The poisoned chalice: Coaching the Dragons

At least the players could bloody well try. At present they look like 3rd grade standard with no direction, absolutely no attack, telegraphed passes. Really really boring to watch!!!

Hmmmmm, I get the feeling you don't like the Sharks that much. Lets do a comparison since 2007 when the Titans joined, everything before that was the old comp. It's unfair to compare results from different eras, and even different periods in that era. Would Parra have won their first premiership if the Melbourne Storm were playing in 1983?? So since 2007 the Dragons have played finals footy 6 times, 1 premiership and an average finish position of 8 with no spoons. Sharks have played finals 7 times, 1 premiership and 1 spoon. Neither is setting the world on fire, but they aren't doing that bad either. The Tigers have only played in the finals twice in the same period, but they never seem to get mentioned when talking about mediocre or underperforming teams. Interestingly, and in relation to this article and not just Sharks bashing, the Dragons have made the finals twice under McGregor and missed out 3 times. That in itself doesn't seem too bad, except its the way they are missing out that is surely frustrating fans. With a star studded roster the Dragons misfire badly at the wrong times. This season has been very poor indeed for the big red V. I'm not sure McGregor deserves the boot, but I'm not sure he is the answer either. Without knowing a lot more about the inner workings of the club I can only speculate.

I don’t see how it’s a poisoned chalice. The Dragons have a great brand, loyal supporter base and are extremely well resourced. Including the Dragons days, one premiership since 1979 is a poor return but they’ve made multiple grand finals in that time and are in the semis more often than not. So, I don’t think it’s a poisoned chalice. I think they’re just making poor selections for their coaches. I’m amazed McGregor has been given as long as he has. A seventh and an eighth place finish in six seasons with the sides he’s had is a terrible return.

No the Dragons have won one premiership in the last 20 years. The team did not exist 40 years ago.

If 5 years of under-performance is punished with a 2 year extension please sign me up to this poisoned chalice.

I am too far away to know what is going on within the Dragons but what is clear to me is that for the last 5 years the Dragons have had a playing roster that should have seen them finish higher on the ladder each year. Unfortunately McGregor has to be held responsible for that. This year we have seen the Dragons score some absolutely scintillating length of the field tries and we have also seen them cluelessly fumble and bumble, seemingly not knowing what to do. Again, McGregor has to be responsible for that. The only reason McGregor cannot be responsible is that someone else within the football department must be actively undermining him. If such a person exists and is doing that I have no idea, so it comes back to McGregor. Others have suggested that McGregor flogs his players. If so, the question I would ask is "Are they enjoying their footy?" Yes, they are highly paid professionals but they must also enjoy their footy. Otherwise they will just go through the motions and not give that extra percent of effort. Anyway, I'm not sure who would be best to replace McGregor .... Toovey has been mentioned and he is probably the only currently available senior coach I could accept.

well thanks for those comments Mr Bitter n Twisted.I'm sure you got lots of friends down in that hole from where you crawled out.

I’m not sure you can be classified as everyone else!

This is an excellent article Brad and neatly sums up the divide between those managing a team that should be competitive but isn't and the fans who can't work out why this side hasn't done better with the roster it's had in recent years. I for one am tired of excuses about missing players, etc, at some point the coach has to acknowledge they are just not good enough.

Think you have been way too kind on Mary here. He has done nothing with some very good sides and all the young talent that has come through seems to go backwards under him.

Sharks fans have always excepted mediocrity. I only have to point to their mediocre record to prove my point! One premiership in more than 50 years is beyond mediocre, it is absolutely pathetic! As far as I'm concerned the Sharks should either be booted from the comp or relocated immediately. As to the 2010 "Premiership", I'm sorry to break it to you, but to everyone else it was dubious to say the least. It's a joke Premiership, it's the Claytons Cup, the Premiership you're winning when you can't win a real one. I understand the Dragons fans reluctance to accept that fact because it ended an embarrassing premiership drought but facts are facts. If the Storm had been in the finals it is almost certain they would have played and beaten the Dragons by the grand final, it's what everyone except Dragons fans is thinking. Anyway you got your "Premiership" but just remember it has a little asterix next to it in the eyes of everyone else. Hopefully your next one won't take 30+ years but it ain't looking so good.

Get toovey.

By your logic Sharks fans accept mediocrity because they have won just one premiership since 1967. That simply isn't true. And nothing dubious about 2010 the Storm were cheating the cap and didn't deserve to be on the same level as other teams

We need a tough coach. Someone to put some steel into this mob. Can we please start a campaign to get Toovey to the club. Tough, passionate and successful.

How much of the season fade outs can be attributed to the playing group.? I agree that it's the coaches role to remedy the situation but it's interesting how the Pennies and Tigers have new coaches but the teams are behaving the same way as last season. Cleary was leading the comp with the Tigers and then faded but now he was coming last with the Panthers and is in the eight.

In what way is McGregor a good coach as you say? After this many years in charge he still has a win percentage of else than 50%. And the CEO has come out and said McGregor's position will not be discussed at a meeting happening next week

"Mediocrity will never be accepted by fans of the red V. The Dragons fan-base is the hardest in the NRL to keep happy." Really? The Dragons have won, what, 1 premiership in the last 40 years and even that 2010 premiership was somewhat dubious without the Storm competing in the finals. Seems to me the Dragons have been accepting mediocrity for decades. Anyway, McGregor is locked in till the end of 2021 and the club can't afford to fire him and be paying 2 coaches at the same time, not to mention the fact that there's not really a good replacement available at this time anyway. The true fans need to get behind Mary and the players and stop self sabotaging by calling for Mary's head.

McGregor has not had a solid career as an NRL coach. He has had squads that have been more than adequate and he has failed every year. He has flogged his players early every year and they have usually faded badly with the rep players exhausted. One finals appearance in 5 years is utterly inept coaching, certainly not solid. His teams have shown almost zero attack, inconsistent defence and startling selection blunders. He picks his favorites relentlessly despite them being proven not to be up to standard. He has set many records as a Dragons coach, every one of them negative. Point out his record of improving players.....that's almost impossible. Recall your favorite moves that he has devised and implemented successfully........that's simply impossible. List the Juniors he has bought through over 6 long years....next to none. List the players now at other clubs that McGregor blocked.....a reasonable list of good NRL players. The man is certainly not a solid NRL coach - he should have been viewed as a failure 3 years ago but has hidden behind his "good bloke" nonsense and the thoughtless acceptance by the media of his endless excuses.

Wasnt he re-signed recently ?

Forwards must dominate for a team to win games and Saints forwards are simply not up to the mark. The Sims brothers appear to want to add to their highlights reel with big hits, Frizelle tucks the ball under the wing and gets smashed, Pommy Graham tries hard but is in the twilight of his career and playing like it, Vaughan crumbles at the first hit, McInnes tries hard but to no avail and as for the rest.............who are they?? Before the forwards can dominate they must be coached to be dominant and,sadly, in this department Saints are hopelessly lacking. Paul McGregor was a wonderful player for the Dragons and has the club at heart but the evidence is there, he is not a first grade coach. What Saints can do to start winning again I don't know but something in that club has to change.