The Dragons’ season ended with a strong performance against a rapidly-declining Broncos side — but that win only serves to patch over some glaring holes.
Anthony Griffin will take the final-round win but so disappointing was St George Illawarra’s 2022 campaign, the coach cancelled Mad Monday.
The Red V sat in the top eight in Round 16, but won just four of their final nine games to finish 10th.
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During that dire run reports surfaced surrounding player unrest. It leaves Griffin’s future still up in the air after his treatment of a number of young guns was called into question.
Meanwhile, marquee playmaker Ben Hunt enjoyed a stellar season but is yet to re-sign and secure his future at the club long term.
Here, Foxsports.com.au hands down a brutal review of the Dragons 2022 campaign!
2022 Record: W12 L12 50% win rate
Season grade: C+
What went right: Ben Hunt. The Dragons star halfback was simply outstanding across the 2022 campaign.
The 32-year-old had a hand in everything Griffin’s side did and was leading the Dally M votes when they went behind closed doors. It would be a brave person to bet against him taking it out.
Hunt finished the year in fourth for total try assists, second for total kick metres, fourth for line break assists and 12th for total possessions.
Pundits continually praised the halfback, while teammate Josh McGuire tipped Hunt back in April to only improve.
“He‘s had the price tag and stuff, but I feel like he’s been our best player the last couple of years and he keeps producing big performances and he’s only getting better,” McGuire said following the club’s 14-12 Anzac Day victory.
“You never hear one complaint out of Benny, that‘s what makes him so good, I feel. In the playing group, we love him and he leads every day. It comes with the job (playing) halfback at a big club like the Dragons.”
Hunt’s future beyond next season remains up in the air and the club rejected his request to align his next contract to Griffin.But the veteran playmaker revealed after beating the Broncos that an extension is in the works.
“Yeah, it’ll be sorted before next season. We’ll get it done,” Hunt said.
“It’s definitely a possibility (it’ll be done before Nov. 1). I informed the club I just wanted to wait until the season was over and we’ll get it sorted.”
The Dragons reportedly offered their marquee man a significant pay cut, tabling a deal worth $700,000-a-season.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio revealed that number has now received a significant boost.
“All my mail suggests St George Illawarra are in the box seat to extend his future by at least another two seasons. He’s not off contract next year – he’s still at the Saints in 2023 and the contract extension is related to 2024-25,” Riccio said on NRL360.
“I firmly believe it’s up (from $750,000 per year) to around $800 (thousand) now. I think if they can get to around $800, $850k I think they get the deal done. I think Hunt stays.”
Meanwhile, Jack Bird’s end-of-season form caught the eye of Dragons fans.
The 27-year-old’s future was the subject of intense speculation earlier this year before inking a two-year extension.
If Hunt is the club’s most important player, Bird would be pencilled in at second place.
The former Bronco has played in the backrow, centres, at fullback and five-eighth this year plugging holes in the Dragons side.
Bird will remain at the Red V until the end of 2024 with a player option for the following year, likely forming a partnership with Hunt for years to come.
What went wrong: On paper, the Dragons have a squad that could compete for the top eight — but were unable to deliver
Once again, off-field issues have affected their on-field performance after last year’s barbecue-gate debacle.
Anthony Griffin is yet to re-sign and his future remains uncertain, with reports suggesting a faction of players don’t agree with his coaching methodology.
Meanwhile, Fox League’s James Hooper reported another group took issue with Griffin’s close relationship with a number of players including Josh McGuire, Ben Hunt and Anthony McCullough.
Constant internal rumblings do nothing to help a club’s performance and Dragons bosses will be doing everything they can to weed out those causing trouble.
Griffin tenure as Dragons coach could come to an end this off-season after missing the finals again.
Meanwhile, when the Dragons’ focal point, Ben Hunt, was off the Red V looked rudderless in attack and struggled to score points.
Although, towards the back-end of 2022, young gun Junior Amone found his feet and was able to pick up the slack on the offensive end.
Griffin’s usage of the club’s young guns also was heavily scrutinised after dropping Tyrell Sloan three rounds into the season.
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The 20-year-old was tipped as the Dragons’ long-term fullback but after two poor performances was pulled from the side.
“I feel sorry for Tyrell Sloan, I feel sorry for Dragons fans,” Ennis said on Fox League in the pre-game.
“You only have to go back 12 months ago the Dragons were showing great signs and there was a lot of optimism heading into 2022.
“Sloan was full of confidence and playing brilliant footy at the back end of last year. Jayden Sullivan, we were seeing some exciting things from him but he hasn’t been sighted. We’ve seen Tyrell Sloan come off the bench.
“They’re a mess, they’re in a real mess.”
From then on, the Dragons saw constant changes at dummy-half and at fullback, with Moses Mbye, Andrew McCullough, Jayden Sullivan, Cody Ramsey and Jack Bird all playing in the roles.
The Dragons will be looking for more stability within the squad and in their spine in 2022.
What they need: A consistent hooker. The Dragons have struggled to nail down their starting No.9 this season and have been linked with a move for Tigers discard Jacob Liddle. McCullough, Mbye and Sullivan shared the role throughout the year, with the young gun providing spark at the back-end of the season.
Pundits have also called for star man Ben Hunt to move into dummy-half to pave the way for Sullivan to pair Amone.
“I’m sure the club would love to keep Ben, perhaps at the right price or perhaps at playing out of dummy-half with the likelihood of Andrew McCullough moving on next season,” James Graham said on Triple M.
“Personally what I would like to see is Ben play No.9. It’s got to be a selfless decision and bring Sullivan at seven.”
The Dragons also need to back their young talent. If Griffin continues to play his veterans the Red V could struggle to develop into a finals contender in the future.
Mat Feagui has been strong on the wing, while Cody Ramsey has looked shaky at the back — potentially paving a path for Sloan to return at fullback.
“Seeing him last week he just looked a shadow of himself and it’s devastating because only 12 months ago he was set to let the Dragons up and the future looked bright for him with these young stars coming through,” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said.
“The problem they’re at now is that the experienced guys he (Griffin) has invested in haven’t performed and also while putting faith in them, the young blokes have lost confidence. They were hearing they were trying to sign Ben Hunt, who is 32, long-term – and why not, he’s had a great season – but he’s 32.”
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Going: Tariq Sims (Storm), Tautau Moga (off-contract), Josh McGuire (Warrington), Jack Gosiewski (off-contract), Jackson Ford (off-contract), Poasa Faamausili (off-contract), Billy Burns (off-contract)
Signings: Nobody.
