McGregor ‘comfortable’ with NRL pressure

MATT ENCARNACION AND CALLUM GODDE ing them on top of the ladder for almost half the year.

“Nothing surprises me,” the Wests Tigers coach said yesterday.

“You don’t always laugh. But you’ve got to take it for what it is.”

McGregor, who has one more year to go on his deal at the Dragons, was unmoved by suggestions he is on the outer because of their drastic slide down the ladder.

Trent Barrett and Wayne Bennett have already been touted as possible replacements, just weeks after McGregor was considered a contender for coach of the year.

“I’m comfortable,” McGregor told reporters yesterday.

“I’ve been one week out of the top four. It’s taken three years for us to build this team. It’s a team I want to coach, a team I enjoy coaching.

“We’ve got a football team that I think can win this competition.”

After stating his intention to honour the remaining two years of his contract last week, Cleary has been criticised for refusing to answer questions about a possible return to Penrith.

He again declined to discuss the matter yesterday, saying his sole focus was on the Tigers’ chances of making the finals.

That task was made more difficult on Thursday after Brisbane’s win over South Sydney kept them two points ahead of the Tigers in eighth spot.

Wests Tigers play the Dragons at Leichhardt Oval today.