BY CURTIS WOODWARD
Penrith Panthers recruit Mitch Rein has slammed his former club St George Illawarra and Dragons coach Paul McGregor in a brutal admission and has blamed them for a lack of development in his own game.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Rein pulled no punches and confirmed what most Dragons supporters have been complaining about on social media for years.
“Playing there at (the Dragons) they have a lot of limitations on what you are allowed to do and what you are not,” Rein said.
“Just in the way the coaches are.
“You would have watched the Dragons over the last year or year before.
“I wasn’t really enjoying myself at the end and I definitely needed a change.”
At one point, Rein was considered a smoky to replace incumbent Robbie Farah as New South Wales Blues hooker but turned down an offer from the Saints halfway through 2016. The Dragons then pulled the offer and Rein was left without a club until the Panthers came knocking at the eleventh hour.
What about Mitch Rein throwing shade on the Dragons for being "boring". 😂
— Shunter (@Shunter86) November 15, 2016
Not a fan of Mitch Rein but he's only stating what we already know. We are very bloody boring under #McGrexit #refd
— The Saints🐉 (@Ali_Hijazi) November 15, 2016
It is an interesting insight from Rein because his plan was to actually hold out for a better deal from the Dragons. If that happened, he would have stayed in Wollongong.
Rein was so dirty on the club, he didn’t even show up to the end-of-year awards presentation.
Asked whether we’d seen his natural game, the South Coast native was adamant the club’s “boring” style made it impossible for him to show his true potential.
“I guess so, in dribs and drabs,” he said.
“Over the years the Dragons have played so many types of footy.
“Last year wasn’t very enjoyable attacking wise. I know it’s pretty well documented that it is pretty boring.
“That’s one thing I’ve noticed coming here.
“It’s a lot more positive and watching Penrith at the back end of last year and how entertaining they were, it was awesome to watch.
“That’s definitely another thing that made the move here a bit more appealing.”
The fact is, Rein had no choice but head to the Panthers. Veteran Peter Wallace is their first choice rake and Rein will probably start 2017 in the Intrust Super Premiership.
It is however validation for new Brisbane Bronco Benji Marshall who copped the brunt of criticism from Dragons fans for his side-to-side style whilst at the Big Red V. He looked like a desperate man on a sinking ship.
In McGregor’s defence, it’s interesting this backlash has come from Rein who as a hooker, is meant to control the tempo of every set-of-six in attack and can shoot out of dummy half whenever he sees fit. Every NRL coach knows. All teams play of their hooker.
Rein was also asked directly if McGregor was to blame.
“Probably. The last two years there I just felt like I had a lot more to offer and a lot more improvement in my game.
“Coming here (to Penrith) is probably the best way to do that and learn off Hook (Anthony Griffin) and the rest of the staff.
“I’d been down there (St George Illawarra) for a while, so I’m looking forward to learning new things and improving.”
Time will tell if Rein is the hooker he thinks he is.
@woodward_curtis
