Coach’s D-Day: Board meeting to discuss Anthony Griffin’s Dragons replacement

St George-Illawarra have set a date for board meeting to decide a short-list of coaches to replace Anthony Griffin - but the hit list comes with a twist. See the expected targets.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin will be added to the short-list of coaches set to replace him. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

A short-list of coaches will be discussed at a St George Illawarra board meeting next Tuesday - a critical step in determining the fate of head coach Anthony Griffin.

In a major development, News Corp can reveal the Dragons board are expected to be presented with the best coaching options to replace Griffin following a fortnight of research by senior management into who is best suited in resurrecting the club.

The likes of Jason Ryles, Ben Hornby, Dean Young and Shane Flanagan along with Griffin are all likely to be discussed.

The Dragons board will then evaluate their hit list of candidates that they want to formally interview before making a decision on who will take control of the team long-term.

Griffin is considered long-odds to retain his position however he is expected to be part of potential candidates.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin will be added to the short-list of coaches set to replace him. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

He won’t need to re-apply for his job – he is either re-appointed or told he no longer has the job.

The Dragons will make their mind up on Griffin within the next month and by then they may have already spoken directly to potential candidates.

At this stage, Griffin has no interest in walking from the job mid-season.

However, if he did, assistant coach Ryan Carr would be asked to take over for the remainder of the season.

Senior club officials are yet to meet with possible coaching candidates directly but that could change after they formally draft up a list of contenders who want the job.

Ryles is considered the front-runner, but he has yet to commit to having an interest in the role until one becomes available. He is also a leading candidate to replace Craig Bellamy at the Storm.

Ryles and Hornby share the same agent. Hornby is in the final year of his deal at South Sydney and has some support amongst the Dragons ranks.

The club’s 2010 premiership winning captain has worked closely alongside Wayne Bennett and Jason Demetriou in recent years.

Flanagan too has ambitions to return to the head coaching ranks.

He has support from within the club due to his proven premiership-success and also his understanding of the inner-workings of the club.

He was part of the Dragons set-up last season as head of recruitment but has since taken up a deal to be Anthony Seibold’s assistant at Manly.