NRL Rd 1 - Dragons v Sharks
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: Dragons head coach Anthony Griffin speaks to the media during the round one NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Cronulla Sharks at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on March 14, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Anthony Griffin is all but believed to be on the way out at the St George Illawarra Dragons, with the club set to start the process of interviewing new coaches immediately.

Griffin has struggled during his time at the Dragons, and while he had a club option taken up in his contract before a ball had been kicked last year to remain at the joint-venture in 2023, it appears the chance of a new contract being sent his way is slim to none.

Various reports suggest Griffin will actively need to reapply to the club in an effort to keep his job - something it would appear unlikely he will do.

The Dragons could yet enjoy a form turnaround this year, but their last ten minutes against the Brisbane Broncos last weekend indicate the Red V are still a long way away from being a competitive force in the NRL, despite a strong Round 2 (their first game of the year after a Round 1 bye) win over the Gold Coast Titans.

While it has been widely reported that the front-runners for Griffin's job will be a trio of former players in Ben Hornby, Dean Young and Jason Ryles, who is rated as the NRL's next coach in waiting after Cameron Ciraldo finally accepted a top job this year, it's Des Hasler's name who has been added to the list that could come as the most surprise.

Fox Sports are suggesting that Hasler, who was sacked by the Manly Sea Eagles at the end of 2022, could land on his feet at the Dragons in 2024.

It's unknown if the Dragons have already reached out to Hasler's management, however, it's believed the veteran coach isn't done at the top yet after his turfing from the Northern Beaches.

He has been replaced by Anthony Seibold, who has the Sea Eagles firing to start the new year, while his assistant Shane Flanagan, who has already spent two stints at the Dragons as an assistant coach and later a recruitment consultant, could be another option the Red V will target in their search for the club's next head coach.

The Dragons have played finals football just twice since Wayne Bennett left at the end of 2011, with Steve Price and Paul McGregor not able to work out as head coaches prior to Griffin's arrival at the start of the 2021 season.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Maybe scratch Dessie, the word around the bar in a Merewether pub last Tuesday was that Des Hasler bought a house in Newcastle.

  2. Another farce from a club that has lost it’s way and appears to be clutching at straws. To do this so early in the season will surely destabilise the first grade squad. If they are trying to put pressure on Hook it will backfire, and I know for a fact he is very popular with the players.

  3. The fact Griffin is very popular with the players is the problem. The coach isn’t there to be everyone’s friend. He’s a pathetic coach that was turfed by two other clubs and it’s amazing how neither of those club’s players had much time for Griffin. His methods are outdated and pedestrian, he has no idea bout defensive structure or attack or even how to coach a decent kicking game. His recruitment has been a sad joke, with geriatrics and third rate Queensland players being his preference. We also now see how useless Mbye is in the team, and Liddle needs to be the hooker full time hooker.

    The fact is the the board could have had Craig Fitzgibbon if they had been prepared to wait 1 year and kept Mary on for 2021. Given Hornby and Young have not coached first grade we do not need to experiment yet again. In the last 25 years our only success has been an external coach. I know Ryles is rated highly, but it’s a big risk for a rookie that has no first grade experience to take on the job at a basket case of a club. The real problem is the board accepts mediocrity as perfectly fine and the owner Bruce Gordon won’t spend a cent more than he has to.

    First Gordon has to go, then the entire board needs to stand down, then a new coach then half the team needs to be shown the door.

  4. I wasn’t aware of some of the points you have made dragoon, but a new coach will come at some stage and Moses Mbye is off contract at the end of the season.

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