Anthony Griffin gives struggling halves no guarantees, outlines position plans for Jack Bird
Written By Ed Chisholm
@ChisholmEd
Jack Bird will be eased back from consecutive knee reconstructions via the back row, Anthony Griffin has revealed, as the new Dragons coach declares all spots in his starting side for next season are up for grabs this off-season.
Griffin started the latest chapter of his coaching career three weeks ago as the Red V returned for pre-season training, with the former Broncos and Panthers boss tasked with turning the once-proud club into a premiership force again.
Among the multitude of questions on Dragons fans' lips entering the 2021 season, those surrounding newest recruit Bird's position have been most prevalent.
The returning Dragons junior arrives from the Broncos with just 17 games in three seasons at Red Hill to his name, having contested with two knee reconstructions in that time.
On track to complete his rehabilitation in time for the Dragons' trial fixtures in February, Griffin believes Bird will be able to return to the heights that had him playing State of Origin while at Cronulla.
And while Bird played his best football at centre for the Sharks,
Griffin told Sky Sports Radio he has different plans for his newest recruit's return to the field.
"He's frustrated obviously over the last couple of years he's had with his body," Griffin said of Bird's recovery.
"He's got about a month left in his rehab but he's got a real spring in his step.
"We did a heavy conditioning session yesterday and he flogged it, he's just got a real hunger about him, Jack. Hopefully mid-January he'll join the main group and be ready to play in the trials.
"I think the thing with Jack at the moment is the simpler the better. We might play him in the back row where he doesn't have that one-on-one dynamic movement both offensively and defensively early in his football so he just gets in there and gets dirty and gets some carries, make some tackles, gets some confidence in his knee.
"Whatever is best for the team and Jack after that, we'll sort it out."
Dragons fans will be desperately praying Griffin holds the key to unlocking failed halves Ben Hunt and Corey Norman, who he coached while at the Broncos.
The star pair, who together are reported to be occupying close to $1.8 million in salary cap space, have individually and collectively been made the scapegoats of the club's struggles in recent years.
While Hunt spent time and excelled playing hooker at times this season under Paul McGregor, and has done so in the Origin arena for Queensland too, Griffin has been insistent on him returning to halfback next year.
"Ben's a quality seven that can play nine. He can do it at both ends and he's done it at both ends in representative football as well," Griffin said of his maligned playmaker.
"He's a halfback that's played finals football, he's played grand finals, he's played at Origin level.
"He's coming to a part of his career where he's 30 now so to really fulfill his career it's important that he plays his best football of the next two or three years."
As for Norman, Griffin was blunt in outlining what it will take for the hot-and-cold five-eighth to gain his loyalty.
"There's a lot of potential still to be unlocked out of Corey Norman but in the end that'll come down to what Corey wants to do with his career and he's got an opportunity to do some really good stuff with the club this year," he said.
"He's a really good quality player... but by his own admission, he's not where he's needed to be the last couple of years.
"I think the key for Corey is that he works really hard, he prepares well and he's probably been guilty of not doing that.
"His first month since I've been here he's been spot on. My focus with him is that he doesn't cut any corners, he works really hard and he puts the team first."
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But with promising playmakers Adam Clune and Jayden Sullivan showing glimpses of their talents this year also, Griffin has given no guarantees over Hunt and Norman's selection.
"With all the positions at the moment, they're up for grabs for whoever wants them and whoever's going to give to the team the most and perform in the off-season," Griffin added.
After three years out of the game following his last coaching stint with Penrith, Griffin's under no illusions as to the fact he's undertaken one of the hardest coaching jobs in the game currently.
While he's aware of the work still to be done before season kick-off in March, the new Dragons boss has been inspired by the attitudes of his players, both young and old.
"They finished bottom four the last couple of years so there's got to be some changes," he said.
"There'll probably be a couple more roster changes but in general it's fair to say we have underperformed.
"That's been a big focus for the first few weeks but their attitude's been very good, particular some of the older guys in the group like (Tariq) Sims and Norman, and I've been really impressed with the young brigade.
"We've got a really good younger group coming through and everything's been really positive."
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