Monday Buzz: Where Dragons went so wrong with squad of NRL rejects
It’s obviously not working for the Dragons with their current roster. The mix is wrong. Enter former premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan to try and turn things around, says PHIL ROTHFIELD.
St George Illawarra is like a $2 reject shop with shelves full of discount stock that is sometimes lacking in quality.
The Dragons have now lost 12 of their last 13 games and fans are beginning to turn the blowtorch on the club’s management for recently extending the contract of struggling coach Anthony Griffin.
This is understandable.
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However, the biggest problem is not necessarily Griffin’s training methods, his tactics, his motivation of the squad or the chief executive Ryan Webb, who recommended the contract extension.
The blame lies with whoever has been most responsible for their recent recruitment, in which Griffin has obviously been heavily involved in.
Whoever signed the following list of players …
- Andrew McCullough (Reject Broncos)
- Aaron Woods (Reject Sharks and Bulldogs)
- Moses Mbye (Reject Wests Tigers)
- Jack Bird (Reject Broncos)
- Moses Suli (Reject Sea Eagles)
- Josh McGuire (Reject Cowboys)
- Daniel Alvaro (Reject Parramatta)
- George Burgess (Reject Wigan)
- Poasa Faamausili (Reject Roosters)
There were obviously reasons these players were not retained at their previous clubs outside of salary cap pressure.
The Dragons thought they could get more out of them.
The benefit was that most came at a discount price because their previous clubs contributed significantly to their salaries.
It’s a bit harsh to be critical of them all.
Most have contributed, albeit not as consistently as Griffin may have hoped.
The bottom line is St George-Illawarra’s form since midway through last year is actually worse than the Wests Tigers or the Canterbury Bulldogs. And that’s saying something.
One win from their last 13 games is unacceptable.
The club has at least taken steps to improve in the area of recruitment with the recent appointment of former premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan to manage the salary cap.
His opinions on players now carry as much weight as Griffin.
In the last three years this club has finished 15th, 12th and 11th and their chances of playing finals football this season are again highly unlikely, if not gone already after five rounds.
It’s obviously not working with their current roster. The mix is wrong.
McGuire is 32, McCullough 32, Woods 31, Ben Hunt 32, Tariq Sims 32.
They need to bring back their most exciting youngsters like Tyrell Sloan and Talatau Amone who at least provide some hope for the future.
And, next time they go shopping, stay out of the reject shops.
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