Paul McGregor is under pressure with his side 0-3.Source: AAP
Paul McGregor has brushed off conjecture over his own future, but called out his players following a disappointing 18-0 shutout against the Warriors.
The Dragons struggled with their kicking game and failed to pressure a Warriors side that was weakened by a number of injuries to key forwards.
“It (my future) has been raised consistently,” McGregor admitted.
“I’m three games into a two-year contract. I’ve got good staff. I’ve made a lot of changes. I’ve got good people around me.
“I’ve got a football team that I believe in. We’ve just got to go out and play well.”
However McGregor admitted his side were not up to scratch when it came to the effort areas and lacked cohesion at Central Coast Stadium.
“Attitude is a by-product of belief and today at times they looked like strangers out there,” McGregor said.
“We didn’t do anything at speed and a couple of the tries they scored needed to be defended and they weren't. Your defence is all about your attitude.
“We were on the backfoot most of the day.
“There is no secrets here we have to be better.
“Credit to the opposition, but that is no excuse for us. We needed to beat them and we didn’t.”
McGregor said he would wait to review the match, but forecast potential changes given the disappointing display from the team who are now 0-3.
“There is no reserve grade game so how do the players in waiting get an opportunity? And that’s through players not performing on game day,” McGregor said.
“If we feel the right adjustment to the team needs to be done then there will be changes. If we don’t then we won’t. But it will certainly be a discussion point early in the week.”
McGregor admitted his side were out-enthused by the Warriors, who completed an amazing 45 from 47 sets.
“It’s got to come from within,” McGregor said.
“Belief is a by-product of success too and we’ve lost a few games and we are coming off not a great year, so we’ve got to find that.
“Passion is getting the players excited. It is being ready for the contest. It is about being in the moment and going after it, so that comes down to the individual.
“It is a 20 week competition and each week eats away pretty quickly.
“It is about performing now and certainly not thinking you can catch it up later because it is not there and today wasn’t good enough.”
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