Dragons boss denies culture issue, reveals internal punishment handed to Musgrove and Ravalawa

It‘s been an off-season from hell for St George Illawarra, but CEO Ryan Webb says it comes down to poor individual decisions rather than team culture.

The Dragons were embroiled in a number of off-field incidents over the off-season. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

St George Illawarra CEO Ryan Webb denies the Dragons have a culture problem, and has outlined the punishment handed down to Zane Musgrove and Mikaele Ravalawa following their drunken altercation in Mudgee in February.

The heated argument between Musgrove and Ravalawa hours after the Dragons were handed a 42-24 hiding by South Sydney in the Charity Shield capped off an off-season from hell for the Red V.

In December, Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, destroying property and intimidation after an alleged hammer attack, while Francis Molo pleaded guilty in February to charges of stalking/intimidating a woman.

Talatau Amone was charged by police in December. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Speaking on the new Dragons Den Podcast this week, Webb admitted the Mudgee bust-up was a bad look in light of other recent off-field incidents.

Musgrove and Ravalawa were both fined and issued breach notices, with Webb revealing more details about the internal punishment they faced.

“The leadership group made sure everyone was back in their rooms, everyone was really good, and these couple of guys decided to keep drinking in their room,” Webb said.

“Everyone else had done 100 per cent the right thing, then they spilled outside, had their argument and it was settled down pretty quickly.

“It’s worth noting that part of the penalty we gave these guys – and I don’t think we’ve said this publicly before – but they had to write a letter of apology to the motel to say we’re sorry for this.”

Mikaele Ravalawa goes close to scoring against the Bunnies in Mudgee. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

According to Webb, the motel – The Winning Post Motor Inn – responded with a note calling the incident “a bit of a non-event” despite the backlash it caused.

“These two guys made a bad decision and they got penalised really heavily,” Webb continued.

“But the rest of them can’t be tarnished, but in the public eye they all get tarnished.

“It’s not fair in that sense. That sounds like culture, but these two guys, it’s poor decision-making.

“We need to work on them, we’ll punish them, and hopefully it’ll come to a better place.”

Francis Molo was also involved in an off-field incident over the summer. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Webb attributed some of the incidents that created headlines over the off-season to “individual decisions” rather than a poor team culture.

“(It’s) people making individual decisions that – in a perfect world, and in a non-elite sport world – would only impact them and the people around them,” he said.

“But they’re part of a club, they’re part of something bigger. They’re part of a brand that has a lot of value, and when they choose to play for us, they have to know that their actions affect a hell of a lot more people than themselves.

“It feels at the moment that’s not quite resonating. The guys need to take on a bit more accountability in that.”

While he admitted his players had stepped out of line, Webb added that winning games of footy will help alleviate some of the pressure on the club.

“If you’re winning, you give people less ammunition,” he said. “Whether it be minor or major – because we’ve had a mix of all that – but if you’re not winning, ultimately people will point back to that and say that’s why.

“That’s the reason. It may or may not be, but until we start getting some success on the field, it’s hard to argue against it.”

The Dragons had a round one bye last weekend and will host the Titans at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday evening.

Amone is available to play after his suspension under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy was lifted this week, but hasn’t been selected, with youngster Jayden Sullivan partnering Ben Hunt in the halves.

Originally published as Dragons boss denies culture issue, reveals internal punishment handed to Musgrove and Ravalawa