Even as I type these words, a Dragons fan is standing outside the press box, demanding McGregor axe himself. The coaching staff hasn’t been satisfied for some weeks with Dufty’s game: whether it’s his energy in defence or the way he’s returned the football. Paul McGregor can't hide his disappointment after Sunday's thrashing. Credit:AAP When McGregor approached the leadership group late last week about the change, it endorsed it. As it turned out, Dufty’s exile lasted no more than 17 minutes after centre Euan Aitken suffered a hamstring injury while attempting to stop Bulldogs centre Josh Morris from scoring the opening try.

Dufty was rushed on and Nightingale pushed back to the wing. Loading Five minutes later, he was presented with the perfect opportunity to win back McGregor’s trust. The Bulldogs were working their way off their own line when an interchange of passes set winger Reimis Smith free. He streaked into the backfield. The last man standing in his way was Dufty.

At 196cm and 97kgs, Smith had every right to just run over the top of Dufty, who at 179cm and 80kgs is the smallest but arguably fastest fullback in the league. Instead, Smith went around him, galloping away to score. It’s a bit like the Dragons’ season, really. The longer it goes on, the more it seems to be inching out of their grasp. Jason Nightingale didn't get the home farewell he was hoping for. Credit:AAP They must now thump the Knights in Newcastle on Saturday and hope the Bulldogs thump the Sharks at ANZ Stadium on Sunday to finish in the top four. They also rely on Storm beating Penrith.

Dragons fans have every right to ask how it came to this after their side had started the season so emphatically. Of course, State of Origin has taken its toll. Players like Jack de Belin and Tariq Sims talked about playing for NSW like it would be the pinnacle of their season when it should’ve been the cream on top. Reimis Smith takes the direct route past Matthew Dufty. Credit:AAP When the Blues won the series, de Belin put his head on assistant coach Greg Alexander’s shoulder and wept like a child, such was the pressure and then the release.

Since then, the Dragons have tried to sell us the notion that Origin didn’t hurt them. “Well, it did,” halfback Ben Hunt told Fairfax Media. “And more than a lot of us have really said. Having so many forwards, almost our starting pack [playing for NSW], is going to take a lot of energy out of your team and that’s where our success was early in the year. Our forwards were playing so well. Origin zapped them a little bit. They won’t say it or admit it. But it’s true.” Origin zapped nobody more than Hunt. In the 54th minute, with the Bulldogs in total control at 20-0, he grubber kicked the ball so hard on the last tackle it almost ended up in the Leagues Club. The Kogarah faithful booed. They stayed around long after to full-time to boo him again as he left the field. He’s testing their patience.

There’s some chance five-eighth Gareth Widdop will return from his shoulder injury next week for the match against Newcastle. His reappearance cannot come quick enough for Hunt. In the 64th minute, the ball found Smith, this time on his own 30m line. The last man standing in his way was Dufty. Again. Smith shifted right, turned Dufty inside out, and then back to the left to score his third try. It was another insult on an afternoon when the Dragons had all the emotion on their side following the death of favourite son Lance Thompson. Tariq Sims presents match jersey to Shalisse Thompson, the daughter of late Dragons and Sharks forward Lance Thompson. Credit:AAP