With a new coach Anthony Griffin at the helm, the St. George Illawarra Dragons will be hoping to see significant improvement in 2020.
The Dragons finished in 12th place last season and their off-season revolved around major squad turnover.
Despite entering 2021 with a different coach and playing squad, Scott Sattler believes it will be much of the same in terms of results this year.
Speaking on Sportsday, Sattler thinks marquee signing Jack Bird can recapture his best form in Wollongong.
“The gains include Anthony Griffin a new coach, and Jack Bird has probably been their biggest signing,” Sattler said.
“Many may scoff at that, but he’s a premiership winner and has played for his state, we know what he can provide. If he plays three quarters of the season he’ll have a huge impact on the Dragons.
“Along with Bird, they also gained Andrew McCullough, Poasa Faamausili and Kaide Ellis who are really good pick-ups.”
While Sattler listed some solid additions, he believes the losses to the club's squad outweigh the arrivals.
“Tyson Frizell is the biggest loss, he’s gone to the Newcastle Knights,” he said.
“Euan Aitken’s gone, James Graham's retired, Jacob Host has gone to South Sydney and Jason Saab is a very good winger who he was let go to Manly.
“I think the losses outweigh the gains, absolutely. But, I do like Anthony Griffin as coach, I feel like he’s what they need, to scale it all back, create a black and white game plan and start again.”
Sattler highlighted a set of twins to break out for the Dragons this year in the backline.
“Mathew and Max Feagai are a pair of outside backs who are twins,” he added.
“They’re tremendous players, I think they’ll be really good.”
The former Origin representative thinks the Dragons should view 2021 as a changing of the guard, and without predicting improvement, believes the club will be in better shape as a result.
“I don’t think there will be much of an improvement, but I think they’ll get some longevity out of Griffin,” Sattler added.
“It’ll be the same as last year, I think they’ll finish 12th.”
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