Record: 10 wins, 14 losses
Ladder Position: 11th
Player of the Year:ย Tyson Frizell
SEASON SUMMARY
Another disappointing season for the Dragons saw them finish eleventh.
Just twice during the regular season were Paul McGregor’s men in the top eight and after five straight losses the vultures were circling calling for his head. ย However he’s survived and 2017 will be make or break for the club legend.
TALKING POINTS
Where are the points?
There’s no doubt the Dragons pride themselves on defence.
It worked in 2015 where they scraped into eighth spot having scored the second fewest points in the competition. ย This year was no repeat where once again they were second-last behind Newcastle (excluding the Eels who were docked for and against points) as they miserably missed out on the eight.
You can only scratch your head when you look at the side and all the talent English International Gareth Widdop and former Kiwi half Benji Marshall bringย to the side. ย Euan Aitken recently became a Scottish International and Jason Nightingale is a Kiwi winger.
Dragons fans can only hope that either Drew Hutchinson or Shaun Nona inject much-needed flare into the side. ย Nona was outstanding on Grand Final day as the Illawarra Cutters disposed of Queensland champs Burleigh Bears.
Tyson Frizell
A huge year for Tyson Frizell was capped off with representing the Kangaroos in the Perth test and on the Four Nations tour.
One of his most outstanding performances of the season came against the Raiders in which the Red V won 16-12. ย The effort not going unnoticed by State selectors on his way to an Origin debut with New South Wales forย game two of the series.
Frizell was also named the Dragons best for 2016.
Euan Aitken
Euan Aitken is fast becoming one of the rising stars of the game after a brilliant second season in the NRL.
His intercept try against the Roosters at Jubilee Oval in golden point also showed that he is developing into a match winner too.
If only he and the outside backs can get some more ball…
Aitken will only become a better player for his experience in the Four Nations where he represented Scotland where he infamously scored the try to give the Bravehearts a draw against top ranked New Zealand.
2017 GAINS AND LOSSES
GAINS:ย Josh Kerr (Melbourne Storm), Nene Macdonald (Gold Coast Titans), Cameron McInnes (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Paul Vaughan (Canberra Raiders)
LOSSES:ย Tom Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves), Ben Creagh (retired), Dylan Farrell (retired), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Huddersfield Giants), Dunamis Lui (Canberra Raiders), Benji Marshall (Brisbane Broncos), Peter Mata’utia (Newcastle Knights), Mitch Rein (Penrith Panthers)
