Craig Bellamy’s decision to turn his back on a multi-million dollar coaching gig at St George-Illawarra Dragons said a lot. The one-time glamour club has lost its ability to attract the big names of the game.
Bellamy’s decision to stay with premiers Melbourne was not exactly unexpected.
In my opinion, Bellamy would have been either a punter, an ego-maniac or a goose to walk away from a club that boasts half a dozen of the world’s best players to link with a patchwork quilt of an outfit that is likely to struggle to compete with the big guns in 2013.
He wasn’t the first big name to turn down a fat contract with the Dragons. The joint venture club tried unsuccessfully to woo the likes of Cooper Cronk, Michael Jennings, Israel Folau and maybe even Mitchell Pearce to Dragon-land.
Well, money didn’t work. Was it the fact that a relatively low-profile coach, Steve Price, lacks the appeal to prompt a change of clubs for a star player?
Was the recent retirement/exodus/loss of experienced and established stars such as Mark Gasnier, Ben Hornby, Beau Scott, and Dean Young that made St George-Illawarra such an unattractive proposition?
I cannot answer these questions as I am not a player, nor a premiership-winning coach.
What needs urgent attention are a couple of questions aimed squarely at the club’s administration.
Is veteran CEO Peter Doust in the same ball park as some of his opposite numbers in the NRL?
Has this man lost touch with the modern game and, despite some sterling efforts and some serious hopes, are his contract offers going to amount to next-to-zilch in the next two or three seasons?
Is Craig Young the right man to handle the recruiting, negotiating and retention caper?
I do not profess to know the intricate workings – nor the politics of the St George-Illawarra club – which I think should be a perennial challenger for the NRL title, year after year.
The Dragons have a fabulous junior league nursery but consistently fail to attract the class players to complement their up-and coming football talent.
Maybe it really is time to “Oust Doust.”
If you own a racehorse and it repeatedly fails to get the chocolates, you either get a new trainer or a new horse. Or both.
If companies supposedly in the top echelon battle to compete, you take a long, hard look at the guys at the pointy end and you do something to arrest the slide.
Top quality CEOs are not impossible to find. They are out there, just waiting for a shot at the big time, and I think St George-Illawarra need to scoop one up, desperately.
The current regime is just not working and St George-Illawarra is my tip to finish at the tail of the field in 2013.
One must feel sorry for coach Steve Price. His team hasn’t even trialled yet and his boss is on record saying that the search is already on for the right man to handle the joint in 2014. That’s untenable in my view. A farce.
If I am wrong, I will happily cop lots of flak from the red-and-white drinkers – and that’s fair enough. Stick your chin out, it is likely to cop a whack or three.
But if I am bang on the money, what do you think should happen at Dragons HQ in 2014 and beyond?
Is it time to oust Doust and co?
Reg
Guest
I wrote a blog some weeks ago about Peter Doust "putting all his eggs in the one basket". My perception of what eventuated was that when Doust realised that retaining Bennett was no longer his favoured Coaching option, he figured out the next best was Craig Bellamy and because Bellamy's availability was not until 2014 year, Doust determined that securing Bellamy would have been the circuit breaker he needed to ensure the required viability towards success was addressed. The process necessitated a stand-in coach and that is where Steve Price fitted in. Doust seriously believed the famed St George club and it's financial muscle would be the catalyst that facilitated this objective he set in place. What emerged since shows that you should not put all your eggs in the one basket. The decision making process should never have been left in abeyance - REGARDLESS. On reflection, Doust must have allowed Bellamy to string him along. Further analysis would indicate there are some serious flaws in the Field management of this club. I have no doubt Peter Doust is an autocrat CEO. This personality couches his few failures in this role. In rewarding former well credentialled players with what may appear to be a form of club loyalty - delegating positions of huge responsibility to persons who quite evidently do not have the required skills to undertake such roles, appears akin to a form of nepotism. Disappointingly, there are only bleak prospects on the horizon for this once famous club - VERY BLEAK in fact. Peter Doust you are the CEO of this great club. Regrettably, the impending disasters that will befall St George Illawarra must be attributed to your failure to capitalise on the perfect scenario you had at the time your club won the recent premiership when you evidently chose to rest on your laurels - taking your eyes off the ball. This faux pas can only provide such presumption that you did not act with due diligence. For the sake of this great club - "Perhaps it is time now that a new broom sweeps clean".
pauly
Guest
In reply to Neils first comment, the roosters have absolutely no problems attracting some of the biggest names in rugby league and rugby union with a rookie nrl coach.
Devout Saint
Guest
Beale would be one of the worst fullbacks in the comp and you will see for yourself this year.
