Dragons members forum: Listening to fans or performative stunt?

Rugby league legend Greg Alexander has questioned the decision from the St George Illawarra Dragons to hold a members forum on June 2.

The Dragons sent an email to members inviting them to listen to club CEO Tim Watsford, COO Ben Creagh and interim head coach Dean Young at the Bruce Gordon Centre in Fairy Meadow.

Within 39 minutes, the event had reached capacity with a hostile crowd expected to greet the Dragons’ hierarchy.

Alexander is unsure that the fan forum exercise will provide any answers to a team that currently sits 0-9 and have lost their last 13 matches dating back to the end of last season.

“Why do we have to wait a month? If you call for a forum, get it on,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I don’t know if they solve any of the questions? Do they get the answers that they want?

“It sold out in 30-odd minutes. There’ll be 120 members there.”

SEN’s Jimmy Smith asked: “What does this actually do?

“What is the outcome that the St George Illawarra Dragons are looking for from this fan forum?

“Is it about getting insight from fans or being seen to be listening to fans?”

Alexander replied: “They have to be seen to be listening. It’s the latter.

“I don’t think Watsford, Young or Creagh will be leaving the fan forum thinking (they heard) a good idea.

“Fans are passionate but this is purely about the optics.”

The winless Dragons have three matches before their scheduled fan forum on June 2. The Red V will take on the first placed Penrith Panthers in Magic Round, the second placed Warriors in Round 12 and then travel to Suncorp Stadium in Round 13 to take on the reigning Premiers the Brisbane Broncos.

Alexander is worried that Dragons could slump to 0-12 by the time the fan forum arrives. His fears weren’t allayed when coach Dean Young named the same team that began the season in Las Vegas.

“It’s back to the future,” Alexander continued.

“It’s basically the same team that lined up against the Bulldogs in Vegas.

“Clint Gutherson is back at fullback, Christian Tuipulotu is on the wing and Moses Suli is in the centres with Valentine Holmes.

“Daniel Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan are back as the halves with Kade Reed now out for three months.”

The Dragons play the final game at Magic Round on Sunday night against Penrith.