The Dragons have now had two consecutive losses, but coach Steve Price is still resisting making even minor changes.
Having selected Michael Witt at halfback to start the season, Price has failed to get Witt straight back into the team on return from injury and instead continued with Sam Williams.
He also toyed with fill-in fullback Adam Quinlan at half, and may still experiment with Quinlan on Monday night. There have been calls for stability in the Dragons halves, but coach Price still seems to want to play with the position.
There is indecision in the centres also, with Dylan Farrell being retained despite a number of substandard performances and being the only Dragons back to have played all matches this season not to have scored a try. Gerard Beale, the other ‘centre’ who prefers fullback, has played well in the centres but still has to master defensive positioning.
Last year’s rookie centre Charly Runciman has been left playing in NSW Cup, apparently with no hope of breaking into the Dragons centres, despite the losses. Runciman scored two tries last week in the NSW cup and will not hang around the Dragons playing reggies too much longer.
Other Cutters backs – such as Peter Mata’utia, who two tries against Souths in the Charity Sheild – have also demonstrated their ability in the NSW Cup and need to be given the opportunity to show what they can do in top grade.
In the forwards, many fans have questioned the omission of Englishman Mike Cooper from the starting team when the Dragons have again and again lost the first quarter of their games.
The position of utility back Kyle Stanley on the bench also needs reconsideration after his very limited impact when the Dragons forwards are struggling. His position could be better filled by a hard-running second rower or centre.
These issues were easily brushed aside when the Dragons were winning, but indecision still has its grip on Steve Price, even after two consecutive losses and a third predicted by the bookies and commentators.
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