Last week I published an article stating that the Round 9 clash against the Manly Sea Eagles was D-Day for Paul McGregor.
To his credit, the Dragons turned up to play and they put the depleted Sea Eagles to the sword 34-4.
I also stated that starting Ben Hunt at dummy half confirms his role in the side. He’ll be the starting number nine for the foreseeable future. And once again, to his credit, Hunt played very well and put in a game-high 56 tackles.
Matt Dufty was electric, Zac Lomax was great and this form at centre continues to draw attention. The forwards laid the platform with Paul Vaughan running for a career-high 229 metres. All in all it was the Dragons’ best performance of 2020.
Okay, so where does that leave the Dragons? Well, they have improved to 11th with three wins and six losses and they have winnable games against the Bulldogs and Sharks to follow, so McGregor’s fortunes are looking up, which brings me to my point.
In real terms, is McGregor still the coach?
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The turnaround in form came after McGregor received a special public vote of confidence from the club’s board following a 0-4 start to the season. The Round 5 win against Cronulla was the first game that saw Ben Hunt benched, Adam Clune debuting at halfback and Matt Dufty recalled to fullback.
In the five weeks since the show of confidence in the coach, the Dragons are 3-2 but the public endorsement did come with some caveats.
Team selection has been taken off McGregor. It’s now decided in a committee of McGregor and assistant coaches Shane Flanagan and Dean Young. And the role of coaching attack has been handed to Flanagan, who was originally only coaching defence.
The thing that really caught my attention was the obvious change in the coaching box. In the game against Manly, rather than Flanagan sitting behind McGregor, he was standing next to him and very animated. You couldn’t be blamed for thinking Flanagan was the head coach.
Whatever internal changes were made, they have worked, so is this hybrid coaching structure going to last?
It can’t feel great for McGregor but if it keeps him in a job and gets results then maybe it’ll get the Dragons through 2020 and yet another season review.
The idea of shifting Hunt to dummy half must have been Flanagan’s. The change was never discussed in 2019 even though the Dragons were desperate and finished 15th.
In a further twist of events, there’s a real chance that the Dragons will be able to pick up Corey Harawira-Naera mid season.
Harawira-Naera just had his de-registration changed on appeal to a retrospective ten-week suspension, meaning Harawira-Naera is available from Round 11.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Harawira-Naera wants out of Belmore because he didn’t like how Canterbury treated him after the NRL de-registered him.
The Dragons are one of the few clubs with room in their salary cap for 2020 and at only 25, the skilful second-rower would be a great long-term replacement for the outgoing Tyson Frizell. As a further sweetener, Canterbury want Tim Lafai back so a player swap could be on.
And finally, Jack de Belin could possibly return to the squad depending on his legal proceedings.
In a month or so, we could be talking about an entirely different season for the Dragons. A few more wins and the injection of De Belin and Harawira-Narea will make the Dragons very competitive during the back end of the season.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Anyone watching the pre-game show today (v Canterbury) would have noticed the panel spoke extensively about Flanagan’s expanded coaching role.
Nick Ferris
Guest
I can accept Mary has a good culture at the Dragons, but Bennett had that in 2009-2010 and got results. Mary has not got results and a coach is not successful on culture alone. "He cares about the club a hell of alot which is evident by the way he has been brave and selfless and willing to do whatever it is that the team needs at the time". The press reported the he refused to take any pay cut during the lockdown where other coachs did, Craig Bellamy took a 50% cut. I think you are being naive if you think that Flanagan is not taking a larger part of the coaching.
Mixfijoe
Roar Rookie
Hes not as bad as what dragons supporters make out.. Unless dragons are winning the comp there not happy
Aiden
Guest
He's still an awful coach. The injection of other opinions to move him away from his poor selections and bad read on players has led to immediate results. They guy does not know how to pick the right team.
