McGregor came into the season under a mountain of pressure following a 15^th placed finish in 2019, the worst in the joint-venture's history.

It saw the Dragons go without finals action for the third time in five seasons, with the coach reportedly needing a strong start to 2020 to keep his job.

His side went 0-2 prior to the COVID-19 enforced hiatus and returned to action in a disappointing 18-0 defeat to the Warriors on Sunday.

It's again turned up the heat on the 52-year-old, but Fittler called on the Dragon to standby the call to sign his former Blues teammate to a two-year extension in April last year.

"It's a good time to set an example," Fittler told Channel Nine.

"You said you believed in Mary for two years - stick with Mary for two years. Seriously.

"You've got to start giving the coach a bit of power.

"When the coach is under duress like he is now, the players won't react, because they'll just see, 'Righto, let the coach take all the pressure, he's going to get hammered, he'll lose his job and then when the new one comes in, we'll start trying'."

"The moment you take any power away from the coach, that's it. Players are gone."

Wayne Bennett - who coached the joint-venture to its only premiership in 2010 - has been linked to a return to Wollongong, while assistant coach Shane Flanagan been tipped to be a long-term successor.

The Sharks premiership-winner remains barred from any head-coaching role until the end of 2022, the final year of McGregor's deal.

Saturday's loss and 0-3 start to a shortened season will only add fuel to the fire, with McGregor again fielding questions over bis future in the aftermath.

"It's been raised consistently. I'm three games into a two-year contract," McGregor said.

"I've got good staff, I've made a lot of changes, I've got good people around me. I've got a football team I believe in. We've just got to go out and play well."