Dragons fire up against Cronulla to take heat off Paul McGregor

The barometer for the coach under most pressure may have shifted on a bizarre day at Campelltown Stadium on Sunday.

Cameron McInnes reaches out to score as the Dragons break the shackles against the Sharks on Sunday. Picture: AAP

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has done his level-best to shield his players from the ­constant speculation about his ­future. Perhaps, after his side’s win over Cronulla on Sunday, he can pass some tips on to Sharks coach John Morris.

The barometer for the coach under most pressure may have slightly and subtly shifted on a ­bizarre day at Campelltown Stadium, which began with an NRL game being postponed for the first time in more than 20 years.

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Canterbury and the Roosters were meant to be the Sunday afternoon game until Bulldogs forward Aiden Tolman got tangled up in the latest COVID-19 scare. Tolman returned a negative test, but the NRL had no choice but to postpone the game until Monday night and bring forward St George Illawarra’s match against the Sharks.

The Dragons adjusted to the upheaval the best, winning 30-16. They conceded the opening try of the game but asserted their authority thereafter — their first victory over a team other than the Titans for close to 12 months.

It has been a frustrating period for Dragons supporters, heaping pressure on McGregor amid talk that seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett could be in line to take over next season.

“I try to shield my players from that sort of stuff,” McGregor said. “It has been in conversation everywhere, so the players certainly know about it. My focus has always been on being disciplined and making sure I am in the present with them.”

Morris hasn’t been immune either. He woke to headlines late last week that England rugby union coach Eddie Jones was among the figures earmarked as his potential replacement.

Morris is only in his second year, but he has faced some significant challenges, not least a salary cap sanction he was not responsible for and the failed drug test of centre Bronson Xerri.

“I think everyone across the game can appreciate the challenges I have had in the first 12 months — we had a massive challenge around the salary cap fine, we had to let players go as a result of that,” Morris said.

“We played finals football last year in my first year as a rookie coach. I think I have done a really good job so far. The Eddie Jones stuff among all that caught me by surprise, as it did a lot of people.

“I am contracted until the end of 2021, so I can’t read too much into that. I can’t let that distract me. I need to focus on this playing group and get them going.”

Asked whether he believed he still had the club’s support, Morris said: “You would have to speak to the club. There has been no mention to me about my position.

“It came from left-field after our win last week against the Cowboys. We were singing the team song in the sheds and they were reporting on Fox that my job was under pressure. That totally blindsided me. I have a good bond with the playing group and all my staff.”

They didn’t work hard enough on Sunday. The Sharks started well but they were off the pace ­afterwards against a remodelled Dragons side.

Ben Hunt, the Dragons’ highest-paid player, began the day on the bench having struggled for form in recent weeks. It was just the tonic he and, apparently, the side needed. Hunt came on at hooker, scored one try and had a hand in another as the Dragons shrugged off the shackles.

“He is a great person,” McGregor said. “He understands the reason behind it. We had a good conversation before I announced that side. It was more about him relaxing a little bit and going out and enjoying his footy. He seems to do that a lot at (hooker).”

Asked whether Hunt was now a hooker, McGregor said: “One week at a time. The biggest thing for us was improving our game. Do we need to improve more? Absolutely. We’re a proud club.”

And a winning one again.