As a modern-day Dragons fan, believe me, I’ve experienced some ups and downs.
There’s something about following the Red V. Some years the club promises so much and fails to deliver, and others you enter a new season not anticipating anything and almost with a sense of numbness. Strangely enough, I don’t feel overly confident about the club’s prospects in 2019.
You could call me crazy. For a large portion of this season we were unstoppable. Our attack was menacing and we were scoring tries from almost every blade of grass within the borders of the field. Our defence was unbreakable, with Jack de Belin and Tariq Sims breaking people in half. And despite our normal late-season fade, the signs suggested an even better Dragons for 2019.
But the happenings over recent weeks have left me finishing 2018 with a bad taste in my mouth regarding the club’s prospects next season.
Firstly, our recruitment. The signature of Corey Norman comes with many, many risks. Obviously the addition of Norman was opportunistic and more or less an attempt to soften the blow from Gareth Widdop’s rumoured departure following next season. But despite Corey’s undoubted talent and ability to do freakish things on the field, he also possesses a big ego and with it a poor attitude.
I question how Norman will fit in with our tightly bound culture, which is something that has set us apart from other clubs, especially considering the size of Norman’s role, be it player five-eight or fullback.
Beyond the Norman signing is the loss of Nene MacDonald and the failure to have him replaced. A freak finisher who was unstoppable at various stages of this season, Nene’s biggest asset is his size and strength and the ability he possesses to get a team on the front foot from deep.
The Dragons had one of the best go-forwards in the competition throughout 2018 and a lot of this had to do with Nene. With the loss of the sizey Papua New Guinean to the Cowboys, we could really struggle with our yardage next season.
Moving on, the thought of not having Jack De Belin on the field for any stage of next season scares me. De Belin is the glue that holds our defence together, and it was notable when Jack was missing due to either Origin or injury this year. Guilty of his convictions or not, there’s a good possibility De Belin will miss a vital part of next season, and that should be a major cause of concern for Red V fans.
On the other hand, however, this could provide a player like Blake Lawrie with a big opportunity to show what he’s made of – and going off his late-season efforts this year, it’s pure concrete.
The final question lies within the side’s stamina. What measures are in place to ensure another late-season fade-out doesn’t happen next season? While the experience gained by the younger players like Blake Lawrie, Luciano Leuilua, Reece Robson and Zac Lomax in the late stages this year will certainly help with fatigue among the representative playing group, nothing has been said of how the coaching staff will address this particular issue, which has impacted the club for the past three seasons under Paul McGregor. I believe I speak for the entire Dragons community in saying that another post-Origin drift will not be handled well.
Don’t get me wrong – the Dragons are most certainly in a premiership window with their current 17, and this year demonstrated that they can beat any team on their day or not. But the events of recent weeks and certain recruitment decisions made by the club will be tested very early in 2019.
Time will tell if the Red V have learnt from some of its mistakes from this season.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
De Belin situation is not good for the club and at the very least this will be a giant distraction for De Belin and the Dragons. That said there are plenty of forwards such as Lawrie who can fill the gap. Corey Norman will provide additional attacking options and can always swap with Widdop during the game.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Norman's recruitment worries me also but I think back to the second half of the 2016 season when there was no Hayne and no Moses and Norman played very very well. I wonder whether those two huge egos had anything to do with Norman's patchy performances when they were on the field. Norman can play and I am hoping the better environment at the Dragons will bring out his best.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Strewth Edward ! We haven't even had a pre-season game as yet, and you are writing them off already ? But I guess I will support your pessimism to a degree, as I think the Dragons have been a tad overrated in times. I think they benefited a lot last year with an injury free run for the first half of the season. But once a few injuries were felt and some battered & bruised bodies had to turn up at the end of the season, I think they were well found out. I think their depth is an issue . And still big question marks over their spine for mine. I think Dufty is an issue defensively and under the high ball, and I still have question marks on Hunt & Widdop's consistency in the big games. Will Norman be the answer at 1 or 6 ? Maybe ? The forwards look strong again, but need JDB & Frizzell fit & firing. I wouldn't be so concerned about the loss of Macdonald , the Dragons have a couple of good young outside backs in Periera, Lomax & Pearson vying to take over the wing spots. As in most seasons, it will still come down to a fair share of luck with injuries , and bounces of the ball.
