REGARDLESS of the Dragons result against the Melbourne Storm Monday night at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, the new man in the den, Paul McGregor, is shaping the team in his own image.
McGregor took 0ver from head coach Steve Price after the Eels won 36-0 over the Dragons at Parramatta Stadium on May 17.
The performance was listless and some players "didn't aim up".
Coach Steve Price left the ground a shattered man and lost his job on May 24 when summoned to a meeting with chief executive Peter Doust at St George Leagues Club.
Paul McGregor, his friend, assistant coach and on the NSW State of Origin coaching staff, was elevated to the job for the rest of this season.
It remains to be seen if McGregor will get the role again next year or even for further seasons.
That will be determined, obviously by results, the vibe around the club, and if he puts his hand up.
McGregor has made subtle changes to the Dragons attack and several positional changes which has given the team a new spark.
Josh Dugan shifted from fullback to centre. Adam Quinlan promoted to fullback. Craig Garvey and Shane Pumipi used as interchange hookers, supporting starting No. 9 Mitch Rein.
Dugan wasn't so much suited to the structured attack where the fullback sweeps behind his ball players, runs into space and then passes to supports.
He is better at playing as a hard-running centre breaking tackles or running straight into the defensive hole and playing instinctively.
Comeback man Benji Marshall has been a mixture of good and indifferent at No. 7.
McGregor realised that adopting the entrenched Steve Price game plan would have been a waste of time.
McGregor has adjusted the attack, using both centres together on the wider side of the field and using backrowers on the edges running into space off Marshall and Gareth Widdop.
Secondrower Leeson Ah Mau has relished this, making breaks and looking free in attack.
Fans, who are expecting Marshall to be like he was three, four, five years ago with scintillating speed and dazzing footwork, will be disappointed.
Those days are past him and only the highlight reels will remind you of this.
The 2014 version of Marshall is different. The brain is still sharp but the leg speed and Fred Astaire-type footwork of yesteryear a thing of the past.
English prop Mike Cooper, has improved with every game and the more minutes he plays, the better he goes.
BIG NIGHT
The Dragons are planning a special celebration to honour the late Reg Gasnier this Saturday at WIN Jubilee Oval. The club remains tight-lipped but has worked closely with the Gasnier family to ensure a special night for all fans to remember Gasnier — ‘‘prince of centres’’ and ‘‘Puff the Magic Dragon’’.
NEW RECRUIT
Dragons have Hurstville United junior Rory O’Brien. The 25-year-old prop, who began training with the fulltime squad yesterday, has signed until the end of 2016.
HOLDEN CUP
Dragons play North Queensland Cowboys at 1.10pm this Saturday at WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.
Bill Gasnier, 99, father of Reg Gasnier, died in a Port Macquarie hospital on Friday.
TRIVIA
How many tries did Nathan Blacklock score for the St George Illawarra club? Answer next week.