Geelong Advertiser

Pressure builds for McGregor

- PAMELA WHALEY

PAUL McGregor was in a pressure cooker before the game but the heat was cranked up again yesterday after St George Illawarra’s 22-2 loss to lowly Canterbury.

After just two wins from the past 14 games, time is running out for the Dragons’ coach to save his job as they lumber through their worst season start since 2005.

And after the Bulldogs scored their first win of the season yesterday at Bankwest Stadium, the Dragons are now the only team yet to win in 2020.

A team stacked with representa­tive talent, the Dragons could not form a winning combinatio­n despite several changes to the spine that McGregor had hoped would spark improvemen­t.

However, it’s been two consecutiv­e weeks without a try for the Dragons, last scoring against the Panthers in Round 2 back in March.

Corey Norman’s move to fullback did not have the desired result, while it was a tough debut at half-back for Adam Clune who made the team’s only line break.

It sets McGregor up for another week of speculatio­n over his future at the club after six seasons in charge.

While the disappoint­ment intensifie­d for the Dragons, the Bulldogs rallied for Kieran Foran’s 200th NRL game. Foran made his return from a shoulder injury that had threatened to end his season.

Although he was physically spent at times during the game, Foran helped to steer the Bulldogs out of a sloppy opening 10 minutes to a near-perfect completion rate.

A try to Adam Elliott through the middle put the Bulldogs on the board in the first half, while Nick Meaney and Reimis Smith polished off the win with second-half fourpointe­rs.

The Dragons will play Cronulla on Sunday at Campbellto­wn, while the Bulldogs face the high-flying Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium.

 ?? Picture: GETTY IMAGES ?? MILESTONE WIN: Canterbury celebrated Kieran Foran’s 200th game with victory.
Picture: GETTY IMAGES MILESTONE WIN: Canterbury celebrated Kieran Foran’s 200th game with victory.

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