EXCLUSIVE: 'Real concerns' put Dragons behind battling Tigers in NRL's most dismal stakes, writes Paul Gallen
NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine's 100% FOOTY every Monday night of the NRL season, debating rugby league's hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune in tonight at 10.25pm (AEST) following a bumper round 20!
There are a few clubs starting behind the eight ball for next NRL season, with plenty of work to do to make ground on the rest of the competition.
Canterbury, Wests Tigers, and St George Illawarra are obviously the three struggling sides of the league at the moment, and it will be interesting to see how they change or improve in 2024.
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The Dragons are the ones who concern me the most, and I have a feeling they could get overtaken by the Bulldogs and Tigers next year.
Canterbury's roster doesn't impress me at the moment but the Dogs bring in some good players next season.
The Tigers actually have the best roster of the three, but just lack some quality halves. Their forward pack is stacked with internationals, and they have some exciting and talented young backs.
Ben Hunt of the Dragons may be leaving the club. Getty
With Luke Brooks heading to Manly in the off-season, hopefully the Tigers can recruit a decent playmaker and I think that could really improve them next season.
There's rumours Aidan Sezer may join the club, and his experience could do wonders for those young players around him.
But when I look at the Dragons list I see some real concerns.
If Ben Hunt does leave before next season I'm not sure what Shane Flanagan does with his halves.
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Junior Amone played one of his best games against the Raiders before the bye, but they still lost the game. He clearly has some talent and could have a future as a good No.6, but I'm not convinced their current spine has enough quality to lift the side next year if Hunt leaves.
Jack de Belin is a good forward but he's at the back end of his career now, and Zac Lomax is obviously quality, too. But when I look at the rest of the roster it doesn't exactly excite me.
Jack de Belin and Zac Lomax of the Dragons. Getty
Unless Flanno can pull a rabbit out of his hat and sign some players in the next couple of months, I think the Dragons will struggle again in 2024.
The good news is St George Illawarra has the right man in place to turn things around, even if it takes a year or two.
He did it at Cronulla, taking the Sharks from wooden spooners in 2014 to a premiership in 2016.
Speaking from my experience playing under him, Flanno is an old school, no-nonsense type of coach who knows how to turn a side into title contenders.
Unfortunately it will be hard for him to make sweeping roster changes this year, given he's still working at Manly and there's only a few weeks left in the season.
He will most likely have to cop the current roster until 2025 when he can do a bit of an audit and make changes. If he can get the roster he wants for 2025 you'll see vast improvement in the Red V.
Dragons fans may have to endure some more short-term pain, but stick it out and I can guarantee there's happier times not too far away.
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