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The Dragons are at sixes and sevens. By that, I mean their 2015 prospects hinge squarely on how their halves pairing of Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop combine in the next few weeks.
If they continue to play like opposites, St George Illawarra will finish down among the dead men.
If they work out a way to combine, I can see blue skies down the track.
The club has the talent and depth to press strongly for a top-eight spot this year, but there is an urgent need to look long and hard at the Marshall-Widdop combination.
Last weekend’s season opener against Melbourne Storm was a game that could hardly inspire any degree of confidence. The St George Illawarra attack was, quite frankly, crap. Absolutely nothing to inspire any viewer, no great structure – pretty much that word again: nothing.
In the first half, the Dragons had seven sets in which to do something constructive but the result was zero tries. When there is that much possession, one must look at the playmakers to put the team in position to score and then manufacture some plays that might glean some points.
Granted, the Storm boys were bang-on in defence, but they always are. I have to ask: were the Dragons ever a serious hope of registering points? The answer has to be no.
Marshall and Widdop tried hard but I saw their combination as a repeated AC-DC, black-white, positive-negative jolt to the Dragons system that must be sorted out right now.
Widdop should be playing the steadying role at halfback, with the flashier, occasionally mercurial Marshall operating outside him.
Both players, seasoned internationals, have a lot to offer. They bring skills, vast experience and the subtle touch to the table. But the Dragons cannot afford anything less than a super-slick halves combination. They need drive and direction at a time when they are getting indecision.
After a full off-season with the joint-venture club, Marshall is in terrific shape but he looks to be over-playing his hand to create an opening.
If he got regular, steady ball supply from an inside man such as the wily Widdop, he would have more time to weave his magic and not try for the magic ball or kick on virtually every play.
The Saints’ outside backs would surely be in a position to capitalise on some more orthodox plays. At the moment, it looks as though they might get a sniff of passing action in one moment, or from a speculative kick two moments later.
St George Illawarra’s coach, Paul McGregor, needs to steady his ship around the halves. At the moment, and I appreciate we have only had one round, it looks like a potential shipwreck.
The coach should pick Widdop at seven and let Marshall do his unique thing(s) in the number six jumper.
This is just a thought – free of charge from your trusty Roar correspondent. Does anyone agree?
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