THE news that the Dragons were extending the contract of Paul McGregor for another two years was never going to please everyone.
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Let's face it, when it comes to the red v faithful nothing ever does. They can match any other fan base for passion, but are notoriously demanding and willing to apply the blowtorch to their own club.
It's a bizarre state of affairs but some seemed hopeful their team would miss the finals last season, knowing McGregor would likely earn an extension if he reached the post-season.
They ultimately did reach the finals, producing an emphatic away win over Brisbane in week one and coming within one Adam Reynolds field goal of featuring in a prelim final.
You would think the club's best result in nearly a decade would leave fans happy with where their club is at. Not so it seems.
Much of the response to the announcement has predictably run along the old pre-merger lines - bemoaned by the Kogarah-based fans and welcomed in the Illawarra.
Game On spent much of Thursday looking at the reaction on social media platforms. There were some common threads running through the criticism.
Why do it so early in the current season?
Fair question, but the fact is the move was largely player-driven. The squad respect their coach and wanted some certainty around his future. It makes sense that they would when you look at the football several have played during McGregor's tenure.
Before McGregor became the head coach, Tyson Frizell and Jack de Belin were playing as under-sized front-rowers under Steve Price. They're both now Origin players (the latter's off-field issues aside).
Paul Vaughan had spent time in reserve grade in his final season with Canberra. He's now an Origin player and among the best props in the game.
Tariq Sims was at a career cross-road but has produced a stunning career renaissance and made a long-awaited Origin debut last season.
Rookies like Jacob Host, Blake Lawrie, Matt Dufty, Luciano Leilua have all been blooded under McGreor (and are locked down long-term).
Speak to any of them and they'll give most of the credit to their coach.
Other critics pointed to McGregor's 50 per cent win ratio. It could be better but it's already better than eight of the other coaches in the NRL.
It's superior to Dean Pay (31%), Nathan Brown (42%), Garth Brennan (31%), Ivan Cleary (47%), Stephen Kearney (35%), Brad Arthur (45%), Ricky Stuart (48%). John Morris is a rookie but for the record he's at 40 per cent.
Des Hasler and Michael Maguire have better win ratios but were both sacked by their former clubs. It's not a knock on those coaches, it's just an illustration of how tough coaching in the NRL is.
There's also the fact that, when it comes to the current coaching ranks, there aren't a lot of experienced mentors waiting in the wings.
If not McGregor than who? Wayne Bennett backed out of a return at the 11th hour to return to Brisbane in 2014. The club's had multiple cracks at Craig Bellamy but he was never going anywhere.
Trent Barrett's still on gardening leave while being paid by Manly. His win ratio is 39 per cent and, let's be honest, the Kogarah clique would be just as filthy if he got the gig.
The likes of Adam O'Brien and Craig Fitzgibbon are first-grade coaches in waiting but employing a rookie coach is always a gamble - a gamble the Dragons don't need to take.
If Mary were to be moved on, his successor would get a rails run at a club with the bulk of its squad - which even skeptics would agree is a premiership capable one - contracted long-term.
It's part of a four-year regeneration that's occurred under McGregor in partnership with recruitment chief Ian Millward. Only four players remain from his first season in charge that began with the club $500,000 over the salary cap and needing to offload players.
Plenty cried foul when the likes of Trent Merrin, Brett Morris and Mitch Rein moved on. Quality players, but none have soared to greater heights elsewhere. Josh Dugan also falls into that category.
The club is in a demonstrably better position now than when McGregor started. The suggestion he doesn't deserve to now take it forward is based on emotion and not an objective look at all factors at play.
To be frank the hysterical reaction has become tiresome. That's another clear thread that emerged on those social media discussion boards. For all the the fans throwing vitriol, there are plenty fed-up with the negativity.
McGregor's built a squad capable of winning a premiership. It remains to be seen if he can get them there, but he's earned the right to have a crack at it.