St George Illawarra Dragons veteran Trent Merrin says the playing group is right behind coach Paul McGregor ahead of the 2020 season.

McGregor has felt the fury of the Dragon fan base in recent times with many still calling for his head long before a ball is kicked in anger in the premiership proper.

“I’ve seen a lot of change in Mary since I was last here,” Merrin told Big League magazine.

“He’s calmed down and it’s great to see he’s trusting the coaches around him because that stuff seeps through to the team.

“He’s got a playing group here who believe in him.

“A lot of things happened here last year that you couldn’t control – injuries and off-field stuff – but you can see that he trusts everyone and we’re reaping the rewards from that. He’s definitely grown over the years.”