Through the lead up to Round 5’s game against fellow league cellar-dwellers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, there was a question mark surrounding the future of their coach and club legend, Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor.
Fast forward to the evening following the game, and Mary’s tenure at the club is subject to even more speculation following a 22-2 loss at Bankwest Stadium.
Despite Mary admirably stating that he will “wear it” if the embattled club were to part ways, his tenure is likely over.
What went wrong for the Dragons, one of the most successful clubs in the league?
Was it when they decided to spend $1 million per-season on Ben Hunt? Was it when they hired Ian Millward?
Was it their ‘jobs for the boys’ approach to hiring staff the beginning of their undoing? Was it when Russell Packer, Joel Thompson and Josh Dugan all exited the club in a short time frame for lucrative contracts at rival clubs?
Whatever the case is, the Dragons have gone from a 48-18 win over the Broncos in the 2018 elimination final to rock bottom in 2020.
If McGregor is indeed sacked, there are many names that will inevitably be linked to the club such as Geoff Toovey, Jason Ryles or Craig Fitzgibbon.
The controversial Shane Flanagan, an assistant coach to McGregor, is currently serving his ban which bars him from the role at any club until 2022.
Any speculation he might be given a reprieve was shot down by Peter V’landys who believes that the man who coached Cronulla to their first premiership must serve his suspension through its entirety.
With Flanagan’s chances at longer-odds, it leaves many questions in the air as to who will guide the Dragons forward.
What must be considered first, is the state that the club is in.
They have two playmakers who are paid around $1 million per year but are underperforming. They are players who looked as if they hadn’t met each other before their game against the Bulldogs.
They have a promising young winger requesting a release from the club, an Origin representative leaving for Newcastle and it has been 81 days (although it is worth noting that the game took a hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for over two months) since the Dragons scored a try.
Paul McGregor. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It is clear that the Dragons system needs a reboot. When a club finds itself in this position they need an experienced coach who has been in this position before.
A new coach must be several things. They must be someone who can demonstrate a firm level of authority and a man manager.
The new coach must be someone who isn’t scared to tell anyone how it is, put players on notice and give them a sense of direction and confidence.
However, they must be able to strike the perfect balance and help players believe in themselves, bring players together and be someone players can warm up to.
That man exists. His name is Nathan Brown, an assistant coach at the New Zealand Warriors following his highly-publicised sacking at the Newcastle Knights last season.
While it may be ironic as this would possibly see the Dragons retaining the “jobs for the boys’ method, Nathan Brown fits the bill.
With Dragons DNA flowing through his veins – having coached them from 2003-08 at the age of just 28 with a 53.0 per cent winning record – he is the man for the job.
He has a 59.6 per cent winning record, a Challenge Cup final and a 2013 grand final victory in the English Super League in charge of Huddersfield and St Helens, respectively. However, what makes him most suitable for the Dragons role is the way he has transformed the Newcastle Knights.
During Nathan Brown’s first season in the Steel City in 2016, the club had won one game, lost 14 in a row (a club record) and had a points difference of 495, with another wooden spoon in 2017, they finished 11th in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Not a great record, but he laid the squad foundations for a side that is unbeaten after five games in 2020 under new coach Adam O’Brien.
Beginning his journey in Newcastle with his back against the wall, he was armed with a vision impressive enough to lure one of the brightest young talents in the game, Kalyn Ponga, accompanied by premiership-winning halfback, Mitchell Pearce.
Being in charge of a Dragons side that went on to win a premiership two seasons following his exit, it can be interpreted that Brown is a builder and creator who can put systems in place to facilitate success.
Brown can unite people, which is what the embattled Dragons need going forward.
Joel DW
Roar Rookie
I certainly see where you come from, and Browny recruited really well at Newcastle and is responsible for putting 90% of that side together. But, they didn't always look happy to play for him. This group looks like they'd run through brick walls with barbed wire on the outside for Adam O'Brien which says lots. Shaun Wane for me does it.
JGK
Roar Guru
Sorry, no. If the Dragons had had a decent coach in the mid 00s they could have won a couple of Premierships. Their list was as good as anyone’s outside the salary cap cheating Storm’s. Instead, we gave the key to the Ferrari to the L-plater.
Joel
Guest
McGregor and Browny seems like good blokes away from their jobs but Nathan Brown history doesn’t get results either. I feel he should have done better in his first stint at St George ( perhaps he shouldn’t have been thrown in the deep end) ok went to England and did fine ( I feel that’s like comparing EPL v Scottish Premier League in soccer NRL v English Super League ) He then went to the nights and did very little there. Just a thought
Placepunter
Roar Rookie
Brilliant!!!
