Can the Dragons move out of the bottom two under new coach Shane Flanagan in 2024?
With some notable players departing the Red V at the end of the 2023 regular season, the Dragons are lacking depth in the spine and could be in for more misery next season.
Combine that with the well-documented unhappiness of star Ben Hunt, Flanagan has his work cut out for him to return the Dragons to the NRL’s top eight.
Despite this, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Adrian Proszenko remains optimistic that the joint venture can make significant progress in 2024 with a handful of new signings.
“They finished 16th (in 2023) and I think the only way for that team is up,” Proszenko told SEN 1170 NRL Crunchtime.
“They’ve actually got some decent players… I think they will move up the ladder, it may take a little while, but it will happen.”
With Hunt’s future at the Dragons still up in the air, plenty of questions have risen over his potential status as the club’s captain if he was to stay on board for next season.
SEN’s Scott Sattler believes the off-field drama shouldn’t come into play with Hunt’s leadership role but called on the star halfback to lift the performance of his teammates.
“If he’s a very popular player amongst that playing group, then yes he can remain as the captain,” Sattler added.
“I really buy into what our colleague, Joel Caine says, his philosophy and mindset is the players that are getting a million dollars, they’ve also got to be able to make the players around them better.
“The question is, does Ben Hunt make those around him better or is he just a really good individual player? Which I think he is, (but) captains have to make those around him better.
The Dragons have continued to make moves in the offseason, signing Flanagan’s son, Kyle, whilst reportedly allowing Junior Amone to negotiate with rival clubs.