St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor says his side are still NRL title contenders despite the loss of Jack de Belin.
St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has warned the rest of the NRL to write off the Dragons at their own peril, saying his side are hardened to adversity.
Some have questioned whether the Red V can still contend for this year’s premiership given the indefinite standing down of lock Jack de Belin.
De Belin last week became the first player to be sidelined as a result of the game’s new behavioural policy and has been stood aside while he fights an aggravated sexual assault charge.
He has pleaded not guilty.
The Dragons’ had been pencilled in by most pundits as top-four contenders.
However, the loss of de Belin shapes as a big blow after the NSW Origin representative last year established himself as one of the premier hard men of the game.
McGregor dismissed the suggestion they still couldn’t match it with the top sides in the competition.
He pointed to last year’s finals series, when they were without some of their biggest stars and still pulled off a monster upset win over Brisbane and went down to South Sydney by a field goal.
“I think we showed that last year,” McGregor said.
“We didn’t have Paul Vaughan for the finals series, we did alright without him.
“We lost Gareth (Widdop) going into the second final and we were up 8-2 at halftime until we lost Tariq (Sims). We lost Tariq and still only got beaten by a field goal.
“The same players are still here. No one’s changed.
“It’s just about now knuckling down and working towards what we need to do for round one. I think the resilience and learnings from last year are pretty important going into a fresh year.”
Tyson Frizell was solid in the Dragon’s trial loss to South Sydney on Saturday after being shifted from the edge into the middle after taking over de Belin’s No.13 jumper.
Jacob Host made the most of his opportunity after being elevated into the starting side – taking Frizell’s regular position – and McGregor said he would start the year as their first-choice right-edge back-rower.
“I thought (Host) played well. I thought he was one of the better players on the field for our side,” McGregor said.
“He hit well in D and carried the ball strongly when he had to. It was good to give him 55 minutes there tonight. He’ll find his way into the side.”
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Tried and tested.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Mcgregor had the best half and 5/8 combination in the comp last year why change it and if you don't change it back it will be bye bye Mary about half way through the season.
Paul
Roar Guru
That's the one Emcie
Emcie
Roar Guru
The old talk everything up as much as you can and hit the ground running so you can get that contract extension before the wheels fall off trick?
Paul
Roar Guru
Mary's under enormous pressure to deliver, MC, so he thinks that not only means premiership points but yakking off the field as well. I agree, the best ones shut up and get on with the job. MacGregor talks it up, so what does that make him...... I sadly suspect it will be "unemployed".
RandyM
Guest
Norman was superb in 2017 though when the Eels finished 4th. I think it was the Eels hopeless ineffective forward pack that dragged them back down the ladder plus the loss of an explosive Fijian winger.
Wayne Turner
Guest
NOT if Mary keeps picking Widdop at fullback.He is wasted there,when he is a great 5/8. Pick Norman or Dufty at fullback.Widdop must be 5/8,his defense is terrible at fullback,and his attack isn't working there either. Widdop 5/8 or go to the UK now. Plus,if Mary doesn't play Widdop at 5/8,he should go too.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Jack didn't make a huge impact after SOO last year, they can manage. Dragons have some impressive youngsters who can step up.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Last year was last year. That is true not just for the Rabbitohs and the Dragons but for all other clubs as well, including the Roosters. There is no point in McGregor (or any coach) referencing results from last season at this point. The truth is that JDB's absence will leave a large hole in the Dragons pack but Korbin Sims should go a long way to making up for this loss. It doesn't benefit anyone for coaches to talk in terms of their team being title contenders or not before the first kick off of the regular season. Madge avoided such talk in 2014 instead focusing on one game at a time, on players learning from mistakes and improving their game. It may be a cliche but anything more invites an unwelcome distraction that will derail most clubs premiership chances fast. Personally, IMO the Dragons have no less chance than most other clubs at this point of the off-season but there is still a question mark over the final make-up of their spine and until that question is answered there is still a cloud hanging over them. They have the squad though to be a top 8 side but so much hangs on the final composition of their spine and the work of their forwards. Even though Corey Norman looks good at times and on paper a boost to the Dragon's chances IMO he is the albatross around the Eels neck that contributed (along with Mitchell "the myth" Moses) in dragging them down to the NRL cellar. If Norman can mature off the field as well as on it and can combine successfully with Widdop and Hunt the Dragons could have a lethal combination if there is a natural synergy between these three players. That is if Norman, Hunt and Widdop can break from their past habits of folding like a house of cards under pressure.
Emcie
Roar Guru
It's funny how some coaches are very eager to talk up their teams chances while others go out of their way to avoid/dismiss any comparison to other teams. And it would seem like the most successful ones go with the latter.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's the right attitude and the only way to think. It will be interesting to see if he says the same thing in a couple of years time.