After all of the excitement of last week at Dragons HQ, this week has been quite subdued.
But there have been a number of interesting media reports out this week that deserve examination.
The long-standing rumour among Dragons fans was that Shane Flanagan is the head coach in waiting once his ban ends in 2022. Flanagan was ghost-coaching McGregor anyway.
However, after Paul McGregor stepped down last week, this has now all changed. Unless Flanagan is able to have his ban reduced by 12 months the Dragons will most likely move on without him with a different experienced head coach.
The pressure on Flanagan increased even further this week when news broke that Cronulla are in talks with current coach John Morris to extend his contract. This leaves Flanagan in a tight spot. Without his ban being reduced Flanagan will be on JobSeeker in 2021.
Gus Gould chipped in with his own opinion this week, stating that the Dragons should learn the lessons of the past and steer away from hiring rookie coaches, referencing Nathan Brown, Steve Price and McGregor. He also confirmed that Ben Hornby was let go in favour of Shane Flanagan in the hope that a senior coach could advise McGregor and coach the coach.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Well, the question needs to be asked, if there were such concerns about McGregor at board level after the Gus review last off-season, why did the club persist with McGregor in 2020? We were doomed from the very start. It’s a joke really.
Dean Young announced his team for his first game in charge this week and it did raise some eyebrows. Paul Vaughan is coming off the bench because his COVID-19 ban prevents him from training with the team until Thursday and Tristan Sailor has been dropped entirely from the 17.
I actually don’t know how badly Corey Norman needs to play before he gets benched or dropped? Considering Sailor has had no Canterbury Cup this year, Sailor has played well in the very limited opportunities he’s been given. It’s a mystery to me.
First up Dean Young has the Brisbane Broncos, a club in disarray and a good chance for a first-up win.
Tyrell Fuimaono lost at the player judiciary, rubbing him out for two weeks. He’ll likely be replaced by Trent Merrin in the 17. I’d like to see Jacob Host start on the left edge. His form has been great recently.
In team news, Sailor, Jacob Host and Kaide Ellis remain the only players unsigned for 2021. Ian Millward needs to get his act together and lock these guys in.
In further signing news the Dragons are pursuing Melbourne Storm forward Christian Welch. Welch debuted for Melbourne in 2015 and Queensland in 2019. At 26 years old, 195 centimetres tall and 110 kilograms, he’d be a handy acquisition.
If we miss out on Welch like we did with Adam Elliott and Corey Harawira-Naera plus the loss of Tyson Frizell, the question needs to be asked what exactly is Ian Millward doing?
SteveCAZ
Roar Rookie
You've nicely summarized the situation leading into 2020 and I've been mystified about the "McGregor" circumstance in the light of Brian Johnston's exit as CEO. Gould's "external" review, if it could even be called that, seems now to have been self-serving because of its pre-set boundaries and was likely engaged then tabled to cover a few asses (board members and Johnston). Anyway, McGregor's finally out and while I agree the Dragons should recruit externally, I was nevertheless very impressed with Young's presser. That, on top of obviously improved on-field discipline, suggests his voice is strong and people listen to it. Having been a Dragons fan since the (then) Berries beat them in the 1967 final, I've experienced the good, the bad and the ugly. In the ten years since Bennett left, apart from 2018, it's really been the latter. With the polarizing Doust on the board now and his relationship with Bennett, and Bennett's admiration for Young, and with rumours about Bennett leaving Souths continuing to swirl, I wonder whether Bennett's coming back as a director of coaching? If that is the case, Young has another five games to show that he has instilled grit into the team and if he stays on, and Bennett does arrive, I'd speculate that Millward will be on his way out the door too. With all its money, playing talent and center of excellence, Brisbane remains a focal point of aggravation for Bennett and if he wants to keep proving a point, he could be the right guy to sit over the second-coming of the Dragons as a powerhouse. With the changed stadiums policy at NSW Government level, get some development money to turn WIN Stadium into a 25,000 seated fan cauldron and forget about playing home games anywhere but there. This will cause aggravation for Kogarah "fans", and I did once walk to games from home, but the "brand" needs to fuse properly with the Illawarra juggernaut. Penrith, still effectively remote from Sydney, has surely hinted at what is possible.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Very entertaining game against the Broncos tonight & a satisfying win. Unfortunate game for Aitken he’ll be associated with the Staggs palm off forever now much like Jamie Soward was when Greg Inglis ran over the top of him in 2009. For once Millward got something right, the non retention of Aitken was the right decision. Not sure what Dufty was thinking he stepped out of Staggs way obviously afraid to put his body on the line. I didn’t like that at all. That’s not going to cut it if we want to be a competitive team in the years to come. Jacob Host looked the goods on the left edge perhaps he’s found a position where he can get some consistent game time in rather than moving around & coming off the bench. Surely news of his contract extension can’t be far away??
