Doomsday scenario for St George Illawarra but Gould's new role means McGregor is safe

Losing to the Gold Coast - a team with one of the worst defensive records of the past decade and have mustered just 12 points in the past fortnight - would be the most bitter of insults for St George Illawarra.

It would also only serve to ramp up the pressure on coach Paul McGregor and the venom of the fan campaign to oust him, even before the end-of-season review begins.

Tyson Frizell, a fairly quiet and honest interview, has continued to declare McGregor has full support of the players. Fellow NSW representative Tariq Sims has too.

So while beating the Titans offers nothing by way of rectifying a disastrous campaign, surely they have to back up their words with actions and convincingly do so anyway.

Even Newcastle, whose season has spiralled out of control and they have pulled the trigger to remove Nathan Brown, put 38 on the Gold Coast after conceding the first try.

The Titans have let in 627 points heading into the final round, still short of Newcastle's nightmare in 2016, where they let in 800.

But they've still conceded 24 points or more every week for the past 10. It's also Gareth Widdop's final game for the Dragons - a bloke who left Melbourne to step out of the shadow of Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.

Widdop has been the great hope for the Dragons for so long, only to be cruelled by injury at crucial times.

READ MORE: No regrets for Widdop despite sour send-off

Now it's left to halfback Ben Hunt and and captain Cameron McInness to carry the organising, playmaking torch around the rucks next year.

It will be a fascinating case study of how much the Dragons really do want to play for McGregor on Saturday night, given McInnes has been the inspiration in a dismal season and he's now injured.

Bringing former Penrith general manager and NSW coach Phil Gould in adds a different dynamic, in the same way Mal Meninga is shaking up the Gold Coast's plans before new coach Justin Holbrook arrives.

Gould's appointment to oversee a club review - confirmed in a statement released on Friday afternoon - will shore up McGregor's position, at least in the short-term, as they already have a rapport.

Gould was a speaker at the annual Illawarra rugby league luncheon this year, an event themed to honour McGregor's career.

So it's inevitable change is coming for St George Illawarra, but what it will look like?

The Dragons will also have to prepare for the Jack de Belin court case to be a major focus in the days leading up to next season as well.

It's the most meaningless game of the NRL season against the Titans, but for Widdop and McGregor it's vitally important they have something to take out of it.

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