Sacking Mary won’t lift Dragons who must address glaring issues

St George Illawarra has a board meeting on Tuesday — and while Paul McGregor’s position is not up for discussion, at the top of the to-do list must be a thorough investigation of the club’s real problems.

The Dragons were embarrassed in Friday night’s loss to Penrith. Picture: Getty Images

Angry St George Illawarra fans want Paul McGregor sacked, but that is not going to fix their real problems.

McGregor said after Friday night’s embarrassing loss to Penrith that he was happy to cop the heat if it meant taking pressure off his players.

But fans should understand that McGregor is one of the few NRL head coaches who does not have power over the club’s roster.

That job falls at the feet of recruitment chief Ian Millward, who is going to have to make some tough calls to get the Dragons back on track.

The under-siege club has a board meeting tomorrow, and while McGregor’s position is not up for discussion, at the top of the to-do list must be an investigation into some glaring roster-related issues.

The Dragons were embarrassed in Friday night’s loss to Penrith. Picture: Getty Images

DE BELIN MADNESS

While everyone keeps saying the Dragons have one of the NRL’s best rosters, there are some serious flaws that need urgent attention.

They start with the Jack de Belin situation. His suspension has had a huge impact on and off the field but it is no good continuing to blame this season’s downfall on the drama and not address it for next year.

There is no indication de Belin’s court case won’t drag on for at least another 12 months. So the Dragons must find a way to bring in a top middle forward to replace him.

As it stands, the entire pack is paying the penalty for de Belin’s punishment.

Last year de Belin was the first-choice NSW lock ahead of Jake Trbojevic, so it is no use trying to put a Band-Aid over the problem by signing a second-string replacement.

Jack De Belin’s suspension has had a huge impact on and off the field. Picture: Toby Zerna

The club will be able to get a salary cap dispensation from the NRL to cover de Belin’s wage next year but that would also require finding another $600,000 to purchase a suitable replacement.

The administration needs to make sure that can happen so Millward can hit the market now.

Otherwise, senior administrators should put their hands up and accept their part for what is going wrong on the field.

WASTED MONEY

Gareth Widdop’s return to England won’t free up much salary cap space given most of that money has already been spent on Corey Norman.

All this really does is highlight other roster issues.

When Widdop returns from injury this week, the skipper is expected to play five-eighth and Norman fullback, again leaving Matt Dufty on the outer.

The question is: do the Dragons have enough trust in Dufty to make him first choice No.1 next year? If not, then a tough conversation needs to be had given Dufty is contracted until the end of 2021 and is a specialist fullback.

Euan Aitken is another concern given he and Zac Lomax are both off contract at the end of next year.

Aitken’s performances this year have dropped off dramatically, and he continues to come up with the same defensive errors almost every week.

Do the Dragons have enough trust in Matt Dufty to make him first-choice fullback next year? Picture: AAP

Lomax is also expected back this week and has shown he has a huge future, but there is no room in the squad to fit in both and Tim Lafai.

One has to go, especially if the Dragons are to fix their other big problem.

They can’t go into next season with Mikaele Ravalawa and Jonus Pearson as the club’s top-choice wingers.

Ravalawa has the most ­errors of any winger, while Pearson has not shown he will be a long-term solution.

You just have to look at the impact Blake Ferguson has had on Parramatta this year.

Millward needs to find a Ferguson-type winger and it is no use saying the Dragons can’t afford one because they are wasting money elsewhere.

If you want to blame McGregor for what is going wrong on the field, others need to be accountable for what is going wrong off it.

Originally published as Sacking Mary won’t lift Dragons who must address glaring issues