Paul McGregor future: Dragons shock as coach survives
Frustrated St George Illawarra directors have opted against sacking Paul McGregor, but the embattled coach must deal with a long list of internal issues if he is to retain his position with the Dragons.
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‘Tough times’: Defiant McGregor won’t walk away
Paul McGregor has survived – but the St George Illawarra coach is still confronting a raft of internal issues which could continue to plague his tenure at the under-pressure club.
McGregor’s future was discussed at an emergency video conference board meeting called by Dragons directors on Tuesday morning before club chairman Andrew Gordon emerged to declare the board “will continue to support Paul.”
Despite pressure from fans and members for their coach to be sacked, Saints’ board elected against axing McGregor despite the club’s 0-4 start to the 2020 season. The frugal club would have been forced into a $1m payout to oust McGregor.
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Frustration at the club’s awful performances – which included finishing 15th last season – reached a crescendo after a 22-2 loss to fellow strugglers Canterbury on Sunday.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal St George Illawarra’s board, club management, football club staff and players are aware of multiple problems engulfing the club. They include:
^ Senior players losing their hunger because they feel protected by McGregor.
^ McGregor’s work ethic being so intense that some players feel he has become too regimented and regimented.
^ Pulling back strict game plans allowing players to have more fun and feel freer on the field.
^ Players – and their managers – being told to stop leaking stories to the media.
^ Fears players are lacking confidence, are playing negative and are questioning themselves.
^ Players being too quiet on the field through a nervousness of losing.
^ Players being told to be more accountable and stop using speculation over McGregor as an excuse for losing focus.
^ Hopes that McGregor can somehow freshen up training and preparations.
^ A fear that losing the next two games – against Cronulla and Gold Coast – could trigger another wave of speculation.
^ Hopes unsettled players will now become composed knowing McGregor is staying.
McGregor is just four games into a new two-season extension and would have cost the club between $1.6m to $1.8m to sack and replace him.
The Dragons board was due to meet on June 16 but were forced to bring forward their discussions after Sunday’s horror loss. St George Illawarra is running dead last on the NRL competition table and hasn’t scored a try in 81 days.
Those close to the club are adamant senior players – including Ben Hunt, James Graham, Paul Vaughan, Corey Norman, Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell – must share the blame and responsibility for McGregor’s demise. Hunt and Norman are filling $2m a year in the club’s salary cap.
McGregor, 52, did not attend the board meeting because he had planned to complete a video review of Sunday’s loss. Privately, board members claimed Tuesday was the first time they had discussed McGregor’s future.
In a club statement, Gordon said: “Although the board acknowledges the club’s performances so far throughout 2020 have been unacceptable; we will continue to support Paul, his staff and the team through these tough times.
“We are committed to Paul as coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons and look forward to seeing him right the wrongs of the opening month of the current campaign.
“We are a club that stands by our people when under pressure. This is a time for loyalty, strength and commitment from the players, coach, board and staff to improve.”
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McGregor isn’t coaching for money, only passion. He became wealthy through a successful chemical cleaning company he co-owned and sold in 2016.
After Sunday’s loss to Canterbury, McGregor was bracing for the axe, saying: “I’m not scared – if that is the word you are looking for – I’m an optimistic but I’m also a realist. These are tough times.
“I’m under pressure, understandably. I know our team isn’t playing well enough and I’m the coach. So, look, I accept the blame. If they make the decision (to terminate), I will understand it.”
PAUL MCGREGOR IN CHARGE
2014-2020: 144 games, 66 wins, 78 losses (46 per cent winning record)
2014: 11th (after succeeding Steve Price before round 11)
2015: 8th
2016: 11th
2017: 9th
2018: 7th (eliminated second week of finals)
2019: 15th 2020: 16th (after round four)