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Do the Dragons have a plan?

Roar Rookie
24th October, 2016
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Benji Marshall is off to the Broncos. (by Robb Cox ©nrlphotos.com)
Roar Rookie
24th October, 2016
45
2597 Reads

I am not a Dragons fan, but I see a number of problems in their player recruitment strategy in the last few seasons.

There is a difference between acquiring players and building a team in the NRL. The Tigers have been a poor team over the last few seasons but they have a clear strategy centred around their halves.

The Dragons overpaid for Gareth Widdop and made him the dominant half without considering team balance. Then they went out and signed an ageing Benji Marshall who was effectively pushed out by the Tigers and struggled in Super Rugby.

The Dragons have a quality fullback in Josh Dugan but the way they constructed the team does not take into account his style of play. He is a ball runner and is not a noted passer of the ball. This is not a criticism of Dugan; he is an excellent defender and a dangerous kick returner who can break a game open.

To compensate for this lack of creativity, the Dragons need to sign ball-playing forwards and develop the play of their halves to enable attack from different points of the field.

The Dragons forward pack can only be described as solid. Players such as Jack de Belin, Russell Packer and Tariq Sims are tough players and absolutely necessary in any side but the Dragons are missing some creativity in the forwards.

The Dragons need to bring in some dynamic forwards who can create opportunities through offloads and crafty ball play.

A player such as Penrith’s Leilani Latu has demonstrated such abilities and is contributing to Panthers attack that is unpredictable and dynamic. A player such as Latu could add a lot to the Dragons and would be a relatively cheap option. Other players in this mould could include Sio Siou Taukeiauho of the Roosters or even Bulldog skipper James Graham.

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I would also like to see the Dragons target a ball-playing lock who can swing to either side of the field and help out the halves to create attacking opportunities. The Dragons should target local junior Jack Bird to fill this role.

Bird has great instincts and he could excel at playing what he sees as a ‘second five eighth’ on the field.

Young Drew Hutchinson can get a shot at playing consistently in first grade in season 2017 and he has shown potential ability to lead a team around the field and has a nice kicking game. This would free up Gareth Widdop to play a more instinctive style of play, as he did at the Storm where he had considerable success when surrounded with elite talent.

A slight change in strategy for the Dragons would help bolster what was a pretty stale attack in 2016.

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