Dragons coach Anthony Griffin will reportedly be axed “in a matter of weeks” as the club starts “canvasing candidates” to replace him.
Griffin, who is coming off contract, has been under pressure ever since it was revealed in March that the club had begun exploring coaching options for next season and that he would have to reapply for the job.
The pressure has gone up a notch after five straight losses — the most recent to last year’s wooden spooners, the Tigers.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Speaking on NRL 360, Fox League’s James Hooper reported that the club will make a call on their new coach “in the next couple of weeks” and believes Griffin’s time at the helm could come to a swift end.
Kenty livid at silly Trell lash out | 00:59
“This is a developing story… The Dragons have been canvasing candidates, they’ve spoken to Ben Hornby, they’ve spoken to Jason Ryles and I think they will make an appointment probably in the next couple of weeks,” Hooper said.
“In terms of Anthony Griffin, they’re on the Gold Coast at the moment and then they travel to Townsville. I think he coaches this week but then beyond that I’m not sure.
“I think the position has changed. I think given the results have been so poor that the club has had a shift in thinking are probably more looking at perhaps Anthony doesn’t see the season out.”
MORE NRL NEWS
‘BRUTALLY HONEST’: Dragons young gun opens up on relationship with Griffin
TEAM TIPS: Seibold drops big hint over Schuster; Eels headache after Moses blow
TALKING POINTS: Bolter’s Origin case Slater can’t ignore; awkward Panthers move
‘ABOVE THE LAW’: Latrell’s sin bin call exposes NRL’s double standard
Hooper believes club legend Ben Hornby is leading the list of candidates, which also includes the highly-regarded Jason Ryles and another former Dragon in Dean Young.
“The way I’ve heard it, there’s a big push on Ben Hornby at this point in time. I think Jason Ryles and Dean Young are also in the conversation,” he said.
“I think Shane Flanagan — as much as there has been quite a big push from sections of the media — he’s a little bit further back in the pack.”
The catch is though that Hornby, Ryles or Young wouldn’t be able to join the Dragons right away given they are contracted to the Rabbitohs, Roosters and Cowboys respectively as assistant coaches.
Roosters tempted to let Suaalii go? | 02:15
That means the Dragons would need to appoint an interim coach for the remainder of the season.
But that is a road the club is willing to go down with News Corp journalist Brent Read echoing Hooper’s report.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“I think it’s a matter of weeks now, it’s not going to be months,” Read told NRL 360.
“It’s pretty imminent and I think we all know where this is going to land. Anthony Griffin won’t be the coach there next year.
“I haven’t heard anything that they’re going to get rid of him after this week but it wouldn’t surprise me given the way they played.”
It comes after captain Ben Hunt blasted his side’s Magic Round performance.
“Honestly we were just dumb today. Some of the things we did today is not (up to) NRL standard,” he said post-game.
Hooper said their performance is “symbolic of a club that’s clearly lost its way,” while Kent said: “I think (it was) probably the dumbest performance I’ve seen in at least 20 years.”
