Dragons boss refuses to endorse Paul McGregor for season 2017

ST GEORGE Illawarra boss Peter Doust is refusing to ­publicly endorse Paul McGregor as Dragons coach for 2017, with rumours swirling Ivan Cleary has been approached.

ST GEORGE Illawarra boss Peter Doust is refusing to ­publicly endorse Paul McGregor as Dragons coach for 2017.

As the embattled club wrapped up a miserable season with a lucky win over the Knights yesterday, rumours resurfaced that former Panthers and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary had been sounded out for the role.

On Friday we spoke to Doust to get a clearer picture on the issue.

“He’s (McGregor) under contract for next year but there will be an independent review of our football department in due course,” Doust said.

“I’ve got nothing to say other than that.”

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St George Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor’s future with the club is uncertain.

We suggested those comments were hardly an endorsement of McGregor for next year.

“I’m not being drawn into it any further than that,” Doust said. “We still have two teams playing finals football and we will look at it after that.”

Doust said he had not spoken to Cleary or his manager.

It has been a difficult season for McGregor who had to deal with the embarrassment of being fined $10,000 by the club after being found guilty of drink-driving.

McGregor’s relationship with the players — including playmakers Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall — has also been in question for much of the season because of the team’s inability to score points.

Dragons boss Peter Doust has refused to endorse Paul McGregor for the 2017 season.

Their for-and-against record is the second-worst in the premiership, better than only wooden spooners the Newcastle Knights.

The only thing working in McGregor’s favour is that the club is under serious financial pressure.

Having to pay him out then hire a new coach would put further strain on the balance sheet.

Still, the Dragons management is under huge pressure from members and fans to act on the disastrous season — with falling crowd figures and poor membership numbers end results.

They also need to find ­replacements for Marshall and Mitch Rein, with potential recruits holding off until the St George Illawarra coaching position has been finalised.

CROWE STEPS IN

RUSSELL Crowe rarely weighs into player recruitment at South Sydney yet he is so desperate to get Robbie Farah on board next year that he personally phoned the Blues State of Origin hooker. Farah is set to sign with the Rabbitohs in the next 48 hours. The only sticking point is Wests Tigers wanting a confidentiality clause in his release, which Farah is baulking at.

Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe watches on at a South Sydney match.

MAD MONDAY BEHAVIOUR EDICT

NRL integrity unit boss Nick Weeks has warned clubs of their responsibilities over Mad Monday behaviour in an email sent to the 16 CEO’s. “Can you ensure that players and staff understand the importance of adhering to high standards of personal behaviour,” Weeks wrote. “Please also take steps to ensure your club has put in place measures to reduce the risk of unacceptable behaviour occurring at these events.”

RIO RUNS SECOND

NO wonder the NRL managed to pick up $2 billion from the TV broadcasting deal last year. Even during the Rio Olympics, Channel 9’s rugby league games beat Channel 7’s Olympic coverage in Sydney and Brisbane on Thursday and Friday nights. Even more viewers watched the rugby league on Fox Sports. All up, NRL television ratings are up an incredible 17 per cent this year.

Originally published as Dragons boss refuses to endorse Paul McGregor for season 2017