It appears Paul McGregor’s days at the Dragons are numbered, with the club rumoured to be compiling a unique severance package that includes a payout and a contract extension.
Speculation over the coach’s job has intensified after St George Illawarra’s disastrous loss to the Warriors, much like it has intensified any other time he has registered a loss, parked his car on a wonky angle or coached St George Illawarra.
Insiders believe that should his services be terminated, the club will table a settlement deal consisting of a payout and an extension, as per club policy.
This will mean McGregor will be asked to pack up his desk and depart the club immediately as soon as he sees out a rudimentary notice period expiring in 2025.
While seemingly counterintuitive to pay a terminated employee extra to stay longer, the deal allows the joint venture to sack the coach while also remaining true to instinct by hastily re-committing after a tiny moment of success, which in this case is the aforementioned sacking.
It is also not the first deal of its kind, with the practice of issuing lump-sum payments and new contracts commonplace in seasonal work agreements and negotiations with the Roosters.
For those unaware, St George Illawarra have a recent history of bizarre contract extensions, with McGregor tied to the club for another two years after breaking even in 2018, and Steve Price in 2013 for nearly leading at halftime.
Multiple re-commitments to the former NSW rep led to some fans questioning if he would ever leave the club, with some convinced he could only be dismissed by edict of the Governor-General, which was now impossible with Peter Doust leaving years ago.
Rumours circled on Tuesday that assistant coach Shane Flanagan could replace McGregor, with the NRL considering softening the former Shark’s two-year ban after concluding his crimes were “only drugs, cheating and Cronulla.”
Further fuelling speculation was the club’s deal to share Kogarah Oval with Flanagan’s former club, with experts supposing this to be a concerted push to recreate his ideal working environment while also generating rumours McGregor had literally lost the dressing room.
However, with Flanagan’s punishments rescinding at lightning pace, he is now unavailable after being canonised and moved to the Vatican.
McGregor will attempt to arrest his team’s slide this weekend with yet another halves combination, with Ben Hunt and Corey Norman now on the scrapheap along with other unsuccessful partnerships attempted under his watch like Gareth Widdop/Hunt, Widdop/Norman, Norman/McGregor and St George/Illawarra.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
However, a loss to the lowly Bulldogs will surely mean he no longer enjoys the full support of the bored and that everything wasn’t actually the sole fault of Ben Hornby.
McGregor’s demise would bring down the curtain on a turbulent six-year era of myriad controversy, most notably the standing down of Jack de Belin in 2019. This resulted in the worst season in the joint venture’s history despite the club being granted $300,000 for a replacement player, which it astutely spent on the coach’s payout.
His stint as Dragons boss saw the introduction of many innovative training routines at the club, with his being the only program in the game to combine fluid spine changes with weekly honesty sessions and crisis meetings.
While unconfirmed, McGregor would likely consider his unique termination an “opportunity deprived”, as he should be able to earn an extension fairly with 25 minutes of good footy.
Wrenne
Guest
Just curious if this was intentional However, a loss to the lowly Bulldogs will surely mean he no longer enjoys the full support of the bored Sound like he's already lost their support if that's how they're feeling. :happy:
JJ
Guest
Dragons need a dictator to be given power to have majority say in player transfers , coaching appointments and general direction in how the club will base itself in terms of direction of play. Dragons lose out constantly across the board as they seem unable to make a no decisions until a board meeting is held , therefore get beaten to the punch in the playing any coaching market. Mary works hard but he is simply a puppet it seems. Shoestring budget why? Invite other investors, look at South Sydney's model where new owners have reminded many of the faithful about that clubs DNA and culture. Take a chance Dragons, on and off the field please. Buy Jamal Fogarty , play young Sullivan or Sailor in the halves, Ramsay fullback, remind us of the exciting Dragons backs off the cuff. Frizell for Bateman would be great. Play the whole reserve grade side if the win opposed sessions at training. Confidence is key for this club atm, shake it up now. Mary is a small part in an outdated machine.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Very funny stuff, Dane.
Simoc
Guest
Strange but so believable that these Admins are so backward. They must get their powerkick from sacking coaches. Look at Richmond in the AFL. When you get a competent board the Chair will tell you that changing the deckchairs doesn't work. You need to work out why the coaches systems aren't working. Send them away to learn. Then the world changes.
Godzilla
Guest
:laughing: :laughing: Outstanding writing. If The Onion ever starts a rugby league column you should be immediately hired
Over here
Roar Rookie
Are you sure this is satire? :silly:
Nick
Roar Guru
McGregor could feature in the next series of survivor. That man has shown an incredible ability to dodge trouble.
kk
Roar Pro
Dear Dane, It goes deeper. Pope Francis hails from Argentina. His favourite number is " D'ont sry for me , Illawarra" The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City, like our own ARL Commission at Moore Park remembers 1956 - 1966 and has vowed such pain should never again be inflicted on the populace. Thus, love him, forgive him, or set him adrift, Mary is in the gun. Young Benny Hunt ( made in Queensland and patron saint of Cowboys) was bedazzled when Mary greeted him on his surf ski for their fist meeting and has never recovered. The multi layers of dollar confetti showered upon his occasional skills and put his team mates into a trance where they remain to this day. Wise coaches have banned surf skis from every kit for players to president.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
The only Dragons article in the last week that brought a smile to my face. There is only one Dale Eldridge.. Good work. (though I’m looking forward to Dogs Body’s review of the weekend round. Someone’s nipping at your heels…)
At work
Roar Rookie
My love of the Dragons was replaced a while ago with ridiculing the club and Mary, it's much more enjoyable to take the p!55 because that's at least a winner :laughing: . The actual football on the other hand... :crying: :angry:
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
maybe the worrors could learn from this as they have had lots of coaches over their time
Big Daddy
Guest
They could make a movie or a TV series and call it " Dead men Walking" but each year the cast would change. This year it's McGregor and Pay. Meanwhile the directors walk around with their heavily embroidered blazers saying " it's not my fault.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Dane...very appropriate that an ad for a funeral appeared during my reading of your article. An omen perhaps?
Nat
Roar Guru
Funny, brutal and close to the bone Dane. Nice work. :thumbup:
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Haha! Only the dragons could do this! Perfect!