An 18-12 loss to the Sharks in Round 22 put an end to any hopes the Dragons had of sneaking into the Top 8.

They're playing for pride in their last three games.

They might also be playing for their coach's future.

Paul McGregor must be on thin ice at the Dragons. If Red V fans had their way, he would have been sent packing months ago.

It's been a tough season for the Dragons, but Jack de Belin's absence doesn't begin to justify their current 14th spot on the ladder. It won't help McGregor explain the Dragons missing the finals for the third time in his five seasons in charge.

Injuries and selection decisions put a lid on the Dragons attack and opened up their defence for the opposition to stroll through. With little change on the horizon, it may be some time before the Red V is relevant in September again.

2019 Attack

The Dragons spine hasn't had a chance to gel in 2019.

In Cameron McInnes, Gareth Widdop, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman, McGregor has an attractive spine that wouldn't look out of place in a team sitting inside the top four on the ladder. However, his desperation to crowbar Matt Dufty into the 17 put a handbrake on the Dragons attack to start the season.

Widdop's injury made the decision for McGregor and allowed him to play Dufty every week. But, as many anticipated, his inclusion didn't spark an improvement in the Dragons attack.

The turnover in outside backs didn't help either.

Jordan Pereira, Mikaele Ravalawa, Zac Lomax, Jonas Person and Jason Saab have all had turns on the wing. Lomax has also spent time in the centres along with Euan Aitken, Tim Lafai and Lachlan Maranta.

There hasn't been any consistency to the playmakers, or the players they're trying to create opportunities for. As a result, the Dragons rank 12th in attack scoring 18 points per game.

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2019 Defence

Those same cohesion issues have had an impact on the Dragons defence too.

Their right side defence has conceded more tries than any other in 2019. With Tyson Frizell, Jacob Host, Luciano Leilua and Patrick Kaufusi all spending time on the edge, it's not been a surprise to see 37 tries be run through that side of the field.

Ben Hunt isn't the best defender in the competition. He loves to fly out of the line and get in the face of the man in front of him. That's all well and good, but the backrower beside him needs to be able to read and react to it. With so many different faces popping up beside Hunt throughout the year, the Dragons haven't been able to close up their right edge, and it's resulted in a 15th ranked defence conceding 23 points per game.

Required Tweaks & Adjustments

The Dragons have enough to compete.

Even this year with the dramas and injuries, to be rubbed out of the finals a month before the end is a spectacular underachievement. Their spine is more than capable while the pack is laden with State of Origin and international talent.

One area Paul McGregor will need to circle in 2020 is yardage. In particular, from his outside backs. 

Wingers don't just score tries anymore. The elite teams have metre-eaters on the flanks. It's an area the Dragons have lacked, and it's forced the forwards into taking more of the tough carries that they should need to in 2019.

Rugby league is a yardage game, and so long as the Dragons rank 14th in running metres per game, they'll continue to struggle in attack. Their spine can develop all the cohesion they want once it's ironed out in 2020. It will be all for nothing without a significant improvement in perhaps the most important area of the game. 

Outlook for 2020

There isn't a lot for the Dragons faithful to get excited about in 2020.

Much of the same team returns, but without Widdop. Meanwhile, the same coach - who seems to make the same mistakes every year - returns for another crack.

The list the Dragons have should sit higher than 14th on the ladder and a bit of luck in the injury department should achieve that next season. Cohesion continues to be an underrated part of the game and the Dragons are prime example of why it is so important. The Raiders and Sea Eagles offer an example of what it's like at the other end of the cohesion spectrum. 

However, until the Dragons can produce more through the middle to start their sets and give a spine full of potential a platform to build on, they'll struggle to score points.

If we're making a way too early Top 8 prediction for next season, the Dragons don't feature. Plenty were optimistic for the Titans and their chances of the Top 8 back in February. Others asked Garth Brennan, “what have you done for me lately?”. The same will be asked of McGregor in 2020. At the moment, the answer is unlikely to mention a spot in the Top 8.

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