THE Dragons will be looking for a new halfback and hooker next season but coach Paul McGregor believes replacing departing forwards Ben Creagh and Mike Cooper will be just as important.
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Hard-nosed English International Cooper has been one of the club’s most consistent performers since arriving in late 2013 but will leave at season’t end with a year to run on his contract for personal reasons.
Creagh last week announced his retirement after 270 NRL games leaving McGregor with just as big a void to fill up front with the club’s forward depth tested this season by injury and suspension at various stages.
The Dragons have added Tariq Sims whose mid-season arrival to make an early start on a three-year-deal has been a bonus while giant prop Mose Masoe is still to debut for his new club after tearing his ACL late in the preseason. McGregor believes both players will go a long to filling the hole left by Creagh and Cooper.
“Mike Cooper’s been outstanding for the club over the years he’s been here,” MCGregor said.
“He came here to prove himself as an NRL player and is leaving as an International. We’ll have to replace him up front, getting Tariq [Sims] this year helped that to some degree.
“We also haven’t had the services of Ben this year since round three against Souths. He’s been a huge loss because of his leadership values on the footy field, before the game and post-game.
“Obviously Mose Masoe hasn’t played any footy this year so he’ll be an addition going forward as was Tariq halfway through this year.”