Devout Saint
Guest
Yeah Morris was the only one in our side who looked like threatening last year when he was at fullback. Morris is the obvious choice for our fullback, even Dean Young said that Morris was our best player last year while playing fullbak. I think that Price moved Nighingale to fullback last year so that it would not look like he was dropping Morris for Beale this year. If Morris had decent pair of halves to run off he would have been even better last year. Soward is too SCARED to go to the line and draw and commit defenders before passing the ball to his runners. We will not make the 8 this year, unless Drinwater gets an early oppotunity and proves to be very special. The best thing for us this yer would be for Jamie Coward to get a season ending injury early in the season, but Soward is very successful at not getting injured while playing. lol
Devout Saint
Guest
Very good point Fonzi.
Devout Saint
Guest
I agree Planko.
Devout Saint
Guest
Yeah Johno, we should go back to being a single identity. So what if Illawarra produces juniors. If they are any good we still have to pay them market value, there are no concessions for producing juniors. Melbourne have virtually no juniors to speak of and have been one of if not the most successful clubs in hte last 10 years. Canterbury and Easts who have very few juniors, recruit very well and should both go very well next year. Doust and Craig Young are not good enough at doing their job and should be sacked immediatly
Charles NSW
Guest
Well said Dean!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Tim - I recall at least 4 games last year involving The Dragons that were decided in the final minutes. One was in favour of The Dragons against the Roosters, and the other three were against - to clubs who failed to make the eight - Panthers, Tigers, and Raiders from memory. The Dragons claimed plenty of big scalps last year and can beat anyone on their day. Considering then that the club missed last years finals by a solitary point - I'd say that your analysis of both Price in his first year and the implications that Peter Doust suddenly needs to be replaced are unfounded. If your going to compare apples with oranges then remember that Craig Bellamy took four years to achieve a top 4 finish with the Storm.
planko
Guest
"one of the games best full backs" should have been dropped to reserve grade last year. Prior to SOO where his selection was a surprise he would have been dropped to reserves if he was not one of Bennett's boys.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yes, Fonz, they certainly will carry the underdog tag and that can be a very handy factor. I sincerely wish them well in 2013 and hope the Dragon Army gets heaps to cheer about. Your confidence in your team is admirable. Roll on Round 1 of the 2013 premiership!
peeeko
Roar Guru
come on tim, sau couldnt get a run at the knights, duffie is not a star yet, widdop is ok and setu is returning from a morman mission. how many of the players would make origin if the were eligible?
peeeko
Roar Guru
johnno is wrong - big problem is that illawarra has no money and never has. they provide the juniors and st george provide the cash. i would say there are more supporters on the st george side than the illawarra side
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Beale is fullback. Harrison's club career is just about to begin for real ~ watch his off-loads set up breaks & tries ~ opposition defence won't know who to cover when we've got the ball ~ Weyman, Rein, Fein, Creigh, Harrison . . . . .all great ball-playing running forwards. Then there's the backline that these guys feed. Big points coming IMHO. International experience is far more important than being a current international player ~ Internationals can't play club for any number of games each year. International experience rubs off on every young player who wants to know how, and the Dragons have truck-loads of both. I've got a real good feeling about the side, our depth of talent, the coach, & assistant coach. No way will I put the Mocker on them by making any predictions . . . . . . . . . until after the Charity Shield & Melbourne round 1 game wins.
Adam
Roar Guru
If they're still in the same position this time next year -- ie. another mediocre season behind them and no big changes on the horizon -- then yeah, big questions would need to be asked. I suspect they'll make some noise in the player/coach market before the year's out though. Time will tell!
Tommygun
Roar Rookie
Harrisons and fiens international careers are finished bazzio... Beale and nightingale are good solid players... So that is two current nz internationals and two former internationals... My biggest gripe with st george illa is i cant see where the points are coming from... Who do you reckon should be at fullback? Beale or Morris? Morris was a shining light when he got a go back there last season.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Historically all of the big name movers & shakers have come from within the club & precincts in the St George era. Same with coaches until merger with Illawarra. Doust comes from the Inaugural joint venture board, and St George Illawarra were the first joint venture amalgamted club, and that move took great leadership, vision, & courage. Perhaps that same leadership, courage, and vision is being shown now by Doust in his & the board's current coaching evaluations and associated contingencies. Only an idiot would sit back with his feet up on the desk without a contingency plan.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yep, SS, I will take that point. Parra, for example, had a vintage crop lob in their top grade in the early Eighties and we all know what materialised. Granted, this does not happen every season. What I am saying here is that St Geo-Illa has a fabulous nursery that will produce five star, quality kids on a regular basis. If they were supplemented by the occasional/regular influx of accomplished stars, the joint venture club would be terribly hard to beat in any season. AKA perennial . . . Sadly, the current admin at this club cannot attract those quality additiions, even though it tries very hard and offers the right dosh.. To me, it is clear that high profilers from outside simply do not want want to wear the famous Red V jumper or coach there in this day and age. It has to change.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
As a passionate Dragons supporter this article and subsequent comments has got me very keen for the NRL season to commence. This will be a year to relish being the underdog and to savour every victory, and I think the Dragons may surprise a few people this year. The Bennett hangover has ended and there is little expectation of success, which could be a very good thing.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
Until they are all seperated because of salary cap pressures.