Why Paul McGregor won’t be going soft on St George Illawarra players this NRL pre-season

PAUL McGregor has vowed not to go soft on St George Illawarra this pre-season, despite criticism his gruelling approach caught up with players at the back end of this year.

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PAUL McGregor has rejected criticism his gruelling summer workouts are responsible for St George Illawarra’s late-season fade-outs and vowed he won’t go soft on Dragons players as work begins for 2019.

The Dragons coach also admitted the club were still chasing the right recruit to challenge Matt Dufty at fullback — and Jarryd Hayne remains right in the mix — while the other big debate is where to fit young gun Zac Lomax into the starting side going forward.

And will it ultimately cost Euan Aitken his centre spot?

“CHASING EXCELLENCE”

Last pre-season McGregor told The Daily Telegraph this was the best squad he had coached and it proved to be the case, despite the fact most experts hardly rated them a top-eight hope.

So what is the expectation now?

After spending most of the season in the top four before falling in the second week of the finals after a rotten run with injuries, McGregor said: “We have to be chasing excellence and really have a bit more grit.

The Dragons slowed down after a strong start to the season. Picture by Brett Costello.

“And the task is to do that over 25 rounds, plus finals.

“People have said we were a little bit inconsistent through an important period of the year (after Origin) but we didn’t have back-to-back losses until round 18.

“There was only one team better than that which was the Roosters, who won the competition.

“So we know we are on the right path.

“We are resilient and hardworking but at times we just need to show more perseverance.

“We are not far away.”

POST-ORIGIN BACKLASH

The Dragons exploded out of the blocks in 2018 and led the competition for the first 11 rounds, on the back of the hard work they put in last pre-season.

But the criticism that came after that was that post-Origin it left them leg-weary on the run through to the finals where they lost four of their final five games.

Then they bounced back, smashing Brisbane in week one of the finals before a hard-fought loss to South Sydney without Gareth Widdop, Paul Vaughan and then losing Tariq Sims.

Vaughan was one of a number of Dragons players to debut in rep footy. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

Asked if he needed to change his approach this summer, McGregor said: “When you start the season very well it gives you a really good base for the remainder of the season.

“So the myth that our pre-season hurts us, if you ask any player, if he is honest, he will tell you his season is made from his pre-season.

“For me, our pre-season was a success because we started the year well.”

As for what happened after Origin, McGregor was adamant the experience would only make those players better.

“Every player has a goal to play for their state, that motivates you as an individual,” McGregor said.

“If we are creating an environment for them to play Origin, that gives players confidence and big game experience, which helps us later on.

“What we went through this year for that, those boys are going to benefit for next year.”

FIGHT FOR SPOTS

McGregor made a conscious decision some time ago to leave recruitment to Ian Millward but it is no secret the Dragons are on the lookout for outside backs, especially one who can play wing and fullback.

Hayne’s name has been floated and the Dragons would love him at the right price. Alex Johnston, who could be squeezed out of South Sydney, is another potential recruit.

Recruiting either of those players would put heat on Dufty, who struggled towards the end of the season.

“He is a very, very good young player,” McGregor said of Dufty.

“I was absolutely rapt in the year he had but he is only young and he has to do it all again, consistently.

The club wants someone to compete with Matt Dufty. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

“And if you have no one challenging him in that position what do you get?

“We have lost 357 games of experience in Nene (Macdonald) and Jason Nightingale.

“So when you lose that type of experience you have to look for players that will strengthen your squad in and around those positions.”

With Aitken injured late last season Lomax, 19, finally got his chance and his performances have put pressure on the Dragons incumbent to win back the centre spot in 2019.

But the retirement of Nightingale and exit of Macdonald might mean Lomax will start on the wing and then it will be up to Aitken to hold him off.

“I am not going to comment on who is playing where in November,” McGregor said.

“What I will say is you have to play your best 17 every week.

“And when you have a successful team you have a strong squad.”

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