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The St George Illawarra Dragons went down fighting last year, after losing in extra time at the hands of the Bulldogs in Week 1 of the finals.
Paul McGregor are preparing his side to go on a serious premiership tilt after strong recruitment in the off-season saw them draw such names as Tim Lafai, Mose Masoe, Tyrone McCarthy, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Russell Packer, Josh McCrone, Kurt Mann, Dunamis Lui and Adam Quinlan.
The Red V boast unbelievable depth in almost every position, with their NSW Cup outfit the Illawarra Cutters set to be packed with first grade-quality players and internationals.
With one of the strongest sides in the NRL, St George Illawarra shape as a serious premiership threat and are expected to be the dark horse of the competition.
Rookie watch
The Dragons don’t have much in the way of rookies who have been promoted to the full-time squad in 2016, but what lies ahead in 2017 and beyond is exciting.
Tom Carr graduates from the NYC in 2016 and will be battling for a spot in the backline, however it is unlikely he will get a run in the NRL with at least five players ahead of him in the pecking order.
The most likely prospect to make his debut is Junior Kiwi and Roosters recruit Taane Milne.
The outside back made 38 appearances in three years at Bondi, crossing the line 27 times, and was a standout performer last season. While he is unlikely to make his Red V debut in Round 1, he should get a run at some stage this season.
Fullback Matthew Dufty is earning a name for himself among rugby league fans, with the Penshurst junior heading into his third NYC season in 2016. Dufty represented New South Wales Under-18s in 2014 and has been a cornerstone in the Dragons NYC side since he made his debut two years ago.
Another cornerstone of that side is young forward Blake Lawrie, who graduated from the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball team at the end of 2014. The Wests Devils junior made his mark in early 2015 and is another key junior forward.
Other players on the rise include Jacob Host, Luciano Leilua, Hame Sele and Izaac Thompson. Dragons fans may not have too much in the way of rookies to look forward to in 2016, but a batch of junior stars are on the verge of breaking out.
Under pressure
It’s not often that almost anybody in a team could lose their spot, but for the 2016 Dragons, no one is safe.
The Dragons’ backline is bursting with stars. Josh Dugan, Jason Nightingale, Tim Lafai, Peter Mata’utia and Euan Aitken could all be pushed out at any time by Kurt Mann, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Adam Quinlan or Taane Milne.
Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop are on rocky ground in the halves with Josh McCrone pressuring for a spot alongside Drew Hutchison.
Mitch Rein is just as unsafe at hooker, with Siliva Havili desperate to get into the first grade side, while in the forwards the likes of Ben Creagh and Tyrone McCarthy could be squeezed out of the 17 by Russell Packer or Dunamis Lui.
The Dragons have a well-built squad and every player must perform or face being dropped to reserve grade.
Where does Ben Creagh fit?
Not even captain Ben Creagh is guaranteed a spot for Round 1, with plenty of experienced forwards in the squad.
Think names such as Leeson Ah Mau, Mike Cooper, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin, Mose Masoe and Tyrone McCarthy, most of whom are playing at Test level. Then there’s Dunamis Lui, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Russell Packer, Jake Marketo and Will Matthews.
With Creagh’s form falling fast over recent years, the 262-game veteran could start his 14th year of first grade playing NSW Cup.
At 30 years of age, Creagh still has plenty to offer but he faces an uphill battle to play regular top-flight football. With the Blacktown junior coming off contract at the end of 2016, this season could be his last at Kogarah.
Who will fill the Dragons’ backline?
With the signings of Lafai, Mann, Quinlan, Faifai Loa and Milne, spots in the backline will be hard to come by.
Lafai, Dugan and Nightingale appear certainties, with the remaining two spots to be hotly contested.
Peter Mata’utia is expected to wear the number 2 jersey unless he plays poorly in the trial matches or is unavailable. Despite not having a permanent spot in the side last year, Mata’utia made 21 appearances, crossing for eight tries.
It is open season for the left centre position however, with seven players in contention.
Aitken and Mann are the leading candidates, making 23 and 20 appearances last season respectively.
It is widely believed Mann will be given the nod as a result of a strong preseason and having slightly more experience, however it will be very hard for McGregor to turn down Aitken, who played Papua New Guinea in the Prime Minister’s XIII game at the end of last year.
New arrivals Faifai Loa, Quinlan and Milne are also set to fight for the position, alongside Dragons juniors Yaw Kiti Glymin and Carr. Although contracted, Dylan Farrell is expected to retire due to recurring back problems.
Fans of the Red V have plenty to look forward in the pre-season NRL Auckland Nines and Charity Shield.
