I forced myself to watch the woeful second half performance of the Dragons against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday afternoon.
The middle defence of the Dragons was as brittle as a last placed under 10s team. Then watching a dejected Dean Young in the post match news conference offer no answers or solutions – and obviously just going through the motions – the whole thing had me reaching for my bottle of Johnny Blue.
As Dean said himself, the only highlight in the game was the stunning debut of Cody Ramsey who was dynamic with the limited opportunities he had.
Then I realised that in yet another lost season for the Dragons, Ramsey was only the second player to debut all year. So many players have been picked week in and week out regardless of their form. No wonder the team is soft. They have not been challenged. The same names keep getting picked every week.
Surely one of Paul McGregor’s greatest flaws was his reluctance or inability to grade the young talent coming through and therefore hold the more established players to account.
Cody Ramsey along with all the other future stars in the top 30 like the Feagai boys, Jason Saab, Eddie Blacker, Tristan Sailor and Jayden Sullivan have been living in the COVID-19 bubble away from their family and friends for months, turning up to training but never getting picked regardless of how badly the first grade team was going.
Credit to Dean Young for picking Cody Ramsey and setting an example, we have a winnable game against Newcastle next week, Newcastle got pumped by Melbourne this week and we have a very good record away at Newcastle. So I say drop Euan Aitken and Jordan Pereira and pick the Feagai twins!
Drop Corey Norman and pick Sailor or Sullivan. Drop Kaide Ellis and let Blacker rip in! Is there anything more beautiful in rugby league than a wild young prop taking his first hit up trying to make his mark in first grade?
So I come back to my question, what constitutes a rebuild? how many players have to be cut, how many support staff have to be moved on – and how much change is required in attitude and approach from the players before a team can be classified a rebuild?
At this point five first grade players have been moved on: Issac Luke, James Graham, Tyson Frizell, Tim Lafai and Euan Aitken. Jason Saab is strongly connected in the media to Manly for a player swap with Ruben Garrick. Jacob Host, Tristan Sailor and Kaide Ellis are all signed.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
The head coach has been sacked and replaced by a radically different professional in Anthony Griffin.
Assistant coaches James Pickworth, plus Cronulla flunkies James Shepherd and Shane Flanagan have all been fired.
I estimate by the beginning on the 2021 season somewhere between 10-12 players from the 2020 squad will be gone.
Dean Young is kicking stones, I don’t think he’ll stay and to be honest a change of scenery will be good for him.
I think we need a more attacking focused assistant anyway similar to Trent Barrett at Penrith this year.
So, does a turnover of a third of the playing group, a new head coach and an entirely new support staff constitute a rebuild? I say it does.
Andrew
Roar Pro
Dean Young now gone, certainly looking even more like a rebuild to me
mushi
Roar Guru
A rebuild is defined by the mandate the board gives management and then what management holds the coach accountable for. If that mandate has process goals focused on development, investing marginal capital in players with potential rather than production and has limited focus on W/L then it's a rebuild. If the coach is under the impression they'll be fired in the next 2 years if W/L doesn't improve then it's not a rebuild.
matth
Roar Guru
And that’s a worry given he has been subject to NRL level coaching for some years now.
Andrew
Roar Pro
NRL: Star fullback Matt Dufty is upset that assistant coach Shane Flanagan won’t be at the Dragons next season SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 5:46PM Matt LogueNCA NewsWire St George Illawarra fullback Matt Dufty is disappointed that “influential” assistant Shane Flanagan won’t be at the club next season under new coach Anthony Griffin. Flanagan has been moved along with fellow assistant James Shepherd as Griffin brings in his own coaches. This has flattened Dufty who credited Flanagan and Shepherd, who led Cronulla to the 2016 premiership, for teaching him how to become a reliable NRL player this season which he started as the club‘s third choice fullback. “I worked really hard in the pre-season and a big part of that has been Flanno and Shep,” Dufty said. “They have taught me a lot about how to become a first grader consistently and I think that was what I was lacking in the past. “I’d have a few good games and then have a few games off. Flanno has coached a team to the premiership and he knew what qualities I had to work on. “He has been a very influential part of my year and I’ll be a bit upset if he leaves.” undefined Cody Ramsey of the Dragons celebrates after scoring his second try during the round 18 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium on September 12, 2020 in Wollongong, Australia. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images The Dragons can’t make the finals, but the rise of rookie winger Cody Ramsey is a bright spark for the struggling club. Ramsey scored a double on debut against Canberra last weekend, including a try with his first touch. Dufty has no doubts that the rising back, dubbed – The Flying Plumber – is destined for a long NRL career. “He (Cody) proved that he can play at the NRL level and he is only going to grow from here,” he said. “He has been working hard and he deserved it on the weekend. “Cody has been training hard behind the scenes. After the Nines he got injured and it has been a long road back. “He is one of those kids that works hard and takes advice on board and really listens to what the coaches and other senior players have to say. “That is the sign of a player that really wants to improve and grow. “He is only just beginning, so it is exciting to see where it goes.” Dufty can see the writing on the wall, with Ramsey & Schiller biting at his heels he’ll be squeezed out next year. If I were him I’d be asking Hook about a move to the halves. It’s Norman’s last year next year maybe he can find a home at 6
Kim Stelletos
Guest
There is nothing to lose now season done and dusted bring some young ones in and give them a run couldn’t hurt
Andrew
Roar Pro
He still needs to learn to pass to his winger
Centre
Roar Rookie
I agree that CC guys should have been brought into the team weeks ago. Young chose Cody when finals virtually out of contention. McGregor was frustrated because he didn’t have the final say. So if Young and Flanagan were basically choosing due to overruling Mary, why didn’t Young choose the young guys then and immediately after Mary left? Also to top it off. after we played really badly, he said he was keeping the same team to let them make amends. Don’t give Young credit where it isn’t due. A point for discussion as well Norman and Hunt are playing Clune out of the game. He tries to take more responsibility but they either kick when shouldn’t, run when they shouldn’t and give him many a crap pass. Norman and Hunt have one kick, no variety and neither of them has a footy brain. Clune on the other hand has variety and can be spontaneous.
