Restless Dragons fans have been assured both an internal and external review of the club's football operations is being conducted, less than 24 hours after St George Illawarra crashed to wooden spooners Parramatta.
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Only one match away from capping the worst season in the joint venture's history, the Dragons moved to quell supporter unrest in the wake of their sixth straight defeat on Monday night.
Speculation about Steve Price's future intensified after the result, despite the 35-year-old being contracted for 2014 with a one-year option for the following season.
But in a brief statement issued yesterday, the club acknowledged a wide-ranging review of all football operations has begun - including coaching and recruitment.
"The board, management, staff and players are certainly aware of and share the sentiments of disappointment and frustration surrounding the team's performance this season," the statement said.
"The club has received many perspectives and opinions on the season and acknowledge there is certainly a need for objectivity when assessing the season.
"Early last month the Dragons board commissioned an internal and external review of football operations which includes aspects such as coaching, recruitment, development and pathways."
The Dragons board is expected to table the findings in the coming weeks as fans vented their frustration with limp efforts against the struggling Tigers and Eels.
The out-of-sorts St George Illawarra will take an unchanged squad into their final-round clash against the Warriors at WIN Stadium on Saturday, with Price afforded little opportunity to blood new talent given the club's crippling injury toll.
Will Matthews has been added to an extended five-man bench.
Defeat against the Warriors, clinging to hopes of sneaking into the finals from 10th place, will mean only Parramatta will finish below the Red V.
New Zealand international Jason Nightingale conceded the season finishing would be a welcome relief given their horror run.
"I suppose it gets that way when you know you're not a chance [of making the finals] when it's a long way out," Nightingale said.
"It always ebbs and flows just like any competition. Some weeks are harder than others. There's a lot of light at the end of the tunnel and we have to continue to work hard if we're going to salvage any pride at the end of this season.
"We've got a short turnaround and it's better than having a long turnaround until the last game.
"We need to show up with a better attitude than we did [Monday night] otherwise the same result will happen."
