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The St George Illawarra Dragons failed to fire in 2016 with a boring and predictable attack, defence down on confidence, and a coach apparently unable to make adjustments necessary to rescue the season.
Benji Marshall was not playing with confidence, was hampered by hamstring problems and got the blame for the team’s woes in 2016.
With Marshall moving onto the Brisbane Broncos, who have given his career a lifeline, the blame will have to fall on someone else this year if the Dragons are to have another shocker.
The NRL’s official website suggests this is the starting 17 who will run out for the Dragons in 2017.
1. Josh Dugan
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Euan Aitken
4. Taane Milne
5. Jason Nightingale
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Drew Hutchison
8. Paul Vaughan
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Leeson Ah Mau
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de BelinInterchange
14. Russell Packer
15. Tariq Sims
16. Jacob Host
17. Jake Marketo
Josh Dugan will be the key man heading into 2017 after a successful showing for Australia in the centres but after playing there for the Dragons last season, which was a dismal failure, it has to be questioned what position he will play at.
In the backline, the Dragons have gone for weight with new recruit Nene McDonald on the wing weighing in at 111kg. Youngster Taane Milne was reluctantly introduced by coach Paul McGregor at the back end of last year to replace Tim Lafai and performed well enough to hold his position.
Euan Aitken is a name to watch and could be in for a big season. He comes into 2017 after his last-minute try for Scotland in the Four Nations to draw against New Zealand which gave Scotland their only points for the tournament.
Jason Nightingale, the Dragons veteran winger may struggle to hold the wing position against competition from the rest of the squad with age catching up to him.
Drew Hutchison is a big running half with a good pass and kick but with little experience was ignored by McGregor last year. With Gareth Widdop turning out to be a bad choice as captain, he will need to improve in 2017 but could form a strong halves combination with Hutchinson.
Cameron McInnes, who was signed from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, looks the likely hooker, with Siliva Havili the likely utility coming from the bench.
Front Rowers for the Dragons include Paul Vaughan (110kg) from the Raiders, Lesson Ah Mau (111kg), Russell Packer (121Kg), who was hampered with injury last year, and the monster Mose Masoe (130Kg) who didn’t play last year after injuring his ACL.
The Dragons second row will barely change for 2017, with New South Wales State of Origin second-rower Tyson Frizell leading the way and the strength of Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin and Tariq Sims all vying for spots.
So where will the Dragons finish in 2017?
On paper, the team doesn’t look as bad as most are predicting, but the retention of McGregor as coach after a dismal 2016 sees many inserting the club as part of the battle for the wooden spoon.
If McGregor is again reluctant to experiment and test the depth that is available then the Dragons are likely to see the same old boring and ineffective attack week after week.
The performance of Drew Hutchinson at half may be the key, but he can’t be blamed if the team does not perform in 2017.
Hutchinson deserves his chance in 2017, but if he fails it could well be because of the limited exposure McGregor gave him in 2016. Either way, Josh McCrone isn’t the answer again.
The Dragons’ backs are strong enough and the forwards are mobile enough, but at the end of the day the squad looked similar last year and ended around the bottom of the pile then.
With some reluctance then, it has to be said the Dragons could contend for the wooden spoon next season.
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