A rejuvenated Benji Marshall is front and centre to St George Illawarra’s plans to return as an NRL finals force in 2015.
As the Dragons fight to retain star forward Trent Merrin beyond next season, coach Paul McGregor has unveiled his blueprint to restore order at the famous club after three years of missing the top eight.
McGregor on Tuesday revealed he personally interviewed every squad member after the Dragons finished 12th in 2014.
The upshot was a cleanout, with McGregor intent on giving the Dragons a fresh start to compliment their plush new facilities at WIN Stadium, which include a state-of-the- art gym, an altitude room and new offices.
While he reluctantly let Test winger Brett Morris go free to join his twin brother Josh at Canterbury, McGregor also actively moved on other players and other staff members.
In key off-field personnel changes, premiership-winning players Ben Hornby and Dean Young have been appointed as assistant coaches, veteran recruitment manager Peter Mulholland has joined the club along with performance manager Cherry Mescia and renowned physiotherapist Liz Steet.
On the field, Marshall remains very much the director with McGregor thrilled to have the one-time world player of the year for a full pre-season after linking with the club midway through 2014 following a short stint in Super Rugby with the Blues.
“He’s a totally different athlete than he was in the middle of last year,” McGregor said.
“He came back with very minimal football, but he finished the back-end of the season very, very good.
“A few people didn’t go with Benji at the back-end of the year, to be honest.
“I thought he was really starting to shape his game at the end of the year.
“Unfortunately we didn’t make the finals so he could really showcase his talent.”
McGregor said Marshall had taken to pre-season training like a rookie and was looking for the former Wests Tigers superstar and attacking trump Josh Dugan to lead the way next year.
“(Benji) knows that he’s not a young man. He needs to show his leadership quality,” the coach said.
“At that age of 29, you can’t be that person that is brilliant but he’s got other people around him who be that brilliant.
“But now and again he can show that and he can lead our team around with his array of skills.
“A lot of our structure is around those skills because you don’t waste two players of that talent.”
McGregor is hopeful of retaining Merrin long term, but admits the NSW State of Origin star’s playing future is out of his hands.
Mulholland last week claimed the joint venture outfit had offered the 25-year-old a record deal for a forward.
Merrin’s manager Wayne Beavis, though, rejected the offer and now the 2010 premiership winner is testing the market, with the Sydney Roosters reportedly interested.
While acknowledging Merrin’s as a sought-after signature and a “fantastic” player, McGregor conceded the decision on whether to stay or go ultimately wasn’t his to make.
“Trent’s got to let his manager do the best for him,” McGregor said.
“I’ve got to let my recruitment manager do the best for the club and I’m very optimistic about the outcome there that it will be positive.
“But, if it’s not, that’s just the way it is.”
Describing Morris as irreplaceable, McGregor said the Dragons had no plans to also cut New Zealand Test winger Jason Nightingale loose next year to free up money in order to keep Merrin.
Ken
Guest
Losing Merrin would be unfortunate but he's here for 2015 in any case so that shouldn't really affect next year's prediction. In any case Merrin is a great player but they are already offering a very serious contract, how far would you go? I don't think I'd blame Doust if Merrin left with that on the table, but I'd certainly be annoyed at him if Merrin got double that and stayed and destroyed our cap again. My gut feeling is that his manager is just drawing it out to see if there's anything in reserve and that he'll most likely stay but we'll see. I think you might be unnecessarily down on Marshall, he was certainly a controversial addition and didn't set the world on fire in his first few games but he played a nice hand later on. I myself was worried he was washed up and we were buying a lemon at the time but I think there's still plenty of class there. Defence-wise he's standard halfback fare - which admittedly is not exactly a compliment - he doesn't tackle like Joey but he's a long way from Sandow too. As you say, the new recruits are mostly no-names but there's a fair bit of first grade and even a bit of rep experience there. The guys we dropped, bar Morris who I expect will be replaced from within the ranks with Runciman, were adding very little and costing more. Yep, same Beau Henry who was considered an emerging star back in his NYC days but hasn't ever really got a start - he's only injury cover though with neither Widdop nor Marshall a concern at Origin time.
Charles NSW
Guest
I am with Ken on this Craig! I think the Dragons will be in the top eight as there area number of areas where they have made an improvement. The halves for a start will be much better expecially with Marshall being much fitter than last year and he has honed in on improving his skills. McGregor has spoken to each player to what he wants and demands that improvement must be made. The team has a good mixture of older and younger players and I think there is improvement in some areas at the front. You will see them do much better than what some people are giving them credit for.
Craig Watson
Guest
I too have red and white eyes Ken... have been a Dragon supporter ever since I made a scrap book and fronted up to his electrical shop and asked Norm 'Sticks' Provan to autograph it for me. I think I was about nine or ten. I am sorry I do not share your enthusiasm about our beloved club. The future looks decidedly grim. particularly if we lose Trent Merrin. He has been our best metre - eater the last two years and one of our best defenders. Skills like his for a big man are hard to buy. Hopeless Doust must do everything in his power to keep him. Merrin says he loves the club but money seems to be more important than loyalty. You say the Widdop/ Marshall partnership is among the best in comp. It would be if Marshall would learn how to pass a clean ball and make a tackle. If we are to make the finals it is imperative Marshall gets his act together. Widdop can not do it all on his own. Mate. the new forwards are big but a bunch of no names...bar George Rose and he is not exactly a world beater. As for the backs, Runciman will make a good replacement for Morris or Dugan if he is shifted to the back. Nielsen is former Maroon rep so he should be ok. Know nothing about the the other backs we have bought. Wait on. Beau Henry played for the Dragon Under 20 side way back.
Ken
Guest
I have red and white eyes but, trying to be objective, I'm not really understanding the doom and gloom around Saints prospects for next year. It seems that many have them down as wooden spoon favourites which is a little baffling to me. They were a mid-range team last year, and despite a forgettable last couple of games, were a far stronger side in the 2nd half of the season then they were in the first half. There's been some changes but the majority of them are for the good. Beale is a useful journeyman but hardly a critical cog, Stockwell and Stanley weren't really adding much - they were all being paid too much for too little. While I'm not suggesting there's any superstars in the new recruits I think we're probably getting more for less with L'Estrange, Keating, Nielsen, & Rose. Brett Morris is a different story, the best player in his position going around and a crowd favourite besides, but he's still just a winger and Runciman did a great impression of him while he was out for an extended period last year. Morris will be missed but would anyone truly suggest that losing a winger can change a team's fortune's significantly. On the plus-side, the halves combo of Widdop & Marshall is up there with any in the comp. Nightingale, Dugan, Farrell, Nielsen, Runciman is a strong 3/4 line and the forwards, while still the question mark, actually performed pretty well in the backhalf of the year and would seem a little stronger than last year. I'm not arguing they deserve comp favouritism but they surely are not spoon favourites either. My pick is that they'll be in that 6-10 range.