As a player Paul McGregor was a power of strength and he's proving just as unflappable as a coach.
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The St George Illawarra Dragons mentor is sticking solid with the 17 players that have effectively burnt him for two straight weeks.
The Dragons led 14-0 and 18-6 against the Eels and Warriors respectively before coughing up both leads in disappointing losses, defeats that now sit the Red V in 10th place on the ladder heading into Sunday's clash with the Newcastle Knights at Mudgee.
But McGregor is unmoved.
The Illawarra Steelers centre turned Dragons head coach says he's running with an unchanged side based on the belief he has for the players that got the Dragons to those handy leads against both Parramatta and the New Zealand in consecutive weeks.
"But it's about sticking to the game plan fro the full 80 minutes and defensively our attitude has to be one of helping each other out and working hard for each other in times when needed," he added.
... we've waited and missed him for six weeks.
- Paul McGregor on the potential return of prop Korbin Sims.
"We have a lot of youth out on the field. I'd love to be more hardened, but with so much experience on the sidelines it's a tough task."
Gareth Widdop, Corey Norman and Jack de Belin are just some of the experienced players the Dragons have on the sidelines.
Another experienced player McGregor is hoping to have back on deck on Sunday is Korbin Sims.
The Fiji international has been on the sidelines now for nearly two months after breaking his arm and will have to get through a physical session in Wollongong on Thursday afternoon before McGregor can name him in his 17 for Sunday's game.
"He's keen, we've waited and missed him for six weeks now but we don't want a player out there not confident of being able to play," he said.
Sunday's Glen Willow game is the Dragons' fourth trip to the mid-west region in two years, following two Charity Shield games and another NRL premiership match in 2018, against Canberra.
McGregor says the trip to their Mudgee home away from home is a "good relationship going forward" he's thrilled it's been locked in for 2020 and 2021 as well.
"It's a great town, it's good the community gets behind the team. The players like the atmosphere out there, the pitch is perfect, the council and the mayor is right behind it," he added.
Kick-off is at 2pm on Sunday.