PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Dragons players look dejected after a Panthers try during the round 18 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Panthers Stadium on July 19, 2019 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Former Dragons great Jamie Soward has called for the club's impending review to include all players and staff.

It comes after St George Illawarra's disappointing 40-18 loss to Penrith last Friday as the six-win Dragons slip to 14th on the ladder.

The Dragons board will meet on Tuesday to commence the review.

And while the Dragons chief executive Brian Johnston said coach Paul McGregor's future would not come under threat, Soward believes all facets of the club should be looked at.

“The Dragons are a mess. It hurts me to say this ... they’re just in a shambles,” Soward told Macquarie Sports Radio.

“The internal review needs to go through the whole club from top to bottom regardless of your position.”

It has been a tough season for the Red V, with Jack De Belin getting stood down under the league's new ‘no-fault’ policy and captain Gareth Widdop missing the majority of their campaign with a shoulder issue.

But Soward believes there should be no excuses for the club to be so down from last year's finals appearance.

“The Dragons have got a roster at the moment that should be a top four team — a top five team at worst — and they haven’t been able to put the results on,” Soward said.

“The thing for Dragons fans is, they haven’t got any big recruits coming next year, this is their team next year.

“There’s been some guys there that have been re-signed, held on to and put in the team that haven’t improved. That’s why they’re currently 14th.

“They’re in real danger of the Titans just jagging one or two games after some stars get rested going in and the Dragons not going well and they’re in a fight for the spoon.”

4 COMMENTS

  1. Good to see Soward call it as it is. All the other journo’s make excuse after excuse and protect the muppet. Forget DeBelin and Widdop excuses, concentrate on why we were 4-2 after 6 rounds and now we’re 6-11????

    I’m sure there are plenty of clubs who would love 5 current origin players and a few decent internationals in their 17 each week.

    Maybe Mr Paul Crawley from the telecrap and NRL on Fox is telling his colleagues to go easy seeing as though HIS BROTHER is an assistant to Mary….. Guess if the heat is on then he’s out of a job too!!

    When they lose Friday night to Souths ( besides Woody crying all weekend ) that will be 2 wins in half a season and the worst points against in the Comp. Please spare me this Mary is a good bloke, works hard 💩💩💩. Time for change you fools

  2. This rubbish didn’t happen when Nathan Brown and Wayne Bennett were coaching the team. It all started when Steve Price took over and Mary has only been marginally better. The players are now blaming themselves, but the fact remains that Mary can’t motivate his team and I don’t know how things can be turned around by next season. Most other clubs would consider outside help but at the moment the Dragons wouldn’t even accept any help from the Pope!

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