After a great start to the season, the Dragons have had only one win in the last five games and next up are the Bulldogs, Eels and Souths.
It was in last year’s ANZAC day match that the Dragons announced a one year extension to Steve Price’s coaching job and they are now reaping what they sowed. Steve Price has failed to get his players to perform on the field as a team and to recognise basic problems with player performance.
The Dragons have two recognised international wingers, Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale, who are both playing in the weekend’s Test match, but this year and last year they have seen little ball apart from kicks. Price has chosen centres who have failed to deliver good ball to the wing. The centres have also been a target of attacking teams, with Nathan Green in particular lost in defence.
Meanwhile, Charly Runciman and Peter Mata’utia have been performing well in the centres in the NSW Cup but are not worthy of consideration by Price. Runciman, in his limited performances last year, demonstrated his ability to deliver good ball to Brett Morris and he was also solid in defence. If Price cannot fix the problem in the centres, the Dragons will have a largely ineffective backline.
Gareth Widdop at five-eighth has been down on form in recent games and certainly does not seem to be playing such a dominant and fluid role in the Dragons’ backline. Perhaps Price, a former five-eighth, has been restricting his natural game as he did with Jamie Soward last year. Soward’s performances for the Panthers this year have clearly demonstrated that Price’s decision to drop him mid-season last year was not well founded and each good game he plays for the Panthers is a kick in the pants for Price.
If you were to say that the Dragons backline is still a work in progress, I would say you were wrong because there is no progress and little sign of Price recognising the problems or working on progress.
Price has to some extent been reliant of Josh Dugan’s return at fullback to lift his backline, but Price has failed to work on the backline properly supporting Dugan and integrating his play with Michael Witt and Widdop.
In the Dragons forwards, it is also hard to see any real progress this season. Although captain Ben Creagh has been playing well now that he is back in the second row and not a makeshift front rower, the forwards have been very disappointing in defence. They are a relatively small pack, but what they lack in size can be made up with enthusiasm, which appears to be lacking. Mike Cooper’s exclusion from the starting team is also difficult to understand, after many good performances.
There is also a lack of Dragons forwards supporting their other forwards in attack so that offloads rarely find a hard-running forward.
The Dragons off-season buys have been a mixed bag. Sam Williams at half failed to impress, prop Matt Groat has not seen the light in NRL, Dylan Farrell only really impressed in his last game and now has a season-ending injury, Michael Witt has tried hard at half but needs more time and will in any event not be a long term solution.
Clearly, Steve Price has been given one chance too many to turn the Dragons around, and if he remains in charge until the end of the season, the Dragons will not only fail to make the eight, they will lose the chance to test other team combinations and new players. On current form, I can see the Dragons winning five of their remaining sixteen games which, with two byes, leaves them on a maximum of 22 points – well out of the eight
If the solution is a mid-season replacement for Price then so be it – it will be some justice for Jamie Soward’s mid-season sacking.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Bingo, he is a competitor and would be an ideal halfback.
maxwell
Guest
Walter, Will some one tell me this why last year did Price after Dragons got Josh Drinkwater, why did he run and try to buy Sam Williams. Canberra wouldn't release him so he used Fein who was pathetic as half... Now he has Williams and released JDW who has gone to England. Now Williams is not good enough , so we are playing an ageing Witt , same scenario as last year, to me it just shows Price can't teach and has no idea about coaching, there's no structure in defence or attack , and when Bennett was at Dragons we had the best defence going, and this goose has got rid of it and Bennett's system. WHY????
Devout Saint
Guest
I thought last year that Quinlan could be a good replacement for Barba, I still think he could be.
Goran
Guest
You Google search Steve Price and look at the news section and you will see at least 8 weeks of complaining and blaming. He blames everything especially referees when St George Illawarra lose. But when will he ever accept defeat and take responsibility. Never. He had a sook over when Melbourne Storm won. He kept complaining about the last try over and over. But everyone forgot about to ask Steve how did Melbourne Storm score 16 points in 10 minutes . The cause of this problem doesn't all get put on Steve. Peter Doust is the cause. He has destroyed the club. Regards
twodogs
Guest
Young quinlan at least can direct traffic. He may be a little bloke but he can spark em up a bit. Get in at halfback fer gods sake. Mail is the bulldogs are after him.
