A Roosters premiership winner has warned Anthony Griffin’s time at the Dragons will be up if he can’t get them up for their Anzac Day clash against the Tricolours.
Griffin is widely considered to already be on borrowed time but if he can orchestrate an Anzac Day boilover – like the Dragons did last year – it will buy him time.
Perhaps just a stay of execution, but it’ll be an emphatic response to the critics who have already declared Griffin a dead man walking.
“It’s probably come at a good time for Hook because they seem to aim up on Anzac Day,” Ex-Roosters star Bryan Fletcher told foxsports.com.au.
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 >
“It doesn’t matter what their form is like leading into it, they always seem to make a game of it.
“There hasn’t been much improvement in them this year. If you’re a Dragons player and you can’t get up for this game, with 40-odd thousand there… we’ll get a good indication how much care these players have for their coach.
“They’ve got to aim up. I thought last week against Canberra they were pretty ordinary so they need to put in a good performance.”
MORE NRL NEWS
HOOPS: Latrell’s role in shock $3.4m Wighton coup; rivals circle snubbed Walker
‘DO SOMETHING SPECIAL’: Rugby Australia’s bold bid to poach NRL’s premier prop
‘THE SITUATION WE’RE IN’: Dragons boss reveals brutal hidden toll of Griffin saga
TRANSFER CENTRE: ‘Game breaker’ handed bumper Dolphins extension
Griffin has been under intense pressure since it was revealed earlier this season that the club are looking at candidates to coach the Dragons in 2024.
St George Illawarra haven’t played finals since Griffin took over at the end of 2020 and they sit 13th on the ladder after seven rounds.
They won in Round 1 but have since lost four of their past five and a heavy defeat on Anzac Day will likely be the nail in Griffin’s coffin.
“It’s come at a good time for Hook but it seems to me the writing is on the wall there,” Fletcher said.
Tuivasa-Sheck set for shock NRL return! | 03:04
“He won’t be there next year, it’s just a question of whether they get rid of him now,” Fletcher said.
“I don’t think they’ll change mid-season, if you’re a coach you want an off-season. They’ve got to do something out there, it’s a bit of a shambles.”
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Kevvie backs in-form Walsh for Maroons | 01:01
