Much has been written and said about the head coaching position at St George-Illawarra. Steve Price seems to be the proverbial ‘dead man walking’.
But I’d like to see him given the job for a couple more seasons.
Let me explain.
Price took over when Wayne Bennett was lured to Newcastle and he did so with the master coach’s seal of approval (We all know Bennett doesn’t hand out wraps very often).
It was always going to be a tough gig putting his own stamp on the Dragons but Price has had one full year at the helm and he is now getting stuck into his second.
St George-Illawarra management hasn’t given Price a big batch of new players to work with, nor has it inspired confidence in him with constant talk they are hunting for a replacement such as Craig Bellamy, or this week’s supposed target, Cronulla’s Shane Flanagan.
I’m sure Price has a lot to offer and, if given some job security, we would all get to see his capabilities.
The Wiz has given the matter a lot of thought and I reckon Price, after ‘respectable’ losses by the Dragons in the first two rounds, has to go one of two ways.
The first is to stick by the senior players in the Dragons team and buck them up with two or three youngsters on the rise.
The second is to pretty much wipe the board clean and pick a team, brimming with young guys and potential and get them in the groove for next year and beyond.
I feel for Steve Price and I’d really like to see him given a fair go.
As we were approaching the new season, there were many tipsters and league pundits predicting dire things for the Sea Eagles and their “ageing” roster.
Well, two great wins in as many weeks and I don’t see any gloom and doom talk about the Sea Eagles’ senior citizens.
What I have seen is a tremendous team effort with the older guys laying a rock-solid platform and younger guys like Cherry-Evans, Foran and Taufua doing the rest.
Manly has already shown they will be right in this comp – and they look to have the depth few people imagined.
Yesterday’s news that Robbie Farah has re-signed with the Wests Tigers for the next four years was really pleasing.
It’s great that a player of his stature is going to be a one-club player and I’m sure his decision to stick solid will have far-reaching benefits for the Tigers.
Well done to Robbie for showing loyalty – I hear he would have commanded more money at Parramatta – and well done to CEO Stephen Humphreys for getting Farah’s prized signature.
Just watch the Tigers go against Parra at Leichhardt on Friday night!
I reckon there will be an extra spring in their step and it won’t surprise if Robbie is Man of the Match.
JohnM
Guest
Sheesh.... a true Saints fan doesn't wave the white flag after two games and cease attending matches. If we make a charge for the finals, please have the integrity to stay away.
Big Lewie
Guest
Bit tired of them playing the numbers game,Fien has to show some flair and mix it up.Forwards are standing on their heels waiting for the attack to come to them.
Soc the Dragon
Guest
You have got to be kidding. Price has got himself into this position by either not listening to keysupport staff, not having the gumption to sack underperforming players or doesn't know what the hell is doing. There is no way that the loss to Brisbane was respectable it was a joke. He must be a mate of yours Wiz to back him. If Price had made chages this week I would back him and give him the benefit of the doubt but he has rolled out the same team yet expects different results. I have been a dragon supprter for over fourty years and until this year never picked against them in footy tipping but now I take the opposition. Until either Price is gone or Cooper, Rein and Soward are gone I have no interest in watching the Dragons. I have been given box seats for the Raiders game but said give them to someone else no way am I going to be a part of that. Three games in and the season is over thanks to Price and Doust.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Fein would threaten if he was tailed inside & out by running forwards! But not so with Price calling the shots.
Professor Dragon
Guest
That is true. Unfortunately Fien does not represent a significant enough threat to divert pressure or provide attacking options.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
The problem is that both Soward & Cooper are being smothered by defensive game plans, & Price isn't using that to any advantage by having players backing them up in support & to take some of the direct pressure off.
PuntPal
Roar Pro
Completing your sets is only half the plan, the other is to convert field position into points and this is where Price has failed so far. I agree with Wiz that I think people are overreacting, but I do think he needs to be more creative in attack. I would start with the obvious removal of Fien from 7 (to the bench). Once Drinkwater is fit to play, give the kid a go. I also think Matt Cooper has to be dropped. He has been woeful this year, does nothing in attack! Basically, they need to improve their kickign game, push the offload more on the 4th play and get Morris and Nightingale more involved up the middle of the ruck (ala Merritt from Souths). They are a good team and people tipping them to come last already are in for a rude shock
Bazzio
Roar Guru
I'm not so sure that a game plan of 'completing sets' is sufficient for any NRL coach. Price has had a year and two off-seasons to 'bed in' his methodology, which seems to rely solely upon hoping the opposition makes mistakes in the absence of any pressure by the Dragons. After their last game, Ben Creigh said that their aim was to complete their sets, and they succeeded in doing so. He went on to mention 'the game plan', but watching the game, there was no evidence of anything resembling defensive or offensive 'plans' or plays.