Nothing to celebrate at dismal Dragons as big changes needed

FINAL VERDICT: Wholesale changes are needed at the Dragons in 2017 after a dismal 2016 saw the joint venture put in its worst attacking performance in the club’s history.

WHOLESALE changes are needed at the Dragons in 2017 after a dismal 2016 saw the joint venture put in its worst attacking performance in the club’s history.

Daily Telegraph journalists Michael Carayannis and Barry Toohey give their final verdict on the Dragons.

By MICHAEL CARAYANNIS

What went right:

The emergence of Tyson Frizell as a genuine world class back-rower plus the unearthing of some good young local products. The Dragons have struggled for any punch on their edges in recent years and Frizell showed via his club and Origin performances he is now at the elite level. Low fuss and reliable, Frizell is a player the Dragons can build their forward pack around. Joining him were youngsters Jacob Host (eight games) and Luciano Leilua (five). Rare in the fact they are St George juniors, the back-rowers added an extra dimension to an otherwise predictable St George Illawarra team.

Tyson Frizell was one of the only genuine shining lights for the Dragons.

What went wrong:

Their attack was horrendous. Drifting sideways, no continuity, no variation. Only the hapless Knights scored less points than the Dragons, in what was the worst attacking performance in St George Illawarra’s history. Players in key positions in Mitch Rein, Benji Marshall, Gareth Widdop and Josh Dugan lacked cohesion and could not make a dent in opposition defences. Rein and Marshall have left so much of the responsibility will be left on Widdop’s shoulders. After assuming the captaincy this year, Widdop looked like a shadow of the player which dominated in the NRL in recent seasons. The Dragons built last year’s finals charge on defence, and even that wilted this year.

By BARRY TOOHEY

What went right:

Tyson Frizell established himself as one of the game’s premier backrowers, Taane Milne emerged as a promising find in the centres and Kurt Mann overcame a horror start to the season at fullback to find a home on the wing and finish as the club’s leading tryscorer. But you’d have to dig pretty deep to find too many other positives out of the season for the Dragons. Coming off a surprise top eight finish in 2015, they were within striking distance again when eighth after round 16 before the wheels fell off.

Benji Marshall and Ben Creagh both suffered injury-riddled seasons in 2016.

What went wrong:

They lost Dylan Farrell and Mose Masoe to season-ending injuries before a ball was kicked and Ben Creagh after round three, their halves Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop failed to fire and the team lacked any attacking potency and couldn’t score points. They finished the season with just 58 tries and overall, scored only 36 points more than the bottom-placed Knights. From sitting in eighth spot heading into round 17, they lost 36-6 to Manly which kicked off a five-game losing run and they finished with just two wins after that to limp into 11th spot. Their poor form away from home (2 wins from 10) was telling.

Originally published as Nothing to celebrate at dismal Dragons as big changes needed