A YEAR ago Ben Creagh was shifted to the front row and looked like he was playing with the world on his shoulders.
After starting this season in the second row, his more accustomed position, the former NSW State of Origin forward was playing solidly.
But under coach Paul McGregor, he has found a new lease of life, with an extra spring in his step, shifting from the second row to prop again.
Creagh’s direct running has set the standard. He has the captaincy and is playing like a leader.
A frank discussion from coach McGregor with all the forwards has turned around the Dragons’ season.
When Steve Price got sacked and McGregor his assistant inherited the role of coach for the rest of this year, the Dragons forwards needed to ‘‘muscle up’’.
The lack of whack in defence and strong running was evident when thrashed 36-0 by Parramatta — coach Steve Price’s last game in charge.
The forwards had lost their grunt. But the last eight weeks, the Dragons’ forwards have ‘‘aimed up.’’ No more accused of being soft. And they can’t afford to be soft when they tackle premiers Sydney Roosters at 7.30pm on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
‘‘The Roosters have had the better of us in the past few games,’’ Creagh said after a training session this week.
Creagh said all the forwards have taken it upon themselves to do the hard work for the team.
‘‘Mike Cooper, Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin, Jack Stockwell, Trent Merrin and the guys in the pack have been good in recent weeks and we will need to be at our best against the Roosters.
‘‘The Roosters are coming off a loss against Newcastle. They have a big pack and plenty of speed out-wide.’’
DRAGONS
Adam Quinlan, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Gerard Beale, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Ben Creagh (c), Mitch Rein, Mike Cooper, Leeson Ah Mau, Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin. Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Trent Merrin, Will Matthews, Jack Stockwell, Shane Pumipi, (one to be omitted).
Has Ben Creagh turned back the clock to the form he showed four or five season ago?
