The St George Illawarra Dragons are a side that are scrutinised by their fans more than any other club in the game. These passionate fans make what has gone on at the Dragons over the last couple of years completely unacceptable.
In 2014 they started the season with a win, and then it all went downhill from there until coach Steve Price was finally given the sack after a smashing at the hands of the Parramatta Eels.
Paul McGregor took over, and it seemed the Dragons attitude had changed. While they still didn’t win enough games in the back half of the season, it was a massive change in attitude for the side. Moving into the 2015 season, the Dragons will be hoping to carry this momentum and get a strong start, however they have had a massive personnel change over during the off season and it doesn’t seem like it has been for the best.
Has Paul McGregor completely lost it after his post-season review or has he pulled a masterstroke that will see the Dragons make the top eight for the first time in four years?
Pre-season fixtures
Jan 31: versus Mackay Cutters @ Mackay
Jan 31 – Feb 1: Auckland Nines versus Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles
Feb 7: Charity Shield versus South Sydney Rabbitohs @ ANZ Stadium (7:30pm)
Feb 20: World Club Series versus Warrington Wolves @ Warrington
The Dragons after struggling in 2014, and have named one of the biggest and wide ranging pre-seasons out of all the NRL clubs for the 2015 season. With three games apart from the Auckland Nines they will definitely have plenty of chances to work on building new combinations, but by the end of the season a lot of players already felt burnt out. Is playing this many games before the season going to work for the Dragons?
Of course the Auckland Nines and the Charity Shield were probably locked into the calendar for the Dragons this time last year, however a trip to England for the new World Club Series could really take it out of them. They also play Queensland Cup team the Mackay Cutters on January 31, the same weekend as the Auckland Nines.
While they will have plenty of chances to build new combinations, which is exactly what the Dragons need, playing four games and spending that long on a plane really increases the chances of burnout and injury.
Ins and outs
2015 gains
Fraser Alcock (2015), Beau Henry (Gold Coast Titans, 2015), Kris Keating (Hull Kingston Rovers, 2015), Heath L’Estrange (Sydney Roosters, 2015), Eto Nabuli (Penrith Panthers, 2015), Dane Nielsen and Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard (both New Zealand Warriors, 2016), Rulon Nutira (2015) and George Rose (Melbourne Storm, 2015).
2015 losses
Josh Ailaomai (Queensland Cup), Gerard Beale, Kyle Stanley and Jack Bird (all Cronulla Sharks), Matt Groat (Salford Red Devils), Brett Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jack Stockwell (Newcastle Knights), Sam Williams (Canberra Raiders), Michael Witt (retired)
The Dragons have had one of the biggest clean outs in the NRL over the off-season as new coach McGregor conducted a sweeping review of everything in the club. I’m almost certain that his review findings would not have included releasing the likes of Brett Morris or upcoming star Jack Bird. However, the Dragons have also let go of players like Adam Quinlan, Gerard Beale and Kyle Stanley, who seemed to be off the field more than he was on it.
In return the Dragons have bought a lot of players on one-year contracts and seem to be trying to copy Penrith’s formula from the 2014 season. None of the signings will spark any great confidence in Dragons supporters, however, with players like Heath L’Estrange, Kris Keating and Dane Nielsen.
The Dragons have made a couple of what would seem good signings for the future with players like Eto Nabuli, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard and Rulon Nutira. The Dragons have also brought up a lot of players from their successful Illawarra Cutters and Holden Cup Under-20s squad for the 2015 season.
The other major problem at St George would seem to be the internal issues bubbling under the surface at the club. How a club can finish down the bottom end of the ladder three years in a row and be anywhere near the limit of the NRL salary cap is almost like a bad joke. There are reports that their main forward Trent Merrin wants out and winger Jason Nightingale was being shopped around. Problems could be bubbling at the Dragons, there is no question about it.
Draw analysis
The Dragons are a club that hasn’t been done any favours by the NRL draw. The biggest talking point surrounding the club is the fact that they have taken four of their home games away from traditional home grounds at Kograh and Wollongong and placed them at ANZ Stadium and Moore Park.
