Pressure off Price after Dragons' coaching review

Steve Price will have until at least the mid-way point of next season to convince Dragons brass to trigger the one-year option on his contract after being spared in the club's coaching review.

With a host of new recruits set to arrive next season, St George Illawarra chief executive officer Peter Doust confirmed to the Mercury there will be no rush to settle on a head coaching option for 2015.

Price inked a one-year extension only hours before the Anzac Day clash - with the option for a further year - seven weeks into the Dragons' dismal season.

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They won only four of their remaining 17 matches after the Roosters' annihilation amid slumping to the joint venture's worst ever finish.

But when quizzed on whether the Dragons board were prepared to give Price until at least mid-year to warrant the role in 2015, Doust said: "I think that's the case. [The head coaching role for next year] certainly was a high priority for us [early] in 2013 because we had so many positions vacant in our roster. A number of those positions have been filled for a term.

"There's a lot of signings for more than just 2014 and 2015 so we can go a lot further through 2014 before we have to make a critical decision."

Doust emphasised Price "should not singularly be held responsible" for the Dragons' miserable campaign, but acted swiftly to massage the club's coaching set-up.

The club announced it had commissioned a review of all facets of its rugby league program after slumping to a round-25 loss to wooden spooners Parramatta.

They yesterday announced Paul McGregor, the foundation coach of the Illawarra Cutters in the NSW Cup, had been elevated to one of two assistant coach roles with the Dragons.

McGregor, also a former strength and conditioning coach at the Red V, will be charged with overhauling the side's attack.

Craig Young will act as Price's other assistant, with an emphasis on nurturing the forwards, having been relieved of juggling the role of recruitment manager.

Robert Finch and high performance unit head coach Ben Haran will focus on recruitment.

Former team-mates Ben Hornby and Dean Young were promoted to be the club's National Youth Competition co-coaches. They will replace Justin Holbrook.

When quizzed on whether the club seriously considered outside options for its coaching structure, Doust said: "We considered everyone that was available, from inside and outside an association with the club, and we feel this skill set fits together in support of doing something from those elements that were presented in the 2013 review.

"I can't see that those changes aren't outside influences and I think Paul McGregor, in particular ... will bring a flair for attack and a passion for our club and in terms of supporting our direction in coaching. We recognised we needed to do a lot more work on our attack.

"We're certainly bitterly disappointed about 2013 which instigated the review because our plans post Bennett were clearly not realising what we thought it would."