There's not much more he can do in terms of performing on the field
- Mark Coyne on Paul McGregor
IF THERE is any movement within St George Illawarra’s corridors of power to offer Paul McGregor a contract extension, the coach himself is yet to know about it.
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In the past two weeks, the club has had Mark Coyne, heading the ‘football performance committee’ installed in the off-season to help turn the team around, urge the club to get on with it.
Then last weekend chief executive Peter Doust told Fairfax colleague Adam Pengilly “common sense would say we're starting to contemplate” an extension on McGregor’s contract.
It was raised in this column last week to “back him or sack him”, or otherwise risk destabilising a campaign which could take the Dragons to the top four.
Even in defeat on Anzac Day, the Dragons if anything enhanced their standing in the NRL, particularly given the way the players handled covering Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop.
"The team is obviously going outstanding this year and there's not much more he can do in terms of performing on the field,” Coyne said.
“It's a call for the club on what is the right timing around re-signing; there are lots of things you need to factor in like where the players are sitting at, all those sorts of things.”
And yet, after asking McGregor about his future during a press call at WIN Stadium on Thursday, the man himself seemed unsure what might happen next.
His reply to the situation was a firm commitment to the playing group this season and how they’ve bought into the plan, after last year’s disappointment. The Mercury understands not everyone in the Dragons heirarchy is convinced about giving McGregor a long-term deal.
It’s a tricky three weeks ahead for the Dragons, with Sunday’s date with Melbourne coming before the representative weekend bye, then another free weekend after playing the Sharks and Warriors.
Dugan, Euan Aitken, Tim Lafai, Jason Nightingale, Russell Packer, Cameron McInness, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson and Jack de Belin are all in representative consideration in one form or another.
Dugan, Vaughan and Frizell, with an outside chance of de Belin, should be wearing Blues jumpers next month. With his own future uncertain, Dugan looks on a mission now to prove his worth to the Dragons and any other club.
He certainly reminded everyone that he loves the big occasion, the way he nailed the levelling conversion in the second half against the Roosters, even though he offered the kick to Tim Lafai beforehand. But perhaps it is Kurt Mann who now has the most at stake for the Dragons.
Back in December, after Drew Hutchison was cruelly felled by a season-ending ACL knee injury, this column raised the prospect of Mann moving into the halves to partner Gareth Widdop.
Now with Widdop injured, Mann has first shot alongside Josh McCrone, leading the Dragons into the tricky State of Origin period.
Mann has proven himself of NRL standard in the centres and on the wing.
He will return there soon enough, but can prove his value and versatility to the Dragons, starting against his former team the Storm at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
It’s hard to argue against Mann’s selection ahead of Jai Field or Shaun Nona, given the NRL experience he has.
The next three games will not define the Dragons season, but it will have a big say in their top four hopes.
Especially if they can overpower Melbourne and reclaim top spot on Sunday.