It was only this time last year that pundits and experts predicted a cellar-dweller finish for the mighty Dragons and, to be honest, it was hard to disagree with them.
Instead St George Illawarra burst out of the gates and raced to the top of the ladder within the first few rounds, and the red and white army made sure they didn’t book a holiday in September. However, in what has been a recent trend for the joint venture, they stumbled through an underwhelming second half of the season and finished ninth.
Looking ahead to 2018 we have seen some very aggressive recruitment drives, with teams looking more impressive than ever. It has been widely predicted that 2018 may become a three-horse race between the Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters. Favouritism has never really meant much, and here’s why the Dragons can raise eyebrows in 2018.
Headlines have been dominated by player movements in 2017, and the catalyst of all of this was Ben Hunt signing a lucrative deal with the Dragons. A poor 40 minutes on the biggest stage of them all was all it took for Broncos supporters to have doubts over their star halfback.
Gareth Widdop has been a solo superstar at the Dragons but now finally has the opportunity to combine with a player of similar stature. Attack has been the main criticism of Paul McGregor’s team, and Hunt’s creativity combined with Widdop’s strong passing and running game can cause some big upsets in 2018.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Aaron Woods’s controversial move to the Bulldogs was considered one of the coups of the year. Starting Australian front-rower, prop of the year – who wouldn’t want him at their club? Well, maybe not Bulldogs fans, because subsequently skipper and fan favourite James Graham was pushed out.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, with the Dragons swooping immediately on the tough Englishman. It’s hard to go past names like James Tedesco, Cooper Cronk or Jordan Mclean as the top signings for 2018, but I would have no problem with the suggestion that James Graham may be the most influential.
As mentioned before, attack has been a constant problem for the Dragons, and the thing that makes James Graham such a large influence is his neat passing game. A front-rower with the ability to throw short crisp passes adds a whole new element to an attack.
Graham leads from the front and gets in the ears of his teammates, which is what the Dragons have lacked, especially in the second half of the season. James Graham and Paul Vaughan as the starting front-row combining with Tyson Frizell making tackle-busting runs and the Dragons have a formidable forward pack.
You are not a true rugby league fan if you are not disappointed with your team for not making the finals in any year. Once the disappointment of the ninth-place finish had subsided, Dragons fans must see 2017 as a huge step forward.
(AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Many players had breakout years, but none more so than Jack De Belin and Cameron McInnes. De Belin had average running metres of 146.6, a resounding improvement on his previous seasons. Strong running combined with a very tight defence led to De Belin being included in the New South Wales squad as 18th man.
McInnes on the other hand, finished the year with the highest tackle count in the NRL, making 1,155 tackles. Another strong start to the season and Brad Fitler may be taking a very close look.
Whether the Dragons are successful in 2018 largely depends on the success of Matt Dufty. He is young, boasts speed and evasiveness similar to Billy Slater and has crafty ball skills. If the young gun can link up with his halves smoothly and be sound in defence, then Dragons fans should get excited. Considering he is still developing, the fullback spot does present question marks and will define the Dragons season.
It is extremely difficult to see the Dragons challenging the likes of the Roosters, Cowboys and Storm for the premiership, but I have seen weirder things happen. It might not be the year of the Dragon, but a strong recruitment drive and a year to build on may see the red and white fly high to snatch a top-four finish.
Jondy
Guest
One thing Ben Hunt will bring is a better kicking game . Last year's half found the dead ball line on far too many occasions at crucial times .
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Graham will add something to the Dragons Pack but another year under the belt is not a positive for Graham and I doubt that he will see as much time on the field as he did at the Bulldogs. The real undecided is how Hunt will fit in to the Dragons team. He has to be a big positive, but I doubt he will get as much support as he did at the Broncos. Finally, for all Dragons fans the big question is will Leilua be given a chance?
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The Rabbitohs will finish in front of the Sea Eagles for sure and the Dragons.
Larry1950
Guest
Interesting to see how the dragon's wingers go this year with Dugan "never pass" gone. Forwards look capable & Vaughan is their standout. Frizell has to spend more time on the field & less injured because he's got that impact game, but even in rep games his minutes have been low. Sims also doesn't play enough time. They also need a full season out of Aitken, with his shoulders holding up, that kid can play. I reckon 8th to 11th.
madmax
Guest
Bulldogs Dragons Eels Knights
madmax
Guest
My bad....yeah got confused with Matt Duffie.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Most of the drama is over and by the start of the season it will be old news.
Peter Phelps
Guest
The roster nor the coach is the problem. I think this whole front of office / salary cap thing could undermine them.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Like many things in life, what is intended is what matters. I might express my feelings with passion but that is all it is. When I was born in the pre politically correct days, we weren't so hypersensitive as we seem to be today.
Greg
Guest
Well some people can, everyone's entitled to an opinion without getting attacked because they don't agree with your predictions
Albo
Guest
I'm with you Baz. I can't see any great improvements looming large at Kogarah this year. They have lost their consistent Dugan, Thompson & Packer, and replaced them with a couple of overly hyped types at this stage, in Hunt & Graham ? I think their spine is still a dubious proposition. McInnes is great defender but little creativity. Hunt & Widdop are hot & cold ball runners but not sure either are really game managers, and Dufty will be under a lot of defensive & high ball scrutiny. I'd be surprised if Graham offers much more than his usual passion & mentorship to his team mates in his limited time on the field. And their outside backs probably need a revamp. I can see the Dragons again battling out for that 8th spot.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Get some egg of your own ready if you think the Eagles will be at the bottom of the table Peter.. That's where the experts said they would finish last year and they didn't understand the roster or the coach.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Maybe that is the issue, I cannot see them falling out of the top 2 with minor premiers being a 50:50 chance. Falling to 4th would be a big disappointment for the Storm.
Maroubranos
Guest
What you have written is 100% correct. Fritz has NOT lived up to his potential at NRL level because the 'so-called' coaching staff have used him purely as a battering-ram. By the end of the season he looked wasted. Hopefully now with Hunt playing HB perhaps they can have Fritz charging at angles into gaps off a Hunt short pass.
Greg
Guest
I wouldn't say that having them in the top 4 and one win off second place is underestimating them......in fact it's literally the opposite
Peter Phelps
Guest
I also think the Raiders, Sharks and Eagles are far too high in your list. Sharks will be fighting for 8/9 th, Other 2 at the bottom of the table with the Raiders at serious risk of the spoon.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Eels ???? I doubt they will get into the top 4 let alone second. Like many others, you underestimate the Storm but that is ok because everyone does, consistently, year after year. The egg on some peoples faces must be getting quite thick by now.
Nat
Roar Guru
Salty sarcasm is a long way from wit champ. It may pass as tongue-in-cheek if it was occasional but every thread every other day?? I tell you what, I'll work on my sense of humour if you lighten up on your derogatory one-liners.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good points Ken and I fully agree. Depth is the problem, same as it was last year. Forward pack is where the strength of the Dragons was last year and I think Graham will have to be on top of his game to make up for the loss of Packer. Lack of combination and consistency in the halves as a big weakness which should now be resolved with Hunt coming in.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Nightingale in the centres is an interesting idea. He'd have a bit to learn defensively but he might be better suited there than on the wing late in his career. Nightingale reminds me in some ways of Matt Geyer. Never the fastest or the strongest but an all round natural footy player. Geyer handled everywhere from 1 to 6 with aplomb. You'd think they'd start with Aitken and Lafai but if there are injuries it would be worth thinking about.