The St George Illawarra Dragons are a side that are scrutinised by their fans more than any other club in the game. These passionate fans make what has gone on at the Dragons over the last couple of years completely unacceptable.
In 2014 they started the season with a win, and then it all went downhill from there until coach Steve Price was finally given the sack after a smashing at the hands of the Parramatta Eels.
Paul McGregor took over, and it seemed the Dragons attitude had changed. While they still didn’t win enough games in the back half of the season, it was a massive change in attitude for the side. Moving into the 2015 season, the Dragons will be hoping to carry this momentum and get a strong start, however they have had a massive personnel change over during the off season and it doesn’t seem like it has been for the best.
Has Paul McGregor completely lost it after his post-season review or has he pulled a masterstroke that will see the Dragons make the top eight for the first time in four years?
Pre-season fixtures
Jan 31: versus Mackay Cutters @ Mackay
Jan 31 – Feb 1: Auckland Nines versus Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles
Feb 7: Charity Shield versus South Sydney Rabbitohs @ ANZ Stadium (7:30pm)
Feb 20: World Club Series versus Warrington Wolves @ Warrington
The Dragons after struggling in 2014, and have named one of the biggest and wide ranging pre-seasons out of all the NRL clubs for the 2015 season. With three games apart from the Auckland Nines they will definitely have plenty of chances to work on building new combinations, but by the end of the season a lot of players already felt burnt out. Is playing this many games before the season going to work for the Dragons?
Of course the Auckland Nines and the Charity Shield were probably locked into the calendar for the Dragons this time last year, however a trip to England for the new World Club Series could really take it out of them. They also play Queensland Cup team the Mackay Cutters on January 31, the same weekend as the Auckland Nines.
While they will have plenty of chances to build new combinations, which is exactly what the Dragons need, playing four games and spending that long on a plane really increases the chances of burnout and injury.
Ins and outs
2015 gains
Fraser Alcock (2015), Beau Henry (Gold Coast Titans, 2015), Kris Keating (Hull Kingston Rovers, 2015), Heath L’Estrange (Sydney Roosters, 2015), Eto Nabuli (Penrith Panthers, 2015), Dane Nielsen and Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard (both New Zealand Warriors, 2016), Rulon Nutira (2015) and George Rose (Melbourne Storm, 2015).
2015 losses
Josh Ailaomai (Queensland Cup), Gerard Beale, Kyle Stanley and Jack Bird (all Cronulla Sharks), Matt Groat (Salford Red Devils), Brett Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jack Stockwell (Newcastle Knights), Sam Williams (Canberra Raiders), Michael Witt (retired)
The Dragons have had one of the biggest clean outs in the NRL over the off-season as new coach McGregor conducted a sweeping review of everything in the club. I’m almost certain that his review findings would not have included releasing the likes of Brett Morris or upcoming star Jack Bird. However, the Dragons have also let go of players like Adam Quinlan, Gerard Beale and Kyle Stanley, who seemed to be off the field more than he was on it.
In return the Dragons have bought a lot of players on one-year contracts and seem to be trying to copy Penrith’s formula from the 2014 season. None of the signings will spark any great confidence in Dragons supporters, however, with players like Heath L’Estrange, Kris Keating and Dane Nielsen.
The Dragons have made a couple of what would seem good signings for the future with players like Eto Nabuli, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard and Rulon Nutira. The Dragons have also brought up a lot of players from their successful Illawarra Cutters and Holden Cup Under-20s squad for the 2015 season.
The other major problem at St George would seem to be the internal issues bubbling under the surface at the club. How a club can finish down the bottom end of the ladder three years in a row and be anywhere near the limit of the NRL salary cap is almost like a bad joke. There are reports that their main forward Trent Merrin wants out and winger Jason Nightingale was being shopped around. Problems could be bubbling at the Dragons, there is no question about it.
Draw analysis
The Dragons are a club that hasn’t been done any favours by the NRL draw. The biggest talking point surrounding the club is the fact that they have taken four of their home games away from traditional home grounds at Kograh and Wollongong and placed them at ANZ Stadium and Moore Park.
Of even more concern is that they play the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on a Monday night as a home game and they play the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium as a home game. The Dragons start their season with two Monday night games against a Cameron Smith-less Melbourne Storm and then against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown before a tough road trip to Canberra where they have traditionally struggled to win despite breaking the hoodoo last season.
The Dragons play the least amount of Friday night games in 2015 with just one in the first 20 rounds, while they play four Monday night games along with another Monday public holiday game against the Bulldogs. The Dragons also take part in the centre piece of Anzac Day against the Roosters and a heritage game against the Rabbitohs at the SCG.
The Dragons’ home games are spread out very evenly throughout the season which is one positive the club can take. The Dragons run home is not easy, but it certainly won’t be the hardest. In the last weeks they have a real mix as they take on the Knights, followed by a tough trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors, followed by another tough trip to take on the Broncos. They then take on the Panthers, Titans and Tigers to round out their season.
The Dragons will play Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers twice during 2015. There is no doubt that with the 2014 season they had and the issues that seem to be sweeping the club, the Dragons will need a strong start to 2015.
Predicted impact of State of Origin
The Dragons have always been impacted by State of Origin in some shape or form. However their recent form means the same shouldn’t be the case this season. Trent Merrin, their leading forward, will undoubtedly be picked for the Blues after being a part of last year’s success. The other potential selection for Origin is Josh Dugan, and his selection will no doubt depend on early season form.
Predicted finish and final word
The Dragons, after a rocky 2014 season, will now head into 2015 under new coach Paul McGregor, with questionable recruitment and what would seem some major internal issues at the club, along with a draw that does the club no favours. I’m tipping the Dragons for a similar finish to last season, missing the eight but not being in the bottom four.
Season fixtures
R1 Mon 09 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Storm
R2 Mon 16 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, Campbelltown Stadium Wests Tigers V Dragons
R3 Sat 21 Mar 2015, 5:30pm, GIO Stadium Raiders V Dragons
R4 Sat 28 Mar 2015, 7:30pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Sea Eagles
R5 Sat 04 Apr 2015, 7:30pm, Hunter Stadium Knights V Dragons
R6 Sun 12 Apr 2015, 4:00pm, ANZ Stadium Dragons V Bulldogs
R7 Fri 17 Apr 2015, 7:35pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Broncos
R8 Sat 25 Apr 2015, 4:00pm, Allianz Stadium Roosters V Dragons
R9 Mon 11 May 2015, 7:00pm, ANZ Stadium Rabbitohs V Dragons
R10 Sun 17 May 2015, 2:00pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Raiders
R12 Sun 31 May 2015, 4:00pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Sharks
R13 Mon 08 Jun 2015, 4:00pm, ANZ Stadium Bulldogs V Dragons
R15 Mon 22 Jun 2015, 7:00pm, Allianz Stadium Dragons V Roosters
R16 Sat 27 Jun 2015, 7:30pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Dragons
R17 Sat 04 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Cowboys
R18 Sun 12 Jul 2015, 4:00pm, Remondis Stadium Sharks V Dragons
R19 Sat 18 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, TBC Dragons V Rabbitohs
R20 Sat 25 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, AAMI Park Storm V Dragons
R21 TBC, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Knights
R22 TBC, Mt Smart Stadium Warriors V Dragons
R23 TBC, Suncorp Stadium Broncos V Dragons
R24 TBC, WIN Stadium Dragons V Panthers
R25 TBC, Cbus Super Stadium Titans V Dragons
R26 TBC, ANZ Stadium Dragons V Wests Tigers
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