The Dragons of 2019 have been a horror show, so let’s begin planning for 2020.
If the club insists on persevering with Paul McGregor, he can at least get his top 17 right – starting with Round 1.
Here’s my blueprint for a Dragons side that can succeed in 2020.
1. Tristan Sailor. After only one game I like what I see. Has more skills than hot-and-cold Matt Dufty.
2. Jason Saab. At nearly two metres tall, he offers a great aerial target.
3. Zac Lomax. A great young talent wasted on the wing. Put him closer to the action.
4. Mikaele Ravalawa. An odd choice, but he played at centre for Fiji this year. He may have handling issues but is a big body and would be a handful.
5. Jonus Pearson. Has struggled for games this season but has genuine pace.
6. Corey Norman. Won two consecutive games on his own and is a great runner.
7. Ben Hunt. Experienced halfback and cops far too much criticism. Smart player.
8. Blake Lawrie. A great young prospect, ‘Blocker’ is ready to assume the role of starting prop.
9. Cameron McInnes. Had a great 2019 and would be NSW and possibly Australian hooker if Damien Cook went down. Great leadership qualities.
10. Paul Vaughan. Has continued to shine in a difficult year for the club.
11. Tyson Frizell. Needs to run wide of the ruck instead of being used as a battering ram.
12. Jackson Ford. Has been starring for the Canterbury Cup side all season, and finally got a run late in the NRL campaign. Showed he belongs at that level.
13. Luciano Leilua. Has great hands for a big body and provides a bit of x-factor. A special player.
14. Jai Field. The club tried to offload him recently, but if he remains, he is too good for reserve grade.
15. James Graham. Would provide better service off the bench as the years of toil are catching up with him.
16. Tariq Sims. Had a quiet 2019 and needs to lift in 2020 as he is too inconsistent.
17. Korbin Sims. Like Tariq, he is inconsistent but provides good punch from the bench.
MORDAC
Roar Rookie
#1 and 2 have appeared sporadically. #1 has stunk it up and #2 has been poor. Ford isn't that big and judging from the game against the Shonkies, is faster than Aitken and Lafai.
Stan the man
Guest
Where is the mongrel in defence? The Dragons need it in spades and don’t have it in this squad. They need Walker (from Manly) at centre, Simpson (from GC) at fullback - he competes on every play - Sailor at 5/8 and 2 hard hitting fearsome forwards. Norman is too hot and cold as with Hunt. Their are issues with their roster which need to be fixed.
Shane Wyrzynski
Guest
Pearson lol Pereira straight into the side instead
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
A couple of issues with your comments. 1. Pearson has appeared sporadically in first grade you can't judge his form. 2. Field as well has had limited opportunities so a bit harsh to judge him. He scored a great try on debut. 3. Jackson Ford isn't an outside back, he's a big strapping secondrower and looks like a great prospect. Not sure how he'd go out wide
terrance
Guest
Mordac, I know James Graham is contracted till the end of 2020 season, but he is not the player he once was. Long minutes? Pretty easy when all you do in defence is be a weak second tackler in and run backwards with the ball runner and first tackler in cause you can't dominate the ball runner and complete the tackle! His last 12 months have been very poor and injury riddled. He wouldn't get a gig next year at any NRL/SL/Qcup/NSWcup team if he was off contract. Absolutely no fear factor these days at all. By the way, why didn't the Knights keep (or SGI Dragons sign) Boyd Cordner's brother, put a bit of mongrel in a couple of piss-weak packs!
terrance
Guest
But the following players over the years made the top grade as well... Chris Sandow Greg Smith Beau Falloon Ben Anderson Scott Fulton Paul Kent et al Making first grade is not always progressing.
MORDAC
Roar Rookie
Pretty good. Pearson has had a chance and proven incapable. I’d have Ravalawa on the wing and god knows who at centre. Just as long as it isn’t Lafai or Aitken. James Graham best quality is his ability to keep going for long periods. Waste having him on the bench. Field had a chance and stunk it up. Sims hasn’t been good this year but neither has the rest of the team apart from maybe McInnes. Hopefully JDB will be back. Ford on the bench to fill in for backline injuries. The most important thing is to not have McGregor anywhere near the team.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
All forwards. This suited Mary's style. One of the blurbs about him when resigned was his so-called enhancement and development of players - eg JDB et al into Origin. Issue is, there are no backs and as a former rep centre, you'd expect him to be great for Aitkin and the other great young centres the club is losing.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I got to agree. As much as I dislike the chooks, intensely, they make good use of their outside backs. Hence since a year ago when Aitkin and Mitchell were supposedly neck and neck for Origin, Mitchell has gone ahead in leaps and bounds and Aitkin has withered under Mary - a rep centre.
Illawarra Flame
Roar Rookie
Is this the same bus that the support staff have been thrown under?
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Have to agree. We have the side to make the 8 comfortably but due to McGregor's shortcomings as coach we are well off the pace. Who would come up with the bizarre spine rotation that would have stayed had Widdop remained fit? He's also made it a habit to pick impact players on the bench like Dufty and Field, yet only give them a couple of minutes. He says standards aren't being met but picks the same team every week. We were just hammered 34-12 but no major changes
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I would say half of those have stagnated, or don't know what their role is under McGregor. Aitken, Dufty, Field, Host, Kerr. Sele looked good but due to lack of opportunities he went to Penrith, while Hutchinson wasnt shown any faith after his knee injury. Robson will join Cowboys next year due to lack of opportunities and with McInnes on front of him. Leilua came on strongly,then was bizarrely left out of NRL for an entire season despite being our most skilful forward.
Doug Graves
Guest
Yeah sorry but that team looks mediocre at best. If that's the best they can do it will be another long, hapless season for Dragons fans. Maybe they'll go a bit better than this year but it's still a long way off making the 8 let alone top 4. And I don't think changing the coach is going to help much because he'll still be stuck with these plodders.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Maybe aitken could have made a better second rower than centre? Perhaps follow the Beau Scott template?
jamesb
Roar Guru
Tyson, Tariq, Vaughan and JdB were all established first graders before McGregor came along. Tyson briefly played for Cronulla, then played under Price for under 18 months. Tariq had good wraps while he was at Nth Qld. Injuries did hamper his progress. Vaughan was playing for Country whilst he was at the Raiders. JdB made his first grade debut under Bennett, and then was under Price for 2 and a half years. All four had solid grounding before McGregor became their coach. I do wonder how Dufty, Lomax, Aitken, Leilua and Lawrie would fare under a different coach?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Due to the way the game has been altered by the interchange rule, where all focus is on big powerful forwards with some quicker ones moving onto the wings, most clubs are battling with any decent developed 1-5 players. The Dragons are no different to the Cowboys, the Panthers, the Tigers, the Titans, the Bunnies . Some have a good number 1, but not much else - The Warriors, Sea Eagles & the Knights. Not enough emphasis is placed on the value of having good outside backs. The Roosters understand it.
Nick
Roar Guru
Oh, I like this. Under a better coach, this is a strong team and arguably a top 4 team. But it’s moot. Mary would turn even the Storm or Roosters list into a bottom 8 side.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Spot on Peter I just replied to a comment above before I read yours.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
A little bit early to be anointing him. Do we remember Duftys debut?
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Here's something. At the start of 2018 if the Roosters offered a straight swap Manu for Aitken I'm pretty sure Dragons are saying thanks but no thanks. I think the answer would be different now. So what happened? Is it the system they are in? Or??