Why Dragons rushed to re-sign McGregor

St George Illawarra were under the impression another club had their eyes on Paul McGregor when they signed their coach to a two-year contract extension.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor is under pressure after an 0-3 start to the season

St George Illawarra powerbrokers were under the impression that another club had their eyes on Paul McGregor when they signed their coach to a two-year contract extension at the start of last season.

The Dragons have been heavily criticised for striking a two-year deal worth upwards of $1.3 million with McGregor at a time when many would have you believe they were competing against themselves for his signature.

However, sources close to the talks told The Australian that the Dragons were of the belief that another offer was on the table for McGregor — something they subsequently had confirmed by a third party.

Wary of losing their coach and having considered potential alternatives such as Anthony Griffin, Tim Sheens, Justin Holbrook, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Ryles and Adam O’Brien, they opted to keep the faith with McGregor when they signed him to a contract extension in April last year.

That decision is now under the microscope as the club attempts to negotiate a poor start to the year — they have lost three games to open the season culminating in a woeful performance against the Warriors last weekend.

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The only clubs with any uncertainty around their coaching positions at the start of the 2019 season were Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. The Australian understands McGregor was never mentioned in relation to the Titans job.

The Eels ultimately re-signed Brad Arthur a decision that has been vindicated by the way Parramatta played last year and have opened this season. Newcastle went with former Melbourne and Sydney Roosters assistant Adam O’Brien, who has presided over an undefeated start to the 2020 season.

The Dragons, meanwhile, languish near the foot of the ladder, prompting speculation that McGregor could lose his job if the club can’t find a way to start winning games.

There has been much discussion around whether the Dragons can afford to sack McGregor, but the more prevalent question is whether they have the appetite to payout their coach.

Money is not necessarily an issue for the joint venture. Media magnate Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corporation own 50 per cent of the club, having bought out the Illawarra share of the Dragons last year.

Gordon alone is worth more than $700 million. The other half of the Dragons is owned by St George Leagues Club, who like Gordon invested $500,000 in the club last year to help meet costs.

The leagues club’s financial report at the end of last season indicated they had more than $19 million in cash. Combined, the two entities make the Dragons one of the most financially muscular sides in the NRL.

Yet there seems a genuine reluctance to expend money, that thriftiness apparently extending to the coaching position. The Dragons would have no shortage of alternatives led by Sydney Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon and Melbourne assistant Jason Ryles, two men who have an affinity to the club after playing for the Dragons.

Ryles has an agreement in place to join Eddie Jones on the staff of England rugby union at the end of the year but it is hard to envisage the former frontrower turning his back on an NRL head coaching job should one arise.

Outside Ryles and Fitzgibbon, the likes of Anthony Griffin, Trent Barrett, Todd Payten, Nathan Brown and potentially Brad Fittler loom as candidates for any vacant positions that become available.

There could be one at Canterbury soon as well, Bulldogs coach Dean Pay under mounting pressure as his side prepares to face the Dragons on Monday at Bankwest Stadium.

Pay is off contract at the end of the season and the odds are lengthening that he will be granted an extension given the way Canterbury have started the season.

Payten was in the reckoning when Des Hasler left the Bulldogs two years ago while Barrett was linked with the job last year.

Both McGregor and Pay have made changes to their halves this weekend in a bid to ignite their respective teams.

The Dragons have handed a first grade debut to Adam Clune while the Bulldogs welcome back Kieran Foran as he makes his latest comeback from injury.