The Dragons were a rabble in 2023 and only the fact that the Tigers were an even bigger basket case saved the Red V from taking the wooden spoon.
The club is in need of a total overhaul for next season but in typical Dragons fashion, it hasn’t happened.
The club has signed only two players for 2024 – incoming coach Shane Flanagan’s son Kyle, and forward Hame Sele.
Club officials seem oblivious to the fact that the Dragons need a cleanout to have any hope of climbing the ladder in coming years.
Flanagan has plenty of problems to fix before a ball is kicked – the Dragons had the least kick return metres in the NRL last season, failed to kick a single field goal and have the worst goalkicking percentage in the league, just for starters.
Their attack was poor and predictable – only the Bulldogs and Tigers scored less points – and their defence was also shaky.
On the positive, they managed the most in-goal escapes in 2023 – a testament to the speed and evasive skills of fullback Tyrell Sloan and the sheer power of Fijian flyer Mikaele Ravalawa.
The pressure will again be on the Dragons’ best player, Ben Hunt – and when you consider he doesn’t even want to be there, that says it all about the club.
The club did unearth some talented young players last season and if they can kick on, there could be a chance of a better year.
But when you are relying on young, inexperienced players to win you games on a consistent basis, it’s never a good sign.
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