WAYNE Bennett’s return to Wollongong on Thursday brings the 2010 premiership memories flooding back, while heightening fan anxiety about St George Illawarra’s strategic direction.
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It will be a desperate scrap at WIN Stadium, with the Broncos season is in freefall, but Bennett is still revered by the Dragons faithful.
The messiah complex continues.
The Dragons have had problems backing one of their own for more than a decade.
It happened with Nathan Brown for the inability to win the title in 2005 and 2006, again with Steve Price in stepping out of Bennett’s shadow and now with Paul McGregor.
Trent Barrett and Jason Ryles were the two most high-profile players to cop the blowtorch along the way.
Some, within the club’s factions and the fan base, are convinced hiring an outsider to coach is the only way to achieve success again.
It’s why the Dragons pushed so hard to have Bennett return, only to watch him walk away back to Brisbane.
What if Brad Arthur becomes sick of trying to manage the Parramatta circus and wanted another job? What about Geoff Toovey? Surely he’s available?
All of these thought bubbles have been verbalised among officials and those on the hill, who doubt McGregor can turn it around.
McGregor did an excellent job just getting the Dragons to the finals last season.
Yet their lack of potency in attack has cruelled their finals hopes this year.
But it is the decision-making paralysis at the club which is hurting the Dragons the most.
So what do the Dragons stand for?
Geographically, they’ve taken games away from their heartland to major stadium for financial gain, enforced by the NRL which props them up.
It will be fascinating to see the crowd figures of the Dragons-Broncos game at WIN Stadium on Thursday and Wednesday week’s FFA Cup clash between the Wolves and Sydney FC.
Strategically, there’s been a holding pattern on major signings, as key targets like Luke Keary and Lachlan Coote slip through their fingers and Benji Marshall and Mitch Rein are yet to re-sign with the club.
To be fair, Tariq Sims was a significant mid-season signing and Tyson Frizell is now a truly elite forward.
In terms of performance, the Dragons defensive platform has been crumbling as the season progressed.
The fan fury is as much about where the club is headed as the painful statistic they can only manage two tries per game. In 2009, Price coached the under 20 team which won 19 games and finished second on the ladder, but crashed out in the preliminary final to Wests.
Of the squad, only Jake Marketo remains at the Dragons. Trent Merrin, Kane Linnett, Dean Whare and Cameron King have all moved on. You can’t keep them all, but Brett and Josh Morris and Jack Bird head the lengthy list of talent who have left Wollongong.
The flow-on effect of Bennett’s blueprint for short-term success brought about more salary cap pain than the Dragons could possibly have imagined. But it’s now five years since he left.
Perhaps WIN Television media mogul Bruce Gordon’s impending 50 per cent stake in the club is the solution to turn it all around.
Supporters can only hope Gordon will have the Bennett effect off the field – and this time it lasts.
