Anthony Griffin’s preparations for a make-or-break season at St George Illawarra are poised to begin with a first-up clash against English powerhouse St Helens.
The NRL is close to announcing a new pre-season format that will include the best British side incorporated into the summer trial schedule of the 17 NRL teams. St Helens have earned the right to participate following their Super League grand final victory over Leeds and will take on Penrith as part of the traditional World Club Challenge [WCC] format.
However, rather than playing just the one game, St Helens will join the locals in playing two trials as part of a revamp of the traditional summer practice period. Sources with knowledge of the situation have told that the Herald that the Dragons have been pencilled in as the English club’s other opponents, marking the first time the Red V has played an English outfit since their WCC victory over Wigan in 2011.
It will be a case of “Saints v Saints” in a battle that will be a marketer’s dream for officials from both hemispheres.
St Helens informed their fans, via their website, that they were preparing to play the Panthers on the weekend of the 18th or 19th of February, the same weekend as the opening round of fixtures in the Super League. The clash with the Dragons is expected to go ahead the weekend prior unless there are any last-minute changes to the local schedule. The Dragons’ only other trial will be the traditional Charity Shield game against South Sydney.
It shapes as a crucial period for Griffin, who needs a strong start to 2023 after failing to guide the Red V to the finals in his first two years in charge.
St George Illawarra’s Zac Lomax and St Helens’ former NSW Origin and NRL star Will Hopoate.Credit:Getty
The former Broncos and Panthers coach is in the final year of his contract and is under pressure after an eventful off-season. Promising youngsters Jayden Sullivan and Tyrell Sloan asked for immediate releases before reconsidering, George Burgess and Jack Gosiewski have tipped the bucket on their way out of the club, chairman Craig Young elected to step down after providing a reference to Brett Finch on club letterhead and Shane Flanagan has left the brains trust to join Manly.
Then there’s the infamous presentation night, where Zac Lomax, Ben Hunt and Michael Molo were the only male players who turned up.
Asked about the pressure on Griffin, Lomax told the Herald: “I think the criticism is coming on the back of us not winning the games we would have liked to.
“It’s got nothing to do with the culture in the club; us a team and playing group, we’re thick as thieves,” he said. “All the boys get on so well, it’s all white noise about where we’re at.
“Obviously we would have preferred to have a lot more boys there, absolutely.”
Zac Lomax on the poor showing at the Dragons’ presentation night.
“We’re not going into pre-season worrying about who is going to be where or what’s going to happen. We’re going in to become better players and better men at the end of the day.
“That’s our focus and what will be will be.
“That’s the business we’re in. We’re all there for the same job, we’re aiming for the same goal.”
Lomax, speaking at a promotion for Saturday’s Sonny Bill Williams-Mark Hunt fight at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre, addressed the poor turnout at the Dragons’ presentation night.
St George Illawarra’s Anthony Griffin will be one of the coaches under most pressure when the 2023 NRL season kicks off.Credit:Getty
“Of course, it’s not ideal in regards to having [only] a few of us there,” Lomax said.
“I don’t think it was looked down on from behalf of the club in regards to the boys who didn’t turn up. It wasn’t the biggest deal. Obviously we would have preferred to have a lot more boys there, absolutely.
“But regards to it being a principle — that the culture is not where it needs to be — it is so far from the truth.
“At the end of the day, you don’t try to let that distract you. In regards to people who have commented, you can’t worry about it too much.”
Lomax was poised to fight on the undercard of the Hunt-Williams fight, but wasn’t able to nail down the insurance cover required in time to placate the Dragons. However, the Prime Minister’s XIII representative said he had benefited from training with Williams in his downtime.
“He just typifies what it’s about,” Lomax said of Williams. “When you see what he’s achieved in his career, it’s no wonder when you see how he goes about it.
“When he trains he’s the ultimate professional, he goes 100 miles an hour. But the best thing about Sonny is that he is just a good man.”
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