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Haha! You must hate the Dragons to suggest they should sack Mary (which they should) and employ Brown. What has Brown achieved? Nothing of note in the NRL. His stint at Newcastle was an abject failure. Sure he recruited a couple of really good players, but he didn't coach them to any great heights. The brand new coach seems to have the Knights players playing for him much more than Brown ever achieved
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think the troubles at the Dragons run deeper than the coach. However, if they did look for someone, Brownie would be way down the list. Hook or Neil Henry would be options. I wouldn’t touch Flanno or Toovs - too connected to their old clubs.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Kalyn Ponga is young & inexperienced in dealing with the media however his "chocolate thickshake" comment when informed of Brown's "departure" was probably an honest appraisal of his feelings. Wasn't it Brown that delivered a slap to Trent Barrett at half time of a game? A backward move for the Dragons in my opinion.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Hey DPS how ya doing? I too was hopeful that having flanno onboard may improve things for 2020. But we mustn't forget he's come in from the cold and landed at a basketcase of a club during a disrupted season thanks to a pandemic. Not to mention, he is not actually head coach. How much impact could I really expect he would have in those circumstances? I suspect he is laying low and watching to see how this Mary stuff unfolds. Im hopeful that if Mary leaves, flanno's presence will be more pronounced on the team. But that may just be wishful thinking on my part.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was thoroughly enjoying your first article Joel, till you named the person you think should take over as coach, then the brain said NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I thought Brown was a disaster when he coached the Dragons n the early 2000's and still have a clear memory of him slapping Trent Barrett in 2003. That and his other antics IMO meant he lost the respect of the players. Sure he might have had a winning record, but he should have had a premiership or at the least, more finals games with the players he had. Fast forward to last season and he managed to do to the Knights, exactly what Mary's doing to the Dragons. I know quality coaches are thin on the ground and the Dragons are desperate, but the only thing that would happen under Brown's watch, would be different excuses for yet another Dragons loss.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Maybe, but what's flanno done?? He is on site remember, and I'm not hearing that Mary has muffled him and refusing any suggestions.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
This article has to be taking the p*ss. Can’t be serious. Besides Brown being there before and not connecting, he didn’t do what was needed at Newcastle, mediocrity became the name of the game. He is also an ex-Dragon and they are the worst Dragon coaches. Who are you Joel?? Why do you dislike us Dragons so much to suggest this??
Nat
Roar Guru
Nathan Brown? You highlight the "jobs for the boys approach" that has had implications on their curent slide yet the only justification for Brown is "Dragons DNA flowing through his veins" and a 58% winning record when he was last in charge. Would you like to compare the cattle from that team to this one? Do you know what that winning margin went up to when Bennett took over? There is a very good coach sitting under Bennett at Souths. He may have been promised the role at Souths next year but who is to say he wants that? Is there a contract now? If Bennett has the respect I'm lead to believe he has in the Dragons club, Demetriou would go there and he won't cost as much as a Teir 1 coach.
Walter Black
Guest
I was going to make a suggestion to replace Mary but to be honest, no great coach is going to go to the Dragons while Flanagan is there. As much as I hate to say it, F is the coach elect and consequently any incoming coach is just going to be a stand in until F's ban gets lifted. What I think will happen is this. The Dragons will stick with Mary through thick and thin until F's ban is lifted. If and it is a big IF, they find a suitable stand in, they may substitute him just to save face so sorry Dragons fans, you aren't going to get much relief anytime soon.
max power
Guest
"Was it when Russell Packer, Joel Thompson and Josh Dugan all exited the club in a short time frame for lucrative contracts at rival clubs?" well Packer has been a diabolical buy at the Tigers, Dugan is always injured and done little at the Sharks. Sims took JT spot on the left edge and totally dominated in 2018
Don
Roar Rookie
Nathan Brown had a sensational list when in charge of the Dragons but was never good enough to get them a premiership. It was a premiership quality side being coached by a district standard coach. At the Knights he was given an amnesty period of rebuilding where consistent wins were not expected. He coached them to meet those expectations. I’m sure even his employers expected more than 1 win in 2016. He seems a good bloke but by NRL standards he is a lower grade or assistant coach. The notion of bringing him back to the Dragons is nuts. Just appoint someone who can front the press and can wear an unplugged set of headphones looking like he’s doing the top job but let Flanagan coach for the rest of the year. Bring Bennett back next year and let Flanagan go elsewhere. And stop giving people jobs with “Saints old boy” a criteria in selection.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
The only players worthy of opiniating on the replacement and saving them from the spoon would be Mcinnes,Vaughan and James Graham..
Soda
Roar Rookie
Whoever comes in will be nothing more than a seat warmer for flanno. Shepherd has caretaker coach experience and I think could do no worse than Mary.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Brownie recruited exceptionally at Newcastle, coaching wasn’t much at all so definitely wouldn’t go there. If you dump mid season you fill in with the best qualified assistant who isn’t banned and if he’s clearly respected by the players...that’s James Shepherd for 2020.
Watda
Guest
Nathan Brown....lol, what is the definition of insanity?
Wayne Turner
Guest
No. He's a known continued failure,and once again an ex-Dragons player. The Dragons need an outsider to coach the club.Someone who at least can stick a fire up underperforming players: Geoff Toovey.