Paul McGregor’s Dragons down Warriors 26-12 to maintain spot in NRL top four
PAUL McGregor still doesn’t know how long he’s going to be coaching the Dragons. But as long as he is, he knows Josh Dugan’s best position.
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PAUL McGregor still doesn’t know how long he’s going to be coaching St George Illawarra.
But as long as he is, Josh Dugan will be his No 1.
In the aftermath of the Dragons’ gutsy 26-12 win over the Warriors, the team everyone wrote off as finals contenders during pre-season maintained their place in the NRL top four.
And not only that, the Dragons have also proved, finally, that they can score points.
Incredibly, the team that finished only ahead of last-placed Newcastle last year in points scored, now lead the way with 100 scored so far in four games.
It puts them even ahead of every team, even the free-running Panthers who are their nearest rivals on 98 points for.
And while Sunday night’s win was anything but pretty, it again showed the character McGregor and his players are building this year.
On a night that also delayed the return of Kieran Foran who suffered a hamstring injury during warm up, the Dragons’ raced in four tries to two to beat an error-riddled Warriors outfit who continue to disappoint.
It was another big night for the Dragons pack and in particular Paul Vaughan who produced another standout display.
But while McGregor didn’t want to single out any of his players, he didn’t mind buying into the Dugan debate that currently has his star at loggerheads with the club.
With Dugan currently in negotiations for a new deal, recruitment boss Ian Millward has made no secret of the fact he sees Dugan’s future in the centres, and not in the No. 1 jersey.
But Dugan showed again just how important he is to this team when he is at his best, making his point in attack and defence.
The 26-year-old scored a brilliant solo try while running a game-high 177m, and in defence he came up some desperate try saving tackles that also proved crucial.
Asked for his thoughts on the debate, McGregor responded: “I don’t want him to go to centre.
“I have never said I want him to go to centre.
“He is at fullback now and he is staying there I am here at the moment and he is playing fullback for us. He is the best fullback in the club.”
Asked if that meant long term, McGregor laughed: “I am only short term. So that’s all I’m worried about.”
And that raises the other question in all this, just how much more does McGregor have to do to secure his own future.
When St George Illawarra ran around in their final pre-season trial in the Charity Shield, you wouldn’t have backed McGregor to last the first month.
But four rounds in and suddenly they are starting to look like the real deal on the back of hard work and sheer determination.
With wins over the Penrith, Cronulla and now the Warriors, the Dragons only loss was against Parramatta.
They now take on the Wests Tigers this Sunday at ANZ Stadium in a match that is also shaping up as Ivan Cleary’s first in charge of the Tigers.
After the loss to the Eels in round two, there was plenty of speculation McGregor would struggle to survive with Des Hasler and Cleary two of the names mentioned to take his place next year.
But somehow McGregor has found a way to make his players ignore the outside noise as they continue to show they are a team to be reckoned with.
Asked if he wanted to stay in the job, McGregor said: “Of course. I enjoy coaching and I love this club so certainly.
“But I’m not looking for a contract right now. I am just looking forward to getting to work tomorrow and work hard through the week and getting the boys to perform on the weekend.
“That is all I am after.”
McGregor also praised another powerhouse performance from Vaughan who put in another huge effort, scoring a try and charging for 160m, again the most metres of any forward on the
park.
Forced out of Canberra because of the salary cap, Vaughan has so far been one of the most damaging forwards in the game this year.
And according to McGregor, his best is still to come, with McGregor adamant State of Origin is not beyond him.
“I’m happy with every player I have to get to high levels because it is important, that is what they are playing for as well,” McGregor said.
“And I am 10 per cent behind people who get selected when they are playing well, not people that aren’t playing well and get selected because of past history.
“He has been a talented player for some time and he is 26.
“I think in the past front-rowers are really just coming into their game at the age of 26, 27.
“He has good experience, good speed, good power, and he is certainly a guy who listens and learns and wants to be better in everything he does. That is a good mix.
“I don’t like to single out individuals because we play a team sport.
“And to a man I thought they all played a part, a big part.
“Look, it is nice to be where we are, they have put in a lot of work. They are creating a really nice environment to be around, enjoying what they do and getting confidence week to week.”
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 26 (J Dugan T Lafai J McCrone P Vaughan tries G Widdop 5 goals) bt NZ WARRIORS 12 (I Luke K Maumalo tries S Johnson 2 goals) at UOW Jubilee Oval. Referee: Chris Sutton, David Munro. Crowd: 11,608.
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