Dragons looking to fill key positions in 2017

Marshall, who knocked back a $300,000 offer from the club earlier this season, has battled a niggling hamstring injury and uncertainty surrounding his future in a forgettable 2016, as well as shouldering much of the blame from fans for the club’s faltering attack.

With the Dragons out of finals contention, McGregor confirmed he will grant Marshall a swansong match in round 26, which may well be his last in NRL, despite dropping him in favour of young-gun Drew Hutchison for Monday’s clash with Parramatta.

“It’s always difficult when you talk to players about their future,” McGregor said.

“Last year he was second in the Dally M and we worked really well and things went great. Unfortunately he’s had a history with injury this year and hasn’t been able to play to his full potential because of that. 

“It comes to the stage where the club makes a decision and as head coach you stand by that and Benji won’t be here next year. 

“It’s not his fault by any means that we’re not in finals contention and I certainly wanted to give him a game to finish the season off with the players he likes to play with. 

“He’s done wonderful things over a great career and I hope it’s not finished.”

Marshall’s departure will leave the Dragons No.7 jumper vacant next season but McGregor said Hutchison’s selection is in not an audition for the role next year.

The 21-year-old has been instrumental in the Illawarra Cutters top two charge this season and, with the Intrust Super Premiership finals series to kickoff next week, his appearance against the Eels will almost certainly be a one-off. 

“This is just an opportunity for Drew to have another taste of first grade and go out there and play without too much added pressure around a result,” McGregor said.

“He’s been working really hard over the back half of the year to get an opportunity so it was a good time to give Drew another taste of it. 

“He hasn’t played too much footy in the NRL, he played a couple of games last year, so this is just to keep the fire burning and let him know what the NRL is all about.

“It's just a reward for the hard work he's put in over the past eight weeks." 

This week also saw the end of long-running contract negotiations with Rein with both parties unable to agree on financial terms for a new deal. 

McGregor confirmed that it was the club who pulled their offer but said Rein’s supposed contract demands have been greatly exaggerated in the media.

“It’s unfair and incorrect some of the money that’s been talked about that Mitch wanted, over the 600k mark, and that’s certainly not the circumstance,” McGregor said.

“It’s a decision by the club that we’re moving in another direction and a change for coach and player is what’s needed in that position. Mitch has been a very good player for a very long time and I wish him all the very best.”

The Dragons have chased the signatures of Luke Keary, Lachlan Coote and Corey Norman without success this season, and will now be looking to fill two key positions in 2017. The’ve been linked to Rabbitohs hooker Cameron McInnes but McGregor said the club was yet to sign replacements for Marshall or Rein.

“There’s positions to be filled certainly but at the moment there’s no one that I know of that the club has signed,” McGregor said.