Yes he Cam: McInnes ready to step into leadership void for Dragons
Christian NicolussiMarch 30, 2019 — 1.04pm
He led the Junior Kangaroos and was identified as a future captain by his former club, South Sydney. Now Cameron McInnes is firming to become the new skipper of the injury-hit Dragons.
As Dragons officials and players brace for Gareth Widdop being ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury – scans are expected to confirm the worst on Monday – and with Tyson Frizell unlikely to return for at least another week after having an operation on a lacerated testicle, McInnes appears set to be given the top honour.
Frizell, Widdop, McInnes and James Graham are all part of the Dragons' leadership group. Graham has captained Canterbury, St George Illawarra and England, but plays about 55 minutes in the front row. McInnes punches out 80 minutes, was impressive at dummy-half against the Broncos and has already displayed impressive leadership qualities early in the campaign.
Leading the way: Cameron McInnes scores a slashing try for the Dragons on Thursday night.Credit:NRL Photos
Coach Paul McGregor has been occupied with the shocking injury suffered by Widdop and whether the Englishman will play for the club again before he returns to the Super League at the end of the year. But he has a healthy respect for McInnes, the 24-year-old son of a school principal who has already co-captained the Dragons with Frizell and is locked up long term at the club.
McInnes said he would welcome the extra responsibility, saying: "If I’m made the captain that’s great. Obviously 'Jamma' [James Graham] being the person he is, he inspires all of us, so regardless of who has the 'c' next to their name, Jamma is such a great leader of our team, and my job is to lead by my actions.
"It’s a great honour. Any NRL club it is a great honour to be captain of, but especially a club with a rich of history like St George. I would be very humbled and honoured to get that.
"I was a captain coming through. It’s a role I’ve been comfortable with. I’m quite vocal. If I get that role, I’ll be comfortable with it. If not, nothing really changes."
Kelly Egan was coach of the Junior Kangaroos in 2014 in a side that featured Valentine Holmes, Clint Gutherson, Jack Bird, Ryan Matterson, Matt Lodge, Tevita Pangai jnr and Cameron Munster, but happily embraced McInnes as captain.
"He does all the 1 per centers and all the little things you want people to do well – he does them,'' Egan said.
"I'm not 'Mary' [McGregor], but given what's available down there, it would be a good appointment for them to move forward with. There's no reason Cam couldn't captain there for years. We had a good team, but he was a standout from a leadership perspective."
Widdop flew back to Sydney on Friday afternoon with his right arm in a sling. He dislocated his shoulder late in the game against the Broncos the night before, which was the third time he had suffered the injury in his past five NRL games.
The feeling within the Dragons camp is not good. Frizell's eye-watering injury ruled him out of rounds two and three, and is expected to also ground him for the trek up the M1 Motorway to Newcastle. The Bulldogs in round five is more likely.
The tough opening-round road trip to Townsville followed by two Thursday-night games has given McGregor limited time to prepare his players, which only adds merit to their shock 25-24 win at Suncorp.
Matt Dufty will slot into fullback now Widdop will be out of action.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ye...dership-void-for-dragons-20190329-p5193z.html