Edward Chisholm
Roar Rookie
No doubt Adam. Nene definitely had attitude problems, although apparently he turned a corner in 2018. But he almost makes 10 post contact metres every run without fail. Such a valuable thing to have in your side, particularly with the work rate and minutes some of our forwards put in each week.
Hopefully
Guest
If it is any consolation you are the most optimistic dragons fan I know
greg
Guest
I dont think Norman actually has an inflated ego at all. He does however have a somewhat poor attitude, in that he can put a good time ahead of hard work and dedication. This however could endear himself to the playing group as he will at least be a fun bloke to have around the club, its just a matter of can he get serious when he needs to. He could also show up with a point to prove and has as much ability as any half in the comp. I think he is a player to be optimistic about rather than pessimistic. Outside of that addressing the late season fade out will be crucial but you would think the coaching staff will have learnt something over the years and have a tactic (and the squad depth) to address this.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Way too early to be pessimistic in my opinion. Norman is an excellent signing abd will provide the club with a ball playing fullback for the first time since Ben Hornby. Nene Macdonald had some attitude problems so the club was more than happy to let him go and if anything out squad looks even better ahead of 2019. There are questions yet to be answered, but you could say that about any club. I think they will push for a top 4 spot
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
There's too many question marks about your team. Can Hunt fire in big games? Is Widdop leaving? Will De Bellin play a game in 2019? I think the Dragons might be battling for spots 5-8 in 2019, but good luck.
Fyb
Roar Rookie
Too early to be concerned. Pre season training may damage clubs for starters. One of things that was overlooked a lot last year was that the Dragons had a dream run with injuries in the first half of the season and not really hit until after origin 2. The club was quite happy for McDonald to go for reasons that will probably never become public and for good reason. Pereira did well at the back end and if Dufty has to play wing for a year it is more likely to do him good than not - there is an obvious question about whether he's tall enough for a flank position though. I'm happy with the Norman signing firstly because he's a genuine talent. But secondly because when it became apparent Widdop was going to England it is a far better idea to get something in place now rather than be in September scratching around trying to find someone for the next season as has happened a number of times this decade. The court case is clearly off limits for discussion but in football terms, however cynical and with no disrespect to the court and those involved, de Belin's status simply has to be regarded as equivalent to a long term injury / suspension. We will still if fit provide the bulk of the origin pack, and missing Vaughan in the wobbly run into the finals was a big loss. But congratulations on the article - there's a fair bit of thought gone into it and 'frustrated Dragons fan' doesn't disappear for us in the off season
Paul
Roar Guru
Very good article Edward. I too have huge reservations about the coming season for the mighty Dragons, mostly because of what happened in our last 2 games this season. I think the win against the Broncos and the near win next week, papered over gaping holes that start with the coach. MacGregor is simply not the guy to take the red V to a premiership. He's got the side he wants and the fade out this season was worse than the year before. He's now decided Norman is the guy who we need but no-one is sure what position he'll play, what happens to Dufty if Norman goes to fullback etc. You throw in the other points and Jack deB and a lack of quality wingers with Nene and Nightengale both going and I question where MacGregor is taking our team. I truly hope he has a cunning plan and can manage the controversies that will arise next year. If he does, we're a real chance to give the premiership a shake, but I just don't think he has what it take to coach a first grade side. Assistant coach - absolutely, but not the head cahoona.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting to see what happens as we approach the last third of the season in 19. The fade out has become such a part of the club you wonder how they deal with a loss or two at that stage again. It's a big mental hurdle no matter what they'll be saying, In theory the title is available to a fair number of teams . We keep on hearing about a team going back to back and this year it could be different but history is against the Chooks. Are the forwards motivated enough to do it again? They'll say they are but I've got my doubts.
sssgid4l
Roar Rookie
Nene didn't do much. Younger players will be much stronger come March, and Norman may end up being our top try scorer. If he gels with Hunt, 2019 will be our year. We will make top 4 this year and show the media and the "fans" what Dragons are made of.
Reg Reagan
Roar Rookie
Put simply, put Corey Norman at FB and Widdop at 5/8 and the Dragons may have a chance. Reverse the two and they won't.
Peter Piper
Guest
Hi Andrew, The red V have always been my second NRL team. I have always loved seeing them play win or lose but like you, I thought if they were going to win a premiership then 2018 was going to be the year. Unless the boys pull out something special to send Gareth off in style, then I think it could be a long hard season.