Of even more concern is that they play the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on a Monday night as a home game and they play the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium as a home game. The Dragons start their season with two Monday night games against a Cameron Smith-less Melbourne Storm and then against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown before a tough road trip to Canberra where they have traditionally struggled to win despite breaking the hoodoo last season.
The Dragons play the least amount of Friday night games in 2015 with just one in the first 20 rounds, while they play four Monday night games along with another Monday public holiday game against the Bulldogs. The Dragons also take part in the centre piece of Anzac Day against the Roosters and a heritage game against the Rabbitohs at the SCG.
The Dragons’ home games are spread out very evenly throughout the season which is one positive the club can take. The Dragons run home is not easy, but it certainly won’t be the hardest. In the last weeks they have a real mix as they take on the Knights, followed by a tough trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors, followed by another tough trip to take on the Broncos. They then take on the Panthers, Titans and Tigers to round out their season.
The Dragons will play Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers twice during 2015. There is no doubt that with the 2014 season they had and the issues that seem to be sweeping the club, the Dragons will need a strong start to 2015.
Predicted impact of State of Origin
The Dragons have always been impacted by State of Origin in some shape or form. However their recent form means the same shouldn’t be the case this season. Trent Merrin, their leading forward, will undoubtedly be picked for the Blues after being a part of last year’s success. The other potential selection for Origin is Josh Dugan, and his selection will no doubt depend on early season form.
Predicted finish and final word
The Dragons, after a rocky 2014 season, will now head into 2015 under new coach Paul McGregor, with questionable recruitment and what would seem some major internal issues at the club, along with a draw that does the club no favours. I’m tipping the Dragons for a similar finish to last season, missing the eight but not being in the bottom four.
Season fixtures
R1 Mon 09 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Storm
R2 Mon 16 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, Campbelltown Stadium Wests Tigers V Dragons
R3 Sat 21 Mar 2015, 5:30pm, GIO Stadium Raiders V Dragons
R4 Sat 28 Mar 2015, 7:30pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Sea Eagles
R5 Sat 04 Apr 2015, 7:30pm, Hunter Stadium Knights V Dragons
R6 Sun 12 Apr 2015, 4:00pm, ANZ Stadium Dragons V Bulldogs
R7 Fri 17 Apr 2015, 7:35pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Broncos
R8 Sat 25 Apr 2015, 4:00pm, Allianz Stadium Roosters V Dragons
R9 Mon 11 May 2015, 7:00pm, ANZ Stadium Rabbitohs V Dragons
R10 Sun 17 May 2015, 2:00pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Raiders
R12 Sun 31 May 2015, 4:00pm, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Sharks
R13 Mon 08 Jun 2015, 4:00pm, ANZ Stadium Bulldogs V Dragons
R15 Mon 22 Jun 2015, 7:00pm, Allianz Stadium Dragons V Roosters
R16 Sat 27 Jun 2015, 7:30pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Dragons
R17 Sat 04 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, WIN Stadium Dragons V Cowboys
R18 Sun 12 Jul 2015, 4:00pm, Remondis Stadium Sharks V Dragons
R19 Sat 18 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, TBC Dragons V Rabbitohs
R20 Sat 25 Jul 2015, 7:30pm, AAMI Park Storm V Dragons
R21 TBC, Jubilee Oval Dragons V Knights
R22 TBC, Mt Smart Stadium Warriors V Dragons
R23 TBC, Suncorp Stadium Broncos V Dragons
R24 TBC, WIN Stadium Dragons V Panthers
R25 TBC, Cbus Super Stadium Titans V Dragons
R26 TBC, ANZ Stadium Dragons V Wests Tigers
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
All depends on confidence and team building which will hopefully come out of the trip to UK and Benji always has some to share.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The forwards aren't as bad as everyone seems to think.. If some of these young blokes can stand up and some of the current forwards play like they did when Mcgregor took over last year the dragons will be a force to be reckoned with.
