Soward tells it like it is

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St George Illawarra Dragons legend Jamie Soward launches scathing attack on former club

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Former St George Illawarra playmaker and premiership winner Jamie Soward has launched a scathing attack at his former club, saying they won't make the finals this season and questioned the decision to re-sign Paul McGregor.


Soward played 141 games in the Red V and led them to a Grand Final victory over the Roosters in 2010, and has always been an outspoken figure within the game even during his playing days.


And on Friday morning he pulled no punches when talking on Macquarie Sports Radio about his former club after their 16-14 loss to the Storm on Thursday night in Wollongong.

"They're gone, St George are gone," he said.

"In past years they have started fast and then faded out, I don't see how they come back from an Origin campaign and put the accelerator down.


"They are two points outside the eight but their for and against stinks, they will rue that opportunity last night, they should have won that game.

"They had a lot of outs but nobody has an excuse this year when you look at Manly and the way they have competed this year with so many players out."

There is still time for the Dragons to turn it around and were without a plethora of stars last night due to Origin duty, and are still missing the likes of Gareth Widdop, Jack De Belin and Zac Lomax.

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But it is the early season re-signing of coach Paul McGregor that has left Soward scratching his head - in six years at the club he has only made the finals twice and the side is underperforming in 2019 after a solid campaign last year.

"You are wondering why some of these coaches are re-signed, it amazes me considering that none of them were being chased and it's not a personal attack but what do you look for, what do fans want and what is a pass mark for St George this year," he said.


"Canterbury are last and have re-signed their coach to an extension; Brisbane are 14th have Seibold with five years; St George re-signed Paul McGregor and they aren't in the top 8 either.

"I've had Mary as coach, and the issue I have is do you get the best person for the job or do you get a clubman."

The Dragons are currently two points outside the top eight, but in the remaining nine games have to play six teams currently above them on the ladder and are at long odds to book a spot in the finals after being touted as top four hopes before the season began.

These so called StGILL coaches, are at best ,2nd graders.
No body is chasing these losers...
They wouldn't get a job anywhere else.
The Club committee
should be flogged &
Sacked, for letting these nohopers...
Get their SNOUTS, any where near our dragons trough...

 

[Gareth67]

You are drawing a long bow assuming that he has a brain.

Yes I suppose I am at that hewi .

Honestly, who cares if he's a good bloke.
He is not honest and either is the board and CEO.
We need a coach with balls that will make selections based on form.

You don’t need to sell me on that Dennis , even blind Freddy can see it .

An imaginary extract from a fictitious autobiography by Paul McGregor written some time in the future: 'I was well liked at The Dragons club. I got on well with players and management and especially sports journos, they treated me like one of the boys. I rewarded loyalty and overlooked poor performance in the interests of harmony and peace in the playing group. I take great pride that this loyalty was rewarded and not one shred of criticism was ever leveled at me by management or in the media after I was appointed Dragons coach in 2014. This approach was not without its detractors. A small, rowdy group of so called 'fans' made it their life's mission to bring me down, using social media posts to pour scorn on my coaching credentials. There was even a dedicated 'Sack Mcgregor' thread on one forum, full of the vilest criticisms and accusations imaginable. Many of the contributors seemed unhinged and obsessed with 'results' (whatever that meant). It eventually reached over one million posts and an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

I am proud of my thirty two years as coach of the Mighty Dragons. It would have been nice to win a premiership or two during that time or even finish in the top eight now and again- sure, but the friendships and good times are what counted, not to mention the generous remuneration from a loyal management. I am humbled that my statue outside the Steelers Club gives me a daily reminder of those golden years.

Good Lawd man - is he one of those bluudy authors who makes a packet out of writing books ? May I suggest this as the title - ‘ The World according to Mary ‘

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Yes I suppose I am at that hewi .



You don’t need to sell me on that Dennis , even blind Freddy can see it .



Good Lawd man - is he one of those bluudy authors who makes a packet out of writing books ? May I suggest this as the title - ‘ The World according to Mary ‘

Poor old Mary- can't get it right on or off the field- had a real bitchy go at Paul Green over Tariq Sims high shot on Michael Morgan and told him that it had been dealt with on the field and to "zip it". Trouble was that it hadn't been dealt with and poor old Tariq was charged and ended up with a suspension causing him to miss Origin.

Having said that however, it seems farcical that Kyle Flanagan can knee an opponent in the head and be let off. Mary would have been better off saving his ammunition for this seemingly inexplicable decision.

 

[BLM01]

Poor old Mary- can't get it right on or off the field- had a real bitchy go at Paul Green over Tariq Sims high shot on Michael Morgan and told him that it had been dealt with on the field and to "zip it". Trouble was that it hadn't been dealt with and poor old Tariq was charged and ended up with a suspension causing him to miss Origin.

Having said that however, it seems farcical that Kyle Flanagan can knee an opponent in the head and be let off. Mary would have been better off saving his ammunition for this seemingly inexplicable decision.

And Mary wrote to Graham Annesley to please explain the rule of escorting a player
No wonder we are in strife.and explains why the players look dumb and stupid running them off their line.....cause the coach did not know the answerr or rule and probably instructed them to do it
Cue Mary.... the rule was tightened late last year or at the beginning of this year and it was clear if you run in a straight line and dont change your line or stop you are OK.......
geezus our coaching staff are dumb

 

[Gareth67]

Poor old Mary- can't get it right on or off the field- had a real bitchy go at Paul Green over Tariq Sims high shot on Michael Morgan and told him that it had been dealt with on the field and to "zip it". Trouble was that it hadn't been dealt with and poor old Tariq was charged and ended up with a suspension causing him to miss Origin.

Having said that however, it seems farcical that Kyle Flanagan can knee an opponent in the head and be let off. Mary would have been better off saving his ammunition for this seemingly inexplicable decision.

Had to have a bit of a chuckle when I saw little Kyle Flanagan do that - probably the only chance he will ever have to have a go a big forward . Still a knee is a knee ( and the little mongrel certainly hit his mark ) and as you said it certainly did warrant a much harsher penalty then he received - thats what you get if your not playing in a jersey that has a red V on it - a free pass .