Dragons closer to keeping coach
Matulino for the first time this season, with a final call to be made on his mended knee closer to kick-off.
Following a slow start to the season, the Warriors forwards have shown signs of improvements in recent weeks but there is no doubting the impact a fully fit Matulino would have on the pack.
‘‘Benny’s been chomping at the bit to get out there for a while,’’ Hoffman said.
‘‘I think our forward pack has been heading in the right direction in the last couple of weeks and doing some really good things so to be able to have a boost like Benny in the team is going to be a real benefit for us.’’ DRAGONS directors have taken the first steps to discussing details of a contract extension for Paul McGregor after St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust trumpeted his future as a longterm NRL coach on the back of the Red V’s stunning revival.
On the day they locked up indemand skipper Gareth Widdop for a further four years, Doust yesterday launched a passionate defence of the club’s decision to relieve McGregor of day-to-day recruiting responsibility to model their business on AFL and American sporting organisations.
It has freed up McGregor to mould the Dragons into surprise table toppers leading into the Anzac Day showdown with the Roosters.
The Dragons refuse to put a timeframe on which to announce their coach for next year, but Doust told Fairfax Media ‘‘common sense would say we’re starting to contemplate’’ an extension for McGregor.
ere’s no doubt in my nd that everyone’s mmitted.’ ROWER RYAN HOFFMAN The decision is for the board and they’ll make that when they think it is appropriate.’ DRAGONS BOSS PETER DOUST
‘‘We’re all very happy with the way 2017 has been going, but we haven’t got a timeframe on which we have to apply a decision on this circumstance,’’ Doust said. ‘‘It doesn’t have to be done by the end of April or the end of May.
‘‘I don’t know that anybody should think we haven’t had a commitment to Paul and don’t think he has a long-term future as an NRL coach. We’ve stood by him in that sense as well.
‘‘The decision is for the board and they’ll make that when they think it is appropriate.’’
Victory over the Roosters and Melbourne in the next fortnight before the representative round will all but seal McGregor’s future, which appeared increasingly bleak last year.
Doust denied the Dragons had erred in separating McGregor’s responsibility from that of recruitment chief Ian Millward, who will turn his attention to tying down Josh Dugan despite claiming he is viewed as a longterm centre.
It has been in contrast to McGregor openly stressing Dugan is the best No 1 in the club now.
Doust said Dugan was ‘‘a marquee player and a priority’’ for the Dragons despite the seeming gulf between the club’s valuation and his management’s asking price. The Sun-Herald