McGregor's conference call ahead of season resumption

A reset season with a conference model was one possibility tossed up by NRL HQ as it looked at options in resuming the competition, but a shortened 15 -round season in which all sides meet once appears the likely outcome.

It's a scenario likely to win the endorsement of coaches but McGregor said he was intrigued by what a conference system would look like.

"When having the two conferences was first spoken about I thought it was a smart initiative to try something different in these different times," McGregor said.

"Whatever happens this year there's going to be some sort of asterisk next to it. I think there was an opportunity to be innovative in having a two conference system and seeing how that would go and how it would work.

"It could've been exciting and something that could've been looked at for the future but if that were to take place you would have had to started the competition afresh. I think it's pretty much been put to bed now

"If the competition becomes everyone playing each other once, which we think it will, then certainly the teams need to retain their points. For the fairness of the competition there's no way around that."

It would also mean there's no way around his own side's 0-2 start that, in a shortened season, will make the finals climb that bit steeper.

There'll certainly be less margin for error whenever the season does resume but McGregor says there's more than enough time, even in an abbreviated campaign, to right the ship.

"You can't dwell on it and think 'oh this mountain's to steep' because it's not," he said.

"If you look at our first two games, we should've won them both but we didn't so we'll be starting the shortened season 0-2. We don't forget about those two games, we've got to learn from them, but we've got to concern ourselves with what we can do next.

"In rugby league, most sides will lose a couple of games in a row at some point. In 2015 we lost our first two but we were leading the comp by the end of round 12.

"We'll be mindful of where we are but the focus has got to be on what we do next. The most important thing is our next game, not our last two that have been played eight or more weeks prior.

"Certainly when we come back together what we need is really healthy, mentally fit men because the dynamic of the season is going to be very different.

"Once we get some clarity around that we'll have a better idea of what's next but that's where our focus has got to be, not what was."

Amid the COVID-19 chaos, the club's 0-2 start was compounded by confirmation star forward Tyson Frizell will depart the club to take up a lucrative deal with Newcastle.

READ MORE: Frizell departure a disaster for Dragons

The deal is yet to be registered with the NRL, which has put a freeze on all player contracts, but McGregor admits there was a degree of hurt when personally informed by Frizell.

"I spoke to Frizz before it became public, that conversation will always stay private between him and I, but I'm disappointed as a coach and for the club," McGregor said.

"I've got a really good relationship with Tyson. Since started I've seen Tyson go from being a guy who was a regular first-grader to become the most decorated player in our club.

"He feels its in his best interests to stimulate himself and go to another club and I wish him all the best. There's no hard feelings there, it's just the way professional sport is.

"To lose someone like that is hurtful but I respect Tyson for what he's done for the club and I'll always wish him all the best for his career because he's a very good person. He's a great man."