After three seasons without a finals appearance, the Dragons fans are looking towards better things this year.
Most fans are more than happy with last year’s mid-season replacement of head coach Steve Price with former Illawarra great Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor, but Price’s legacy was felt during the off season with major salary cap problems forcing a squad-wide shakeup.
In the off season, many players have left – including some of the Dragons’ best. The most difficult to say goodbye to was Australian winger Brett Morris, who is off to join his twin brother Josh at the Bulldogs.
Benji Marshall was there towards the end of last year, but his initial performances were far from perfect.
This year he is four kilograms lighter and out to prove what he has to offer. I think the squad have great expectations.
Benji is captain of the Dragons nines squad, which is not necessarily the best that the Dragons have to offer, given they also play a trial in Mackay on the same weekend.
The squad has quite a bit to offer, but they are in a tough group and will need to start quickly.
On show at the nines are Dragons younsters including boom centre Euan Aitken, winger Yaw Kiti Glymin and front row forward Shannon Wakeman as well as half Shannon Crook.
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They will compete against more experienced Dragons new comers Beau Henry, Eto Nabuli and Heath L’Estrange who are all desperate for spots in the playing team.
I am sure that we all wish veteran ex-Manly and Storm player prop George Rose a good season, but he will meet competition from established Dragons forwards as well as youngsters like Wakeman, Jake Marketo, Rulon Nutira, Rory O’Brien and Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard.
The situation is even more desperate in the centre-wing positions, with only Jason Nightingale and Josh Dugan looking secure. Dane Nielsen, Dylan Farrell, Peter Mata’utai and Charly Runciman will be vying with centre Euan Aitken and wingers Yaw Kiti Glymin and Eto Nabuli.
Benji and Gareth Widdop look secure in the halves, but that is the only area of the squad which looks stable heading into 2015.