NRL 2021: Dragons coach Anthony Griffin latest to incur the wrath of pessimistic fans in bitter takedown
It didn’t take long for success-starved Dragons fans to get up to their old tricks, unleashing a vitriolic tirade of abuse at coach Anthony Griffin after things didn’t go their way.
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They have torn down all before him — Hook, don’t let ‘em get you too.
Rabid Dragons fans have started the annual assassination of their head coach, this time it’s Anthony Griffin, who has been in charge for a grand total of one game.
This year however set a new standard in hissy fit criticism. It took just 36 minutes of round one — with Saints behind 14-0 against Cronulla — for the online barbs to start.
“So … I thought Hook was meant to make us better. What the hell is this s***. It’s like Steve Price came back,” one fan posted.
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Another first half post read: “Actually tempted to switch this off and start watching #MAFS.”
Then there was this: “What do they do at training?”
And, at halftime, this was logged: “Be prepared to refund our membership fees if you want us to watch this crap. The Red V is supposed to mean something.”
This disconnect continues a hostile relationship spanning 20 years between the club, its coach and success-starved supporters.
Griffin has become the latest coaching target after a 32-18 loss to the Sharks at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday, despite the match being played on March 14, 179 days from the finals.
He knows the attack dogs with acid tongues will be stalking him every game, every round. The same fans were hollering and hooting when Saints mounted a second half, albeit unsuccessful, comeback.
Griffin must stay strong, commit to his systems and somehow either eliminate or suppress the external noise otherwise the famous banners will appear: Hook Hook. Hook is Crook.
Dragons fans are the most demanding, relentless, brutal and bloodthirsty in the NRL. It’s succeed or die with a knife between the shoulders.
Griffin’s not the first to feel the heat from fans. Former coach Paul McGregor had to endure signs that read Fail Mary. The fans even sprayed his family one night.
In July 2019, former coach Paul McGregor said: “I don’t take any of that personally, if they’re talking about me it means they are leaving the players alone which is a good thing.”
Ex-Saints coach Steve Price spotted the sign that read: “The Price isn’t Right.”
In January 2018, Price said: “I feel like I’m a lot more resilient from what I’ve gone through.”
Another sacked coach, Nathan Brown, looked over and saw a giant ‘Down with Brown’ banner.
In August, 2018, Brown said: “The expectation and ghosts of the past have probably carried a fair bit of weight at the Dragons for a long time. With that expectation comes a fair amount of criticism.”
Even back in June 2002, then coach Andrew Farrar had enough of the haters.
“All along within the club, the players and the administrators have kept faith. It’s been a few of you blokes (the media) and a few of the fans who haven’t. The players need support when times are tough, not criticism,” Farrar said.
There were the infamous Oust Doust banners, directed at former club chief executive Peter Doust.
Doust copped it for years before then Dragons coach Wayne Bennett felt compelled to step in during February 2018 and say: “He got far too much criticism and never enough praise for what he did as far as I am concerned.”
Many close to the club even suggest some aggressive fans privately prefer a loss so they kickstart a fresh attack against the club and coach on social media.
Saints’ social media team are a thick-skinned bunch but have been forced to block around 30 fans through foul language.
Frustrated fans even started an on-line petition several years which stated: “Fire the entire coaching staff, CEO and incompetent board members”.
It read: “The 2012, 2013 and now 2014 seasons have been a massive embarrassment to the St George Illawarra Dragons club. It wasn’t long ago that this club was the best in the NRL, but it has been a downward spiral ever since 2012.
“Dragons fans do not accept mediocrity and demand action NOW.”
Bennett one day attempted to blame the Sydney media for Saints’ fans’ frustrations.
“The Dragons supporters feel a little isolated because the media do give them a hard time in Sydney,” Bennett said. “Their fans feel it when their team doesn’t get a fair shake.”
Griffin is a resilient commodity from rural Rockhampton. He has been sacked at Brisbane then by Gus at Penrith. He knows how merciless clubs and fans can be.
As Bennett once said: “If you start listening to fans, well it’s not long before you’re over there sitting with them.”
SHARKS DEFENCE GIVES MORRIS A BOOST
The Anthony Griffin era at St George Illawarra is off to a losing start after Cronulla won a fiery local derby 32-18 at rainswept Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Led superbly by halves Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend, the Sharks recorded their first opening-round victory since 2013 on the back of a near faultless first half in the greasy conditions.
The win will ease some of the early season pressure on Cronulla coach John Morris, who remains uncontracted beyond this season.
“It’s a good reward for a lot of hard effort over the off-season. We’ve raised the bar in a lot of areas,” he said
“There were a few nervous moments in the second half but it’s always good to win a local derby.”
TURNING POINT
There was a big momentum shift in the 21st minute when Sione Katoa fielded a bouncing Ben Hunt kick seconds before being smashed in a Jack Bird tackle.
The ball fell to winger Cody Ramsey, who swung his way over the line for a try that would have put the Dragons in front for the first time.
The try was awarded but after looking at a number of replays, the video referee ruled Bird had knocked the ball forward in the collision.
The Sharks scored minutes later through Ronaldo Mulitalo to go further ahead and then added another four minutes later to put the game to bed. The Ramsay no try was a big turning point that will have Dragons fans heading to work this morning in a foul mood.
FAST OUT OF BLOCKS
The Sharks are notorious slow starts to a season but wasted little time putting their imprint on this game.
Former Dragon Josh Dugan scored after just four minutes following a terrible mix-up in the St George Illawarra in-goal.
Matt Dufty and Hunt had a chance to put a Chad Townsend kick dead but made a complete hash of it, allowing Dugan to steal around the back and ground the ball.
It was a similar script eight minutes later. Tariq Sims failed to clean up a Will Kennedy grubber and the Cronulla No. 1 cleaned up the scraps for the easiest of put downs.
Townsend kicked both conversions and added a penalty while Ramien was in the bin for a 14-0 halftime lead.
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