Struggling St George Illawarra's impending review needs to be a top-to-toe analysis of the NRL club, former playmaker Jamie Soward believes.
The Dragons board is set to meet on Tuesday to begin a review of their 2019 season.
The Dragons were thumped 40-18 by Penrith on Friday - a result that leaves them 14th on the ladder with just six wins.
Dragons chief executive Brian Johnston has said the future of coach Paul McGregor won't be up for discussion as part of the review, but Soward feels every aspect of the club should be put under the microscope.
"The Dragons are a mess. It hurts me to say this ... they're just in a shambles," Soward told Macquarie Sports Radio.
"The internal review needs to go through the whole club from top to bottom regardless of your position."
A premiership winner with the Dragons in 2010, Soward fell out with then coach Steve Price in 2013 and left the club before finishing his NRL career at Penrith.
The Dragons have endured a season which began with Jack De Belin being stood down under the NRL's 'no-fault' policy before captain Gareth Widdop was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Despite those woes, Soward said there's no doubt the team shouldn't be scrapping at the bottom of the ladder with strugglers like Gold Coast.
"The Dragons have got a roster at the moment that should be a top four team - a top five team at worst - and they haven't been able to put the results on," Soward said.
"The thing for Dragons fans is, they haven't got any big recruits coming next year, this is their team next year.
"There's been some guys there that have been re-signed, held on to and put in the team that haven't improved. That's why they're currently 14th.
"They're in real danger of the Titans just jagging one or two games after some stars get rested going in and the Dragons not going well and they're in a fight for the spoon."
Australian Associated Press