Will Josh McCrone get any game time?
Utility half Josh McCrone arrives at Kogarah from Canberra, where he played 133 games over seven years.
With England half Widdop and former Kiwi Test star Marshall in the halves however, McCrone is going to have to fight hard for a spot.
A bench spot will be just as hard to get, as with the reduction of the interchange to eight substitutions having McCrone on the bench would give their forwards a much heavier workload.
McCrone must put in a strong pre-season if he wishes to push Marshall out of the side and be playing regular first-grade in 2016, otherwise his talent will be wasted in the NSW Cup.
Must watch
Round 2 versus Sharks
Sunday, March 13, 4pm at Shark Park
The Dragons square off with arch-rivals Cronulla early in the season at Shark Park, with plenty of great match-ups across the park.
McGregor’s forward pack will get a workout against New South Wales Blues captain Paul Gallen, veteran Luke Lewis, and hard-working forwards Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham.
The backline will also be put to test against the likes of young stars Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird as well as internationals Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki and Ricky Leutele.
The first meeting between the Red V and Cronulla in 2016 shapes as one of the best games in the opening rounds of the upcoming season.
Round 4 versus Panthers
Sunday, March 27, 4pm at WIN Stadium
Trent Merrin faces faces his old side for the first time when the Dragons meet the Panthers in Round 4, and fans of the Red V are not likely to have forgiven Merrin for leaving the club.
The backline will be under serious pressure to perform against a Panthers line-up featuring Kiwi internationals Dean Whare and Peta Hiku, Kangaroo Test winger Josh Mansour, and up-and-coming stars Matt Moylan and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Predicted best XVII
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Peter Mata’utia, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Jason Nightingale, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Benji Marshall, 8. Leeson Ah Mau, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Mike Cooper, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Joel Thompson, 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Mose Masoe, 15. Ben Creagh, 16. Dunamis Lui, 17. Tyrone McCarthy
2016 signings
Kalifa Faifai Loa (Gold Coast Titans), Siliva Havili (Vodafone Warriors), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Vodafone Warriors), Timoteo Lafai (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Dunamis Lui (Manly Sea Eagles), Kurt Mann (Melbourne Storm), Mose Masoe (St Helens), Tyrone McCarthy (Hull KR), Josh McCrone (Canberra Raiders), Taane Milne (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer, Adam Quinlan (St Helens)
2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Storm versus Dragons (Monday, March 7, 7pm at AAMI Park)
Round 2: Sharks versus Dragons (Sunday, March 13, 4pm at Shark Park)
Round 3: Dragons versus Rabbitohs (Sunday, March 20, 4pm at Sydney Cricket Ground)
Round 4: Dragons versus Panthers (Sunday, March 27, 4pm at WIN Stadium)
Round 5: Cowboys versus Dragons (Saturday, April 2, 7:30pm at 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 6: Broncos versus Dragons (Thursday, April 7, 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium)
Round 7: Titans versus Dragons (Saturday, April 16, 3pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 8: Dragons versus Roosters (Monday, April 25, 4pm at Allianz Stadium)
Round 9: Warriors versus Dragons (Sunday, May 1, 12pm at Mt Smart Stadium)
Round 10: Dragons versus Raiders (Thursday, May 12, 7:50pm at Jubilee Oval)
Round 11: Rabbitohs versus Dragons (Thursday, May 19, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 12: Dragons versus Cowboys (Saturday, May 28, 7:30pm at WIN Stadium)
Round 13: Bye
Round 14: Dragons versus Bulldogs (Monday, June 13, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 15: Dragons versus Storm (Saturday, June 18, 7:30pm at WIN Stadium)
Round 16: Knights versus Dragons (Saturday, June 25, 3pm at Hunter Stadium)
Round 17: Sea Eagles versus Dragons (Monday, July 4, 7pm at Brookvale Oval)
Round 18: Bye
Round 19: Dragons versus Titans (Friday, July 15, 7:50pm at Jubilee Oval)
Round 20: Dragons versus Wests Tigers (Sunday, July 24, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 21: Bulldogs versus Dragons (July 28-August 1 at ANZ Stadium)
Round 22: Dragons versus Broncos (August 4-August 8 at WIN Stadium)
Round 23: Dragons versus Sharks (August 11-August 15 at Jubilee Oval)
Round 24: Roosters versus Dragons (August 18-August 22 at Allianz Stadium)
Round 25: Eels versus Dragons (August 25-August 29 at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 26: Dragons versus Knights (September 1-September 4 at Jubilee Oval)
Prediction
The Dragons have a much stronger team in 2016 however the level of competition will see them miss the eight and finish 10th.
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