League greats 'surprised' as Dally M Medallist and co-captain Raecene McGregor dropped by Dragons

Brad Fittler has questioned the reason behind the Dragons decision to omit skipper Raecene McGregor as whispers emerge she may have played her last game for the year.

The Dragons' co-captain was a last-minute omission from the team line-up on Saturday as coach Nathan Cross looked in favour of a series of young guns to step into the spine.

Kasey Reh was named as the player to replace McGregor in the halves and will be joined alongside young gun Zali Hopkins, who has typically started at No.9. Nita Maynard-Perrin was shifted into hooker to face the Warriors.

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The late movement by Cross came as a surprise to league greats, given the lack of experience across the Dragons' line-up this season.

However, Nine's Marlee Silva revealed it is likely a move to help benefit the club's future.

"We are hearing some whispers that suggest that Rae McGregor may have potentially played her final game in the NRLW for this season," she told Nine's coverage.

"The Dragons are looking towards their future and giving some of those younger players a little bit more experience.

"It is a very interesting (move) when you consider that Rae is one of the most experienced players in the game, a former Dally M Medallist and golden boot winner."

League great Alanna Ferguson expects Reh will become the dominant playmaker for the Dragons over the coming season, but did not see such a move happening so soon.

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Although the chance to develop the next generation of stars was intriguing to Ferguson.

"It is a big call, but if it means we are looking into their future, I guess we will get to see how that is going to play out," she said.

"Nita Maynard-Perrin coming in (at hooker) adds to their spine. We have seen Zali Hopkins play a lot of footy at No.9, but she actually prefers the halves.

"For me, my initial reaction is that maybe (Cross) is backing Kasey Reh to be that dominant No.7, which she can't necessarily be (with McGregor also on the field).

"They are lucky at the moment that they have these options."

Still, Fittler and Ruan Sims were "surprised" the move had been made.

"It surprised me hearing this and with that reasoning behind it," Sims said.

"They are a very young team... do they need to look that far into the future?" Fittler replied.

"Some of them are straight out of school. They need some experience around them; McGregor has that.

"I know they have done a great job coming through with these girls from Wollongong, but I just don't see the team at the moment, they are very inexperienced, they are young ... I wouldn't see the need to move someone on (like McGregor)."

Sims noted that the choice by Cross could be a troubling hint towards what McGregor's role at the club next season will look like, as she has yet to ink a new deal with the team.

"If they are looking to the future, are they looking to move her on?" she said.