Dragons search for next point after rout

Even Dragons great Mark Gasnier admits he has no idea how his beloved St George Illawarra will get their next point after their 36-0 NRL drubbing at the hands of North Queensland.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor tried to cut returning playmaker Benji Marshall some slack in the wake of their limp display in Townsville on Saturday night.

However, McGregor admitted his patience may soon wear thin with the off-contract veteran after they fired blanks against the reigning premiers.

“It was Benji’s first game for three weeks,” McGregor said of the veteran’s return from a hamstring complaint.

“But not scoring points is not good.

“If it keeps going we will look at our personnel.

“We’ve just got to take some accountability and ownership on it (attack).”

The Dragons (2-3 record) have registered just 40 points in five games.

North Queensland scored six tries on Saturday night – the same amount the visitors have scored to date this season.

Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston didn’t hold back after the match, telling Fox Sports TV that the Dragons “didn’t offer much”.

Gasnier agreed after watching the Dragons’ woeful effort, admitting he had no idea where they would earn their next point.

“I don’t really know,” he told Fox Sports TV.

“I think they have scored one try this year off a set piece.”

Former Sydney Roosters star Braith Anasta went one further, claiming opposition teams now didn’t rate the Dragons.

“Opposition teams aren’t respecting them,” he told Fox Sports TV.

“Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said the week before that ‘they didn’t throw anything at us’ and JT (Thurston) just said they tossed up nothing – it’s not good signs for the Dragons.”

Nothing went right for the Dragons.

They did dig in defensively in the first half, only to have North Queensland open the scoring with a contentious Gavin Cooper try in the 25th minute.

The backrower initially appeared to have been held up only for the bunker to overrule the on-field official’s “no try” call and deem Cooper had ground the ball, despite replays indicating he had done so after the tackle’s momentum had stopped.

“It got plenty of views from the bunker, but we don’t seem to get our fair share of them,” McGregor said.

And it may get worse for the Dragons.

They will be hosted by a red hot Brisbane on Thursday night before travelling to surprise packet the Gold Coast on April 16.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!