Paul McGregor says continuity will be the key for St George Illawarra in 2016

PAUL McGregor says continuity will be the key for the Dragons if they’re to make it back to the finals in 2016.

Tim Lafai of the Dragons in the game against the Raiders during the Auckland Nines at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. pic Mark Evans

IT’S not flash, it ain’t pretty, and, according to bookmakers, it’s not worth spending your money on. But St George-Illawarra coach Paul McGregor is banking on some old school continuity to defy the odds and drag the Red V into NRL title contention in 2016.

An impressive 14 of the 17 players who went down fighting in their qualifying final, extra-time loss to Canterbury last year, reported back to McGregor for the summer, giving the Dragons a pre-season cohesion not previously seen in the post-Wayne Bennett era.

Eto Nabuli, Trent Merrin and George Rose were the only players not to return, and are likely to be replaced by smart signings Kurt Mann, Russell Packer and Dunamis Lui in the top 17.

Adding classy Canterbury centre Tim Lafai was a post-Christmas bonus.

“I think it’s huge,” said McGregor of the Dragons’ continuity. “It’s not talked about much and probably a bit underrated but if you can keep your core together, your spine together, then it makes for a hell of an easier pre-season.

“Our edges are the same, so defensively we already know how we all play.

“Rosters get changed, coaches come and go — and sometimes that’s all out of your control. But when you look at our 17, there’s only minimal changes. And that all helps for the season.” Even better, most of his top 25 — excluding key men Benji Marshall, Mitch Rein and Joel Thompson — have the security of knowing they all have jobs with the Dragons next season.

“I don’t think many sides can say they’ve got 21 of their 25 players contracted for 2017,” McGregor says.

Still, the Dragons have been given the flick by bookmakers.

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“It’s totally unexpected to have most experts having us miss the eight, and even down the bottom,” McGregor said.

“But that’s only perception, and I’ve spoken to the guys about that. It’s about what we can actually do.

“I’m quite happy to be the underdog too. I know other teams have bought well, so we’re not expected to be in the eight. But I’m expecting us to play well.”

Originally published as Paul McGregor says continuity will be the key for St George Illawarra in 2016