Dragons manager Anthony Griffin sacked with immediate effect with named replacement: Here’s how club made shocking mess of announcement
- Anthony Griffin sacked after meeting by Dragons board
- After six successive defeats, the decision was inevitable
- Assistant Ryan Carr will be the club’s interim manager
- Jason Ryles and Ben Hornby are the likely candidates for 2024
St George Illawarra have sacked head coach Anthony Griffin after a six game losing streak.
Griffin – the first NRL coach to receive his marching orders this season – was told by Dragons officials on Tuesday morning that he would be fired immediately, with Ryan Carr to take over in the interim.
Saturday night’s 42-22 loss to North Queensland was seen as the final nail in the coffin.
And in a decision that sums up the club’s lack of leadership, the Dragons arranged for eight players to face the media at 8.30am on Tuesday at the club’s headquarters in Wollongong.
Red V chairman Andrew Lancaster briefed Griffin on the decision at 8am – but the players were then faced with questions from the media for which they had no answers.
St George Illawarra have sacked head coach Anthony Griffin after a run of sixth successive defeats
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb says the results ‘did not meet the club’s expectations’ (pictured, players last weekend against the Cowboys)
St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt – a longtime Griffin supporter – was reportedly furious with the club’s handling of the situation.
Since joining the Dragons in 2021 after previous stints with the Broncos (2011-14) and Panthers (2016-18), Griffin has coached a total of 58 games for the club for 22 wins and 36 losses, with a percentage of 39. percent wins.
Griffin is also the third successive Dragons manager to be sacked since Wayne Bennett left the club at the end of the 2011 season after serving as Premier the previous year.
Steve Price and Paul McGregor have also been cut mid-season over the past decade.
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb thanked Griffin for his contribution to the joint venture club over the past two and a half seasons.
“These decisions are never taken lightly and on behalf of the club, I want to thank Anthony for all his hard work during his time with the Dragons,” Webb said.
“Unfortunately our performances in the first 10 games of this season have not met the club’s expectations, so it has been decided that he should complete his duties this week.”
After a number of his teammates faced questions from the media on Tuesday morning over Griffin’s sacking, captain Ben Hunt (pictured) was reportedly furious
Dragons assistant coach Ryan Carr will take over as interim coach of the NRL side effective today.
Carr previously coached at Parramatta and South Sydney before joining the Dragons this year.
The club’s board and management will continue to assess head coach candidates for the 2024 season.
Jason Ryles remains the main target to take over as coach next year, with fellow former Dragon Ben Hornby another option.
The Dragons host the Roosters on Friday night at Kogarah in Sydney’s south from 6pm.
