Steve Price’s axing by St George Illawarra on Monday finally ended a reign that never looked like lasting from the minute he replaced Wayne Bennett in the Dragons’ hot seat in 2012.

A highly-regarded junior coach, Price was promoted to the top job at the end of the 2011 season and had the unenviable task of filling the huge shoes of a man who guided the joint-venture to the 2010 premiership – the seventh of his illustrious career.

A naturally shy man, Price was as comfortable with the media side of the role as a fattened turkey is around Christmas time.

Subsequently when a side in desperate need of rebuilding failed to make the finals for two successive years, allies within the fourth estate were few and far between as the pressure mounted.

An unashamed public attempt by the Dragons to try and tempt Craig Bellamy away from Melbourne in early 2013 did little to give the impression he was ever on safe ground.

But Bellamy’s decision to stay put at the Storm gave Price a stay of execution.

However, his bizarre request to have his one-year contract extension announced by an email sent out midway through the Anzac Day clash with the Sydney Roosters to avoid media questioning was another sign of a man uncomfortable with all the rigours of modern-day coaching.

Despite this, Price’s standing amongst his players, many of who he’d worked with in the lower grades, was high despite some poor results.

But with the Dragons finishing 14th last year following the worst season in their history as a joint-venture a positive start to the 2014 campaign was imperative in keeping the wolves from the door.

Three successive wins from a new-look side, inspired by star signing Gareth Widdop gave Price a perfect start to the year and there were even whispers of a new contract being offered.

However, they soon vanished after six defeats in seven games and following the heavy defeat to Parramatta two weeks ago Price admitted he was at a loss to explain what went wrong.

And now he’ll never get to find out, with Dragons CEO Peter Doust, himself under pressure from frustrated fans, pulling the trigger and relieving him of the duties, with club great Paul McGregor put in charge until the end of this season.