In 2018 the Dragons led the premiership for much of the year but only just managed to make the NRL finals despite their usual late-season slump.
This year the Dragons are looking to challenge for the premiership.
With a strong and experienced squad, particularly in the forwards, coach Paul McGregor needs to win the tough matches towards the end of the season. This has been elusive in the past but needs to be done if the premiership window is to be open for the Dragons.
The arrival of ex-Eels playmaker Corey Norman provides additional attacking options for the Dragons with both Norman and Gareth Widdop able to play fullback, halfback or five-eighth.
There were times in 2018 that both Widdop and Hunt looked devoid of attacking ideas and Corey Norman will add an additional attacking option for the Dragons, with left foot kicker Norman likely to play 5/8 with right foot kicker Hunt playing halfback and Widdop dropping back to fullback where he played for England.
Euan Aitken and Tim Lafai should retain their positions as centres, but with Nene Macdonald (Cowboys) and Jason Nightingale (retired) departing the positions of the two wingers are open for the remaining backs.
Impressive youngster Zac Lomax and and solid winger Jordan Pereira played towards the end of 2018 due to injuries and are a good chance of starting on the flank in 2019 but that leaves the elusive Matt Dufty without a start.
In my view, Dufty on the wing will significantly enhance the Dragons attack and he will have a lesser defensive challenge on the wing compared to fullback, although the high balls may be a challenge.
Mat Head, the Dragons Transition Coach, has also confirmed the return of former Dragons centre Charly Runciman from Super League who will be pushing for a centre/wing spot, along with a host of other wingers Mikaele Ravalawa, Jonas Pearson (from the Broncos), Jason Saab, Steven Marsters and Jai Field.
There is not much change expected in the Dragons forwards in 2019 with a front row of Paul Vaughan, Cameron McInnes and James Graham and with a back row of Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims and Jack De Belin (assuming is pending court charges do not exclude him).
Korbin Sims experienced ex-Bronco is expected to fill the bench position of Leeson Ah Mau (who is with Warriors in 2019) but he will miss the opening round due to suspension.
Jacob Host, Jeremy Latimore and Luciano Leilua look likely to fill the remaining bench spots unless coach McGregor elects to use Dufty on the bench.
Forwards likely to be contending in the event of an injury include Blake Lawrie, Mitchell Allgood, Lachlan Timm and Joss Kerr (front and second row) and, Joe Lovodua and Reese Robson (hooker).
Tariq Sims of the Dragons. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Dragons are very strong in the forwards and appear strong all over the park with the possible exception of the relatively inexperienced wingers.
As always, Coach McGregor bears the responsibility for the overall performance of the team particularly in the big games in the second half of the season.
Hopefully, injuries will be kind to the Dragons or if they are not some exciting ISP players will have the opportunity to show their talents in the NRL.
Roy
Guest
The jury is out on the Dragons chances.
Peter Piper
Guest
Definitely top 8 but I reckon top 4 will be a stretch. I have Roosters, Storm, Rabbits as top 4 certainties and quite a number of teams fighting it out for the other place.
Kenw
Guest
He was terrible in 2017 - and it just looked like laziness, which is really the worst way to be terrible. He switched on in 2018 though and was fantastic. Dragons will miss his 2018 impact
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
If McInnes gets injured Robson steps into hooker.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately I reckon they'll extend him earlier in the season like they normally do. This Should be his Final year.
Peter Piper
Guest
I think it is more complex than that. If we look at last year, McGregor had the Dragons on song from the get go and didn't they go. Many of the other top eight teams were still finding their feet and in some cases, their best line up. For some of those teams, it seemed like they were still playing pre-season friendlies for the first 4 rounds. And so the Dragons hit the top of the ladder. The dragons late season slump may have been no more than the other teams finding top gear whilst the red v had nowhere else to step up too.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
True, but at least there is a depth of talent in the Dragons squad.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
There is going to be so much time spent by people discussing who will play where in the Dragons line up - Hunt/Norman/Widdop/Dufty etc... And knowing the weird way of the world, it will all be for nothing when McInnes gets hurt in a trial and Hunt gets moved to hooker and the other three all play their normal positions - or some other injury drama to one of the four that has similar effect...
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
There are not a lot of Corey Norman fans out there.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Charles, I do not think it is legal to leave the soon departing captain out of the side.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Last year I predicted Manly not to make the 8 and got loads from Manly fans, but they have even less chance this year.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Not many thought they would make the 8 last year.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Not sure what the Dragons are up to with Runciman maybe short of Salary cap.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Agree that McGregor is too conservative but what else can he do?
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Nene had and still has the potential to be a Radrardra but did not really develop at the Dragons.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I agree with your comment on Lafai who has been poor since leaving the bulldogs, but unless he performs this year it could free up some salary cap.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
If you are basing your premise that it will be a disaster on the "abysmal" failure of them as a combination at Brisbane, a quick revision is that they combined in the halves twice... in 2012... and won one of the two games they played in the halves together. They have both only played about another 300 games combined since then. So I am going to guess their games have evolved a bit in that time. So it may not be the disaster you think....
Battler
Roar Rookie
In Norman and Hunt they have what could be the two most overrated halves in the game on over 2 million dollars between them. A combination that failed so abysmally for Brisbane that Norman was shafted to FB. Hunt looks like a rep half during the regular season when no pressure is on him, but the second any sort of heat is applied he looks worse than a reserve grader.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Scott, I thought they really showed some finals form in the last 2 games of the season which was lacking in previous years.
Charles NSW
Guest
Excited to see how the Dragons will go this year with a number of positions still holding a question mark as to how they will go. Our forwards should hold themselves well, our halves should be up with best and if we utilise our back line we will have speed to burn. In view of using our strength, speed and knowledge I would have a team which most people would not consider, but with good coaching can be very dynamic. Fullback - Matthew Dufty Wingers - Plenty to select from Centres - Zac Lomax, Jai Field Five Eight - Corey Norman Half - Ben Hunt Dummy Half - Cameron McInnes Use as a second five eight - Gareth Widdop.