NRL 2022: Dragons officials issue warning over player accused of leaking information to media

The Dragons chairman and a premiership hero have issued a severe warning to the playing group after sensitive information involving Anthony Griffin was leaked to the media.

St George Illawarra salary cap issues.

St George Illawarra chairman Craig Young has warned any disgruntled player that “moaning and whinging” won’t be tolerated, declaring: “They’re not part of the club.”

It comes as former St George Illawarra grand final-winning prop Mick Weyman described any player caught covertly leaking stories to the media as “deceitful”.

“It pisses me off,” Weyman said. “St George Illawarra is such a family club and families don’t do that to each other.”

Anthony Griffin’s position as head coach was under scrutiny this week after media reports emerged about player unrest.

The Daily Telegraph has been told one player in particular continues to be accused of disclosing internal information to the media about Griffin.

While unable to confirm it, there is a fear among club insiders that a struggling player – perhaps players – is secretly leaking their agitation to the press.

Young, a former policeman and hardened front-rower, was as direct as always, saying: “The players that don’t want to stick together, well they’re not part of the team.

“The expectation at this club is that when things are tough and we find a way through it, to push through it to the other side.

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“You don’t go whinging and moaning, you roll your sleeves up, work hard and get through it. You don’t go and whinge to whoever. We all have to stick together.”

Ultimately, the predicted drama failed to eventuate and Griffin’s record or future at the club was not discussed at a board meeting on Tuesday, as had been suggested.

Weyman, a member of Saints’ 2010 grand final-winning side who also represented NSW and Australia, was incensed that players may be venting their anger to the media.

“It pisses me off. You don’t talk behind each other’s backs - it’s deceitful. If you’ve got a problem then go talk to the other person - you don’t leak it,” Weyman said.

“The club is so tight-knit so if you don’t like that then don’t be part of it. Don’t try to put a wedge in there. You don’t do that.”

Dragons chairman Craig Young. Picture: NRL

St George Illawarra players will need to come together on Friday night for a vital match against Manly at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.

Griffin accepts speculation about his position, saying: “It’s just part of the job. That stuff happens. Most of that stuff gets played out outside of our four walls and I’d like to leave it that way.

“This type of situation gets talked about outside here. My role is to get the team ready for the game, that’s the main thing. All the other stuff is for the papers and fans, I suppose.”

Asked whether he was still the coach to lead St George Illawarra, Griffin said: “Yeah, obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here (as head coach).”

St George Illawarra’s defence has been torn apart over the past two games during losses to Brisbane (32-18) and Sydney Roosters (54-26). Last weekend, St George Illawarra slipped out of the top eight, replaced by Manly, their opponents.

Michael Weyman has no time for players who leak to the media.

“We have to be better defensively. It hasn’t been our best two weeks defensively. A couple of weeks before that against Canberra (12-10) and South Sydney (32-12) we were really tight,” Griffin said.

“We’ve have just been inconsistent and we need obviously our best game of football (against Manly). There’s been some really strong performances but the inconsistency of our best and the last couple of weeks is the thing we’ve got to get right.

“I’m sure we’ll be heaps better (on Friday night) but Manly are a great side and they’ve been in good form through the middle of the year. They are a big, mobile side who have a lot of strike. It’s a big week for us – and them. We are both in similar positions on the ladder. It should be a great game.”

The individual battle at halfback between Queensland stars Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly) and Ben Hunt (Dragons) should be fascinating.

“They are two great halfbacks playing against each other,” Griffin said. “They make for a big attraction for everyone to come and watch.”

Griffin hopes the emotion of his club announcing their Team of the Century will inspire and galvanise his side.

Dragons held hostage by own cap debacle

- David Riccio

The Dragons salary cap is frozen to the point that, unless they begin tapping players on the shoulder, they will be unable to sign a marquee player next year.

While pressure from back-to-back floggings has put pressure on coach Anthony Griffin, the blowtorch should be on past management for rubber-stamping a string of mega-deals that have backfired.

An unfathomable club-record $3 million contract for Zac Lomax – signed in 2020 – that runs for another four years, Jack de Belin on almost $700,000 for another two seasons and Ben Hunt’s $1.2 million contract have put a handbrake on the club’s recruitment.

Additionally, a huge rise written into the contract of rookie halves Jayden Sullivan and Junior Amone, are also contributing factors.

Zac Lomax celebrates a try against the Roosters in Round 18. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The club’s salary cap woe is evident in the fact that with four months until day one of the 2023 pre-season, the Dragons have been unable to replenish the roster by signing a single player from outside the club.

All their recruitment and retention work has been focused on stitching up the contracts of their elite juniors and most consistent NRL performers, including Jack Bird and Francis Molo.

Hunt, one of their best, is expected to be offered a drastically reduced deal.

The departure of highly-paid forward Tariq Sims to Melbourne next season has slightly aided the Dragons’ cause to retain their best young talent.

But more than just Sims will have to go if the Dragons want to advance their roster in 2023.

It’s expected that off-contract NRL players Billy Burns, Poasa Faamausili, Jackson Ford, Jack Gosiewski, Josh McGuire, Tautau Moga have either already, or will be told, they are free to negotiate with rival clubs.

It’s understood on-contract forward Josh Kerr has approached the club for permission to test his worth at a rival club.

Will Josh Kerr find a new home? Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Time is no longer on Dragons coach Anthony Griffin’s side.

The majority of the Dragons lopsided salary cap was bent out of shape prior to Griffin’s arrival.

It led to the coach buying veterans Andrew McCullogh, Moses Mbye, George Burgess, Aaron Woods and McGuire, as a way to buy time in the process of massaging the cap back into shape.

But time is no longer on Griffin’s side.

The only way out is to clean house at the end of this season, led by offering to pay a portion of either Lomax or De Belin’s contract, to play at a rival club.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Dragons officials issue warning over player accused of leaking information to media