NRL: Dragons coach Paul McGregor under fire as Dragons start 0-2
Paul McGregor is 0-2 after the opening two games of the season for the fourth time in six years since he took the reins at the Dragons and the fans are fuming.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Match Report: Panthers roll over Dragons
St George Illawarra will be banking on the return of skipper Cameron McInnes as they look to avoid their worst start to a season in seven years with pressure mounting on coach Paul McGregor.
You have to go back to 2013 for the last time the Dragons lost their opening three games of a season, but they face the prospect of matching that when they travel to Canberra and play last year’s grand finalists on Thursday night.
Watch the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO. Every game of every round LIVE & Ad-Break Free during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The Dragons have won two of their past three matches in the nation’s capital, putting to bed a 12-year-hoodoo where they lost 11 consecutive games.
They are expected to be boosted by the return of hooker McInnes, who McGregor said was all but certain to play his first game of the year after missing the opening two matches because of a knee injury suffered at the Nines. He was originally expected to miss up to three months. NSW backrower Tariq Sims will also come back into the starting side after missing the club’s four-point loss to Penrith on Friday night because of a one-game suspension.
Paul McGregor’s odds as first coach sacked must be short
— Dan (@theSportress) March 20, 2020
With each loss, pressure builds on under-fire coach McGregor. He came into this year already under the microscope after their second-to-last finish in 2019 despite having a year to run on his contract.
It will not get any easier for the Dragons in round four either when they play the Eels at Bankwest Stadium before matches against the Warriors, South Sydney and the Roosters.
Assistant coach Dean Young has already been touted as a potential caretaker coach should the Dragons’ worst fears be realised.
Premiership-winning mentor Shane Flanagan is also part of the coaching staff but cannot take on the top job until the end of 2021.
The Dragons lost their opening two games last year before going on a four-game winning streak.
Fullback Matt Dufty was a shining light for the Dragons in the 32-28 loss to Penrith, scoring twice, including a crucial runaway intercept try in the first half to give his team a much-needed momentum swing. Dufty’s return for the injured Mikaele Ravalawa pushed Zac Lomax to the wing.
“It was way quicker than I remember, it’s been a while since I’ve played,” Dufty said.
“I thought there was a lot to work on. Mary (McGregor) has built his team around working hard and I want to be that player that the boys want to play with.
“I've got a lot to build on, definitely. There were positives there, but I think there were a lot more negatives that I’m going to have to go back to training and really work on.”
If you listen to the rumour mill, McGregor has until round five to turn things around or the Dragons could be forced to make the tough call.
In the current circumstances it would seem unrealistic that a club under such enormous financial strain would even contemplate sacking a coach amid the coronavirus crisis, especially given McGregor’s contract runs until the end of next season.
But angry fans could force their hand.
The Dragons certainly didn’t lack effort last round or this week but it just seems their confidence is shot.
“It does challenge individuals if you are putting in the effort and not getting results,” McGregor conceded.
“But as soon as a player doesn’t want to win a game of footy he shouldn’t be playing.
“The competing is there, we just have to be smart at times.”
Frizell was equally frustrated: “We spoke about effort but effort is not going to get us the two points.
“We need to execute.
“The fight and the want to get better is not going to go away.
“The confidence that we have within the team is not going to go away.
“We are very disappointed, as Mary is. We have to get on with it and be better for next week.”
The Dragons actually did well to lead 16-12 at halftime despite only having 42 per cent of possession and Penrith racing to a 12-0 lead.
Then after slipping behind early in the second half, consecutive tries put them 10 points clear.
When Corey Norman scored off a clever Ben Hunt kick in the 64th minute the Dragons looked to be coming home the stronger but they just couldn’t hold their nerve.
This is the issue.
Once again Hunt and Norman produced some good moments but it’s not lasting the full 80 minutes, and these two never seem to produce a good game together.
It also can’t be denied their game management was upstaged by the younger Panthers pairing of man of the match Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai who had a terrific game.
Hunt couldn’t have tried harder but he just looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, whereas Cleary looked calm, composed and confident, and is really relishing the opportunity to take control of his team.
Hunt should not be singled out but it comes with the territory of wearing the No 7 jumper, just as the coach will wear the brunt of fallout even if his roster has holes all through it.
There is no way the Dragons back five can be compared to the majority of their rivals, and there is a serious question mark hanging over the depth of their middle rotation.
Yes, Jack de Belin is missing but they have had ample time to come up with a plan B, even under trying salary cap circumstances.
At least next week they are likely to get Cam McInnes back from injury along with Tariq Sims from suspension.
McInnes is their inspirational leader and no doubt his absence is huge.
But it is not as if the Dragons aren’t creating enough chances, it’s just that something is not right and they need to find the answer to fix it fast.