Devout Saint
Guest
For starters, sacking Soward is the best thing that Saints have done since we won the comp. The Price was never right. I think the reason he is still there is because if they were to bring a new coach in, others besides Price will lose their jobs. The new coach will probably bring his own coaching staff with him. I think we need 2 good backrower, 1 big dominate prop and move Merrin back to be the other prop. I agree that Sam Williams has not impressed. We either need a good halfback or move Widdop to halfback and get a good 5/8. Kyle may still be that player. I still think we need 2 new centres. Dugan lacks the passing game of other top line fullbacks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
When we went our big spending rampage at the end on the last season i kept waiting to hear a couple of big forwards but it never happened... If this is the team Price wanted then he has no idea what so ever
Scott Pryde
Expert
It wont be Nathan Brown can almost guarantee it
Charles NSW
Guest
Whatever coach takes on the Dragons he will end up with the same problem as Price has with the 1/2 back, centre and small forwards. As coach he has to work these problems out and let's hope he does.
Dragons Forever
Guest
Put ur money on Nathan Brown returning in 2015 as 1st grade coach. Pricey is a great bloke but clearly out of his depth
Camokazi
Guest
I am red and white through and through, but to think Price is going to lead the Dragons to a premiership is crazy, What is the boards short term plans. Maybe they do not have the capital to hire a top notch coach, Or maybe the board is getting to long in the tooth and have a heavy heart for this bloke {Price]. He has his team that he was promised and still can not train them to respect there line in defence. I don't care how big the forward pack is, if you have no respect for your try line you don't win games in the NRL If you want to play 1 out hit ups you don't win games. To say Price's game plan is basic and inaffective is being kind. Anyway battle on dragons and good luck, we need it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
We need a new coach. Not Sheens and not Matt Elliot... I'm thinking possible bring up Dean Young and Ben Hornby at some point as they seem to be doing a good job in Holden Cup. Co-Coach? I dont know seems risky but it is an idea that could be explored at some point
peeeko
Roar Guru
We have been lucky to have played the warriors twice already and the sharks minus all their stars. Surely we have a better centre than Nathan green. I'm worried too many tries are being scored right through our middle by forwards barging through our defence
Sherwo
Guest
Agree that Price is not right. I suggest we make a play for Kevin Walters to coach. We've got good players available IMO but they're not coming together as a team with any discipline, nor are options being considered. It's a bit like the Brown era, when all he said was to go back and try harder, change nothing. It sometimes needs more than that
Tops
Guest
The Dragon's pack is too small and will struggle against most teams. If the forwards are not going forward the halves are under contant pressure and the wingers won't see any quality ball.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Well maybe Sheens is free from major commitments have Fridays test. But maybe Millward from the Cutters as an interim. Maybe if the team is losing we should drop both players and the coach and promote the NSW Cup coach.
dynamitedave
Guest
remove dugan. he's a 1 man team we don't need big props. they are part of the old game. fast second rowers or big outside backs who not afraid of hard work who can slot into forwards (the ipswich jets pick wingers and not forwards on the bench and are leading the qld comp) we need a tackling machine in the pack and we don't have one.
Avatar
Roar Guru
The Bulldogs in a fortnight's time won't be an easy match, although it's a Dragons home game the match is played at ANZ Stadium where the Bulldogs have only lost once this season (against the Broncos in round one). Must I admit, I have a strong hatred towards the Bulldogs and I would love nothing more than for the Dragons to upset the competition leaders come round nine. They haven't enjoyed any success against them since 2011 however the last three matches have been close (how could they lose from 20-8 up after 50 minutes the last time they played?). Dragons fans must come out in force on May 11 and cheer their team to victory, because in my opinion a loss to the Bulldogs these days will be unacceptable.
Chris Wright
Guest
As a Dragons fan Walter you make me chuckle (in a good way). I love your passion for the club and I love your need to start winning now. I have to agree however with other comments that if we all sat down and said after 8 rounds we were 4-4 we would all be satisfied. You have to remember the big picture and that clubs who go chopping and changing coaches rarely succeed. Wests Tigers fans were calling for Mick Potters head at the start of the year. Look at them now. Price is going OK.
Rhy
Guest
You can't go and pick Sam Williams when his playing for the cutters and trying so hard to do it all himself.playing in the top grade requires u to be a team player and his not proving to be. Big forwards is what the dragons need with a lot more mongrel... Mitch rein making 50 tackles last week is a great effort but you could see the strain it had on the little man.if price goes who's the coach for the rest of the year??... Tim sheens?