Possession key as Dragons still can't shake fade-outs

Sorry Dragons fans, you knew what this one was going to be. So what actually went wrong for the Dragons? Blaming State of Origin would be an easy excuse, particular with high work-rate forwards like Jack De Belin and Tyson Frizell getting heavily sapped over that period.But the club had non-Origin players whose form also dropped off. Whether that is a flow-on effect from reduced go-forward from the rep players is up for debate. What do the stats say?Virtually all the relevant statistical categories dropped away in rounds 17-25
compared to 1-16. Obviously, points scored and conceded is the end result but it looks like it all came from the back of one fundamental – failure to control possession.For 16 rounds the Dragons commanded an imposing 53.7% of possession on average according to NRL.com Stats; some weeks it was up close to 60%. They just weren't giving opponents a chance to get into the game.In that period they ran 1600m per week and made just 300 tackles.Over the final nine games that completely flipped on its head. In that period they held just 46.4% of the ball – almost a direct reversal. Suddenly, what they were doing to other teams was being done to them.

Dragons Back-end woes

Sorry Dragons fans, you knew what this one was going to be. The Red V started the 2018 Telstra Premiership like a runaway freight train, winning their first six games on the bounce and seven of their first nine to sit pretty in top or equal spot every round from one until round 17.But Paul McGregor's men won just three of their last nine to slip to seventh and despite a
commanding win in week one of the finals they had left themselves too big a task and were eliminated the next weekend.It's a familiar story for the Dragons faithful, one that has not only been a hallmark of McGregor's tenure but pre-dates it, with the club finishing every season since their 2010 premiership anywhere from slightly to dramatically lower on the ladder than their mid-season peak.

Dragons great's brutal Jarryd Hayne declaration

St George Illawarra don't need Jarryd Hayne to push for next year's NRL title, according to former Dragons centre Matt Cooper. The Dragons have been linked with making a play at Hayne this week, who remains unsigned by Parramatta as negotiations continue over his stay. The Dragons wouldn't publicly comment on speculation when contacted earlier this week, but it remains questionable whether they would have the room within their salary cap to offer a sizeable deal for the two-time Dally M Medallist.

Cooper played with Hayne as a youngster at State of Origin level, and while he was unsure if the reports were accurate he didn't believe there was a need for Hayne in the Dragons' roster next year. "If we were to sign him I don't know where he would play," Cooper told reporters at the Dragons' announcement of an NRL game at Mudgee. "We do have a great side at the moment. As much as he is a great player it would be hard to fit him into the side if we have a healthy side."If he signs here that would be great, he's a great player and leader. But in saying that I think we've got the side that can win the comp next year."

Dragons lose Macdonald, but sign-up three wingers

SPECULATION surrounding the playing future of Nene Macdonald is over with the star winger released by St George Illawarra from the final year of his contract to take up a more lucrative one with North Queensland. Macdonald, who was born in Port Moresby and raised in Cairns, approached the Dragons about a release on compassionate grounds to be closer to his family. The PNG international will be at the Cowboys until at least the end of 2021.

Macdonald was a standout performer for the Red V in 2018, scoring 10 tries in 23 games. “Nene has been an important player over the last two seasons at our club, and although he has one year left on his contract, his management and himself approached the club on compassionate reasons for a release,” Dragons recruitment boss Ian Millward said. “We thought it was in the best interests welfare-wise for Nene to grant him the release, so unfortunately he won’t be with us in 2019.”