Jim Sheedy
Guest
Who knows??? Is Trent Barrett coach of Penrith??? Its a team thing coaching these days and so it should be. In any case there is still work to do in team selection and coaching of the Dragons. Dufty is still to small to be a fullback....five eighth or centre might be his long term positioii
Mixfijoe
Roar Rookie
Paul McGregor is head coach, he has developed a positive team first culture within the team during his time, he has a huge amount of respect from the players who many have taken there game to another level since joining the McGregor coached dragons, McInnes, Vaughn, T sims, just to name a few.. He cares about the club a hell of alot which is evident by the way he has been brave and selfless and willing to do whatever it is that the team needs at the time. He has worked out what he's good at, what he needs help with and what he needs to improve on.. Creating a competitive environment and positive team culture are two things a lot of other coaches struggle with, but it comes natural with Mary.. Anyone saying Flanagan has taken over has head coach on the sly has no idea what they are talking about and are clueless at the approach Mary takes, Mary is the one who wanted Flanagan there knowing full well Shane's ability, rl knowledge and experience was greater than his own.. You will never hear Mary say that's it's his team. He just wants the dragons to succeed and win a few comps and will do what ever it takes to make that happen.. I think the Mary flanno coaching partnership is just getting started..
Andrew
Roar Pro
It’s been 6yrs, if Mary McGregor was going to bring any success it would have happened by now. Best finish 2018, 7th & Mary’s single finals victory which he still keeps talking about. He’s a muppet.
Andrew
Roar Pro
I have a pretty reliable source inside the St George half of the club & I can tell you the Manly game was huge for McGregor, a loss would pretty much been the end. But sometimes luck’s a fortune, the draw has been kind, two winnable games to follow probably gets the Dragons into the 8. Then Souths, Easts & Parramatta, win 2 of those games...
Andrew
Roar Pro
https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/07/16/how-flanagans-influence-helped-revive-red-v-attack/
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I never suggested he wasn't on a short leash but you pin pointed Sunday as D Day based on nothing. If Mary is no longer involved in team selections so be it. The fact remains they have won 3 from their last 5. Also not sure where you're getting your facts regarding Flanagan being the attacking coach, care to share credible sources
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Mary’s strength has been selection - he seemed to chop and change looking for a silver bullet. I think he coaches better when the team is selected and they say “here you go Mary - now go and coach.”
RedV4me
Guest
Only damage lafai has done this year is to his house
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I don't know what coach was responsible, but that try from Adam Clune running wide and kicking over his shoulder towards the posts to be caught by Corey Norman was a beautiful move. Manly were hit by injuries so that would explain their collapse as Manly are usually very strong and always hard to beat.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
not while the guy who believes he is next in line for the job is sitting next to them.
Rob
Guest
If u think Mary is coaching u just need to look at the team selections to know his not
Andrew
Roar Pro
Hi Adam, I don’t agree with you, Mary is on a very short leash. The 0-4 start to 2020 came off the back of a 8-16 2019. It’s a fact that from round 5 team selection had been taken off Mary & is now decided in a committee. It’s also a fact that coaching attack has been given to Flanagan. Would Mary have the guts to drop Ben Hunt? he didn’t do it last year even when Widdop came back from injury. How many responsibilities have to be removed before someone stops being the head coach??
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Sunday was never D Day for Mary you've just invented that to go with your previous article. Mary is still coaching and he deserves credit for turning the team around
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Before the season I said if the Saints are losing it will be Mary's fault and if they're winning it will be because of Flannagan. It wasn't too hard to pick. Who was coaching Saints when they were steamrolling teams at times over the last few years? I wish Halsers assistant would stop coaching Manly , it couldn't be Des at be helm could it? Maybe Barrett has snuck back in.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Does make you wonder what lobbying the Club is doing to have Flanagan’s suspension reduced so he can takeover in 2021. After the Integrity Commission lost on appeal & now have to reinstate Jayden Okunbor & Corey Harawira-Naera anything is possible. That’s the first time the Integrity Commission has ever lost an appeal.
Andrew
Roar Pro
At the time I was upset that the club sacked Ben Hornby as assistant & appointed Flanagan instead. I thought Hornby a club legend had been thrown under the bus for Mary’s short comings. And I was weary of Flanagan given his history of cheating. But now it’s so obvious, having just re-signed Mary they couldn’t sack him in 2019 so appointing another senior coach to ghost him was the only other option. Flanagan has had a huge influence on the team & his influence is growing.