Swissdragon
Roar Rookie
Andrew, couldn’t agree more. Ramsey, Blacker and Sailor should have been in the starting lineup weeks ago. The loss 3 games ago meant we couldn’t reach the finals, so why not throw some youngsters in. Norman needs to go. Clune deserves his spot. I think we need a lock bigger than McInnes. His best spot is hooker and dummy half. I would move Dufty to 5/8 even and put Ramsey or Sailor to fullback. Try the Fegai brothers. Drop Aiken and Frizell since they are leaving to give the young guys a go. There is absolutely nothing to lose.
Michael Hayden
Guest
You left out dumping Frizell. Imho he has just been going through the motions for the past 4 or 5 games. You are right about there being more than a few changes at Wollongong in 2021 and not before time!
Col Moynihan
Guest
Mary should have been blooding these younger players much earlier. It seems insane that players with the talent of Sailor, Ramsey and others have been denied starts, while overpaid underperforming players keep getting selected. Corey Norman needs to be shown the door, and Ben Hunt needs to be considered in some swap deal with the Broncos
andrew
Roar Rookie
McGregor's got a lot to answer for. He's been the biggest dud in Saints recent history and i can't see him being a head coach in the NRL again. Saints should thank their lucky stars that Griffin is coaching next year. I'm not expecting a premiership next year but I thought Dean Young might have shown some initiative and picked more than 1 new player for the remainder of the season, but no,too conservative, sticking to what he's learnt from McGregor. 2 more games Dean, it's all or nothing. After last week's debacle you can't pick the same team, i won't hold my breath.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
For a club to go through a “rebuild” means the foundations of the house (team) are stuffed. The better clubs don’t do rebuilds, they continually improve, and don’t rely on a few players to carry the weight of the team. When a team needs a rebuild it means they have made poor recruitment decisions and have bad player development systems. Look at the Storm when Slater and Cronk moved on - no mention of a rebuild. I’d put the Roosters in that category smart player management.
matth
Roar Guru
Aitken burst onto the scene with so much promise. Hopefully a change of scenery does him some good.
Andrew
Roar Pro
That was the question I posed, how much change is needed for it to be called a rebuild. In our case; - A third of the player group will be moved on & replaced - A new head coach - All new support staff - A youth first approach Can you believe given our farm system we’ve only debuted 2 players all year? Crazy.
Tony
Roar Guru
At least it wasn't Suli
Andrew
Roar Pro
I think Garrick was our preferred pick I don’t think Manly offered him to us. Obviously Manly would prefer to offer up a dud instead
Andrew
Roar Pro
I posted an article a few weeks ago suggesting that Dufty’s unlikely to be our long term fullback. He lacks size which adversely effects his kick returns, he’s very shaky under the high ball & his one on one defence isn’t unto standard. His contract is up next year I think if he sticks around it’ll be to play in the halves. Cody Ramsey & James Schiller are better prospects
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Why on earth would Manly take Saab for Garrick?? A quality goal kicking first grader for a reserve grader who doesn't kick. Their loss.
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm not sold on the Pereira idea Andrew. He's about the same size as McInnes after all. What do you think about Dufty? Yes, he has a great cut out pass but most teams are on to it now. He doesn't challenge the line himself enough for me, and his defence, kick catching and kick returns are ordinary. We need a couple of enforcers in the pack and I hope that Hook works on the forwards being able to offload. If not, they're easy target for the defence.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The Dragons don't necessarily need a rebuild. They already have the talent there, but it's not being used. Tristan Sailor or Jayden Sullivan would make a great partner to Adam Clune, and Eddie Blacker would be a great prop coming off the bench. Out wide the Fegai brothers are highly rated and Cody Ramsey had a great debut. Find spots for their junior talent and they will be ok