Charles NSW
Guest
If Dugan is confirmed as fullback that at least will cement the spine they had before with Marshall and Widdop. In regards to the front row again there is not much arsenal there. They really need a big year from George Rose which may be on the cards as he has been training well this year.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Not sure about Dugan as a Centre as I do not think the ball goes much to the wing, mind you he is a reasonable defender. Losing what I think is the best winger in the world is not much of a loss if the ball rarely gets out to him and he ends up playing forward and bring the ball back up the middle. Whatever we think McGregor wants him at full back which leaves him Runciman or Nielsen or Mata'utai (who had a bad Nines). I think that while we have not solved the front row forward problem we have more depth this year and should play with some confidence that Benji can pull something out at the last minute if we just keep trying. Pity about losing Jack Bird though. It must be true that a Bird in the hand is worth more than a Rose in the bush.
Charles NSW
Guest
I feel the coach needs to put Dugan in as centre if they can find a player to take on the fullback role. I think he is better at centre and less prone to injuries. The Dragons have a number of players now in key positions and the halves are much improved from last year. I feel the forwards are stronger then what we had last year as well.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
The season is really all in Benji's hands. Benji has had a good start at the Nines and the Charity Shield could be a good early test of what we can do and where the problems are. If Benji and Widdop can get the forwards as well as backs hitting holes rather than other forwards, then we can roll the other teams backwards. I also expect that we will see a lot of Nightingale wandering away from the sideline and playing as a centre in attack. All this should leave Dugan at the back waiting for the right moment in attacked. Can we match Souths in the Charity Shield? No, the team is too much of a work in progress, but after another tough match against Warrington we might see this years team coming together. I hope we do not try playing without a fullback as we did in the first Nines match against the Knights conceding 3 tries to kicks and that Dugan can avoid letting another player run round him to score.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I would not give up on the Dragons this year. Benji's performance at the Nines was good and his combination with Widdop should be better this year. Nabuli should be a good substitute for Brett Morris and Neilsen could fill one centre position with plenty of competition for the other, and lots left over to cover injuries. Shannon Cook was impressive in the Nines and could be a good back up for injuries while L'Estrange also impressed at hooker in the nines. The problem once again this year is the forwards, but they are another year older and the better for it. Cooper looks pretty determined this year and I would not count Saint George Rose out but I have not seen anything of O'Brien or Nutira, and then there could be Russel Packer later in the year. The Dragons just need one forward to stand up in the pack with some grunt and the rest will follow.
Doug Graves
Guest
Looks like 2 steps forward 1 step back for the Dragons. They've lost some quality players and I don't think they've been able to replace them with the likes of George Rose! Anyway expect the usual rocks and diamonds from Benji Marshall, more middling performances and a 10-13th finish, again.
Avatar
Roar Guru
I think the Dragons will have a chance against the Storm in Round 1, especially given the fact the Storm will be without their captain Cameron Smith due to injury. But why on earth would the Dragons bring a home game against the Bulldogs to their territory? By doing that the Dragons fans will be easily outnumbered by their Canterbury counterparts and the ANZ Stadium factor will shift the match the Bulldogs' way. If this game had remained at Kogarah or Wollongong then no doubt the local support of the fans would drive their team to what could be their first win over the Bulldogs since 2011. Other than that, I am predicting another bleak year for the Saints, it seems the days of 2010 are long gone.
andy M
Guest
I have the upmost faith in the Mighty DRAGONS. I urge the army to be positive with the red V......if not go to the opposition side !
Charles NSW
Guest
Right on target Walter! This team will do better than most believe.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Fraser Alcock?????????? He does not appear on the Dragons web site and its the first time I have heard the name but press reports say: Former Canterbury Bulls frontrower Rulon Nutira and former Sharks Under-20s forward Fraser Alcock have both scored a one-year deals with St George Illawarra in 2015. Apparently 105 kg Lock, is this Merrin's undercover replacement?
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I think as usual anything is possible with the Dragons. This year they go in with a stable halves pairing and with Benji looking very keen for one good year, at least. The new players that have joined were perhaps no on the top of anyones shopping list, but they are all out to prove something as are the up and coming u20s and Cup players. The much maligned forwards from last year are a year bigger and tougher and may have some size available on the bench this year so I am looking forward to the year and I see the Nines as a good chance to give Benji and most of the mobile players a run and Mackay is a necessary trial before being based by Souths in the Charity shield and another tough match in England. So come start of the season we should have had a good chance to test combinations against tough competition and have a better idea of who to field against melbourne.