Fittler's controversial Widdop call to fix Dragons' woes

Rugby League great Brad Fittler said it could be time the Dragons’ management consider letting full-back Gareth Widdop return to England early to fix their early season woes.

The Dragons have lost the opening two rounds of the 2019 NRL season, which included a 34-18 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night.

Widdop, 30, is enjoying his sixth season with the Red V, but is on his way back home to join Super League club Warrington Wolves next year.

The 30-year-olds position shift from five-eighth to full-back has been a controversial talking point and former Roosters great Fittler said it could be time to let the Englishman leave early to give the next generation a chance.

“It might be time that management sits down and has a conversation with Gareth about leaving early for England,” Fitler said on Channel 9 commentary, according to Sportingnews Australia.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor dismissed the NSW Blues bosses comments that young Jai Field should get an opportunity, insisting Widdop was here to stay in 2019.

“He’s had a mixed couple of games, there has been some really good stuff in his game and stuff he needs to work on. But that happens when you haven’t played that position for some time,” he said.

“Gareth’s certainly what we need for this season,” McGregor said.

“We’ve got a good opportunity in 2019.

“We’ve lost our first two games, which is disappointing, but there’s a long way to go in this competition and Gareth’s a big part of our football team.

“He’s our captain and he’ll be in my footy side.”

Dragons collapse after halftime

The Dragons’ defeat was an opportunity missed for a depleted Dragons side missing representative forwards Jack de Belin and Tyson Frizell.

The signs were ominous early for the Rabbitohs when Tariq Sims strolled through their defensive line only to fluff his grounding in the third minute.

The Dragons’ big men were rolling through the ruck at ease against a Rabbitohs pack that appeared fatigued early in the contest.

And while it was the visitors who drew first blood on Cameron Murray’s 50-metre run, Jordan Pereira went over twice in ten minutes to claim the lead for the hosts.

The first was a neat flick pass from centre partner Tim Lafai, before completing his brace off a three-man cutout pass from Corey Norman.

But the Dragons fell off alarmingly in the second half to slump to back-to-back defeats to open their season.