Michael Clarke has torn the Dragons a brand new one over the farce surrounding coach Anthony Griffin’s perilous destiny on the membership.
It was revealed on Tuesday St George Illawarra has begun in search of potential new coaches and have advised the veteran mentor he should re-apply for his job.
Griffin’s future was mentioned at a board assembly on Tuesday and he has since agreed to combat for his future. His contract expires on the finish of the 2023 season.
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Despite the weird scenario, the Dragons nonetheless need to give Griffin time to show he’s worthy of one other contract, having missed the finals over the past two seasons.
Clarke on Wednesday joined the refrain of shock on the membership’s dealing with of the matter, declaring the choice is a “slap in the face” for Griffin.
Roosters assistant coach and Dragons nice Jason Ryles, former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, Ben Hornby and Dean Young are reportedly among the many group of coaches being thought of.
The membership can be anticipated to succeed in out to Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Clarke says the board’s choice makes Griffin’s place untenable and is an indication the membership has already given up on its 2023 marketing campaign, regardless of having a 1-1 file to begin the 12 months.
“This is called sugar-coating,” Clarke mentioned on Sky Sports Radio.
“He’s been sacked. He should not re-apply. It’s embarrassing for him. It’s embarrassing for the Dragons if he does re-apply and he gets it.”
The former Test captain mentioned the scenario is just like the one which noticed former Australian cricket workforce coach Tim Nielsen compelled to step down in 2011, saying he had been “kicked in the guts”.
“I saw this happen with Tim Neilsen,” Clarke mentioned.
“He was told, ‘We’re looking elsewhere, you can re-apply’. It was horrible. It was a horrible process to be a part of.
“It was so hard on the coach and the players backing the coach and supporting the coach.
“And now it’s three games into the season — and he (Griffin) cannot be there next year. It’s a gentle, soft, polite way of saying, you will not be there next season with us.
“Unless the 15 people we want (to coach) can’t agree to terms and then we’ll re-appoint you. It’s game over. There’ll be a new coach at the Dragons next year.”
Clarke is scathing of the membership’s failure to take decisive motion, saying a call on Griffin’s future ought to have been made earlier than the opening spherical of the season.
“If they were going to sack him they should have done it before the start of the year,” he mentioned.
“How can you come out and say that three games in? That’s the only thing. Before a ball was kicked this season they should have already made their decision that he’s not going to be there next year.
“They haven’t been that bad. Why have they not done that during the off-season? What have they seen in the last three weeks for them to change direction? Has any other coach come off contract in the last three weeks?
“I don’t think they’ve cared about their coach. And I don’t think they’ve cared about their team. They’ve ripped their season up and said, ‘You know what, we don’t care’. This cannot help the playing group.”
He mentioned the membership’s board has “walked out on their coach”.
“Re-apply? What a slap in the face,” he mentioned.
“Is anybody going to re-apply in that situation?”
Fox League’s ‘NRL 360’, Paul Kent described the choice as a “real kick in the face” for Griffin.
“It’s not quite right… Griffin has been told that they are going to go out to market and start looking at other coaching possibilities,” Kent mentioned.
“It is my understanding that Griffin won’t apply for the job.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio, in the meantime, mentioned it was “weak leadership” from the Dragons to be contemplating such a transfer just some weeks into the season.
“There was a board meeting held today, Griffin wasn’t there, but he was told earlier in the pre-season they would be scouring for options,” he mentioned.
“The mere fact they told the coach that back then is ludicrous, it’s crazy. They had last year to make that call and start this year a fresh.
“Where is the strategy in recruitment when you have no idea who the coach is?”
The destabilising news comes after captain Ben Hunt earlier this month referred to as on membership officers to again their coach at the very least till the top of the season.
“I’d encourage the board to really just back him,” Hunt mentioned.
“There’s nothing worse than being in the situation we are now, where everyone is coming for your head and you’ve got the board second guessing the coaching staff. You need to be all in. You’ve got to back your guy.
“At the end of the day, if you get to the end of the season and it hasn’t worked out then make your decision. Don’t get five, six, seven or eight games in and start second guessing what we’re doing because then everything will really turn to s***. I’d encourage them just to back us.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