Meatpy Sausageraul
Roar Rookie
I said the same on a separate thread but Wane is a wildcard. In that he’s the only bloke touted who has consistently won comps as a first grade coach. He’s also one of the best in the game when it comes to developing talent and pathways for youngsters. The only reason he’s never seriously considered is that he’s a Pom and is coming from Super League. And they can’t coach, right? Just ask Malc Reilly or Trent Robinson
Andrew
Roar Pro
The comments about Sailor’s defence are fair enough but the poor kid played one Canterbury Cup in March & approximately 65 minutes of first grade, that’s it for the year. The only way to toughen up his defence is to give him game time.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Yeah I agree I can not imagine sharks wanting to go down that road again.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Flanagan was either hired by Gus or on Gus’s recommendation so the Board must have got the report whether they ordered it or not.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Ben Hunt in the media today saying he’d prefer an experienced coach over Dean Young. Interesting time to make those comments, I think he’s looking for a path back to the 7 jersey. https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-dragons-coach-for-2021-bent-hunt-dean-young-paul-mcgregor/news-story/db3351fb6143c69b013cc67db218c491
Nick
Roar Guru
If John Morris gets extended at Cronulla that could be the end of Flanagan’s career. He does bring a lot of baggage with him probably more than any other club would accept. Are you actually that bonkers mad to think that Cronulla are even thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking about bringing Flanagan back to Cronulla!? Bonkers.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Our problem is hiring rookies from within the family. Brown, Price, McGregor. If we go for a outside the family coach, I could live with Todd Payton or Craig Fitzgibbon, not Dean Young. At least not yet.
Andrew
Roar Pro
I have a lot of time for Deano, the way he played on with a shredded knee. I’ll always remember the scene of him & his father hugging in tears after the grand final. He’s an absolute champion but he’s not ready to take the top job he needs a few more years under a different coach before his apprenticeship is complete.
Andrew
Roar Pro
I keep coming back to Anthony Griffen, when Gould punted him from Penrith the Panthers were well established in the 8 close to the semis. The fact Griffen had a personal issue with Gould doesn’t detract from his ability as a coach.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Right now I think the head coaching role at the Dragons is a very appealing job. The fundamentals of a good team are already in place. Ok forward pack, ok half’s & a youthful attacking backline. Even with the Hunt & Norman contracts there's still plenty of room in the cap for 2021 & Norman is off the books end 2021. Excellent farm system with a bunch of exciting juniors coming through. Excellent training facilities in Wollongong & a great lifestyle down there to attract potential new signings. Plus of course a loyal & passionate fan base. Hire Griffin on a 3 year deal with a option in the clubs favour for another 2 years. We’ll be top 8 next year & on the up.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Re: Flanagan there are a couple of facts, he was either hired by Gould or at Gould’s recommendation to Ghost coach McGregor. That’s just a fact & club legend Ben Hornby was shown the door. Flanagan’s ban expires end 2021 McGregor was contracted to end 2021 John Morris is contracted to end 2021 The choice would be take to up the head coach role at either Saints or Cronulla for the 2022. But with McGregor gone he’s no longer needed at Saints I can’t imagine someone like Anthony Griffen would want him around or Dean Young for that matter. If John Morris gets extended at Cronulla that could be the end of Flanagan’s career. He does bring a lot of baggage with him probably more than any other club would accept.
Nick
Roar Guru
No the great Phil Gould is the one, sole exception to the absolute iron clad certainty that everyone was once a rookie coach. That's how amazing he is.
Nick
Roar Guru
Damn straight.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Mate, rule them out. Didn't even consider them, they won't be at Dragons under any circumstances. Bellamy is near his last days and will take up some management/ head of football department role with Storm or? not Dragons. Cam would on, at extreme odds, consider a QLD club ahead of Storm coach, that would be it.
JGK
Roar Guru
Was Phil Gould ever a rookie coach?
Don
Roar Rookie
He’ll tell you after the GF that he tipped the winner at the start of the year. But when you do an internet search you find he tipped someone else. His review of St George worked a treat. Last year after the review he said there was no need for a change to the head coach. This year after St George were going no better he basically denied he even did a review and is telling people he wasn’t allowed to make certain recommendations for changes? I’ve spent time consulting and dealing with consultants. A good one wants a clear scope of what the client’s position is and absolute transparency. Otherwise you don’t accept the gig. Bad ones will take the gig, give you a report and recommendations that fits what you have told them is the outcome you would like to see. And usually also makes themselves seem like the best solution to bring on for running the changes through the business. Gould is the second type. If he had any credibility he would have walked away when he wasn’t given scope to do a full review. And FFS, now the Warriors are going to bring him in! The myth of Gould continues...
JGK
Roar Guru
I'm an optimist.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I guess your lucky the Great one is tied up with NZ - otherwise he could do an updated review of the failures of the last review.