Not sure why you are focusing on me, other than I defended Griffin from some of the insults sent his way. You are very quick to make statements misrepresenting what I have said or more importantly, what I did not say. You seem to think I didn't believe the rumours and I'm not sure how you you would know that, since you didn't ask me.
Personally, I was of the view there is no smoke without fire but after we beat the Dragons with an outstanding performance and found ourselves top of the table after a horrific injury toll, I thought that maybe Griffin had the hearts and minds of the team after all. It would appear that wasn't the case.
Things are never as black and white as people like to think. He should have been sacked you say, in your usual "I know all the answers" manner. Instead the club extended his contract in a show of support. Rather than ranting, you should ask more questions. Why extend his contract? Why would a board full of intelligent, experienced people and advised by Gus, widely acknowledged as one of the finest minds in the game, decide to extend his contract? Well he was two for two and had shown a knack for bringing youngsters through that are ready to play on debut. Was the team playing exciting football? No, but they were winning and two for two is better than we have seen for most of our 41 year history. The decision is vindicated by this years results. 3 for 3. Only equaled by Gus in 41 years. Many more juniors blooded and all done with the youngest roster in the NRL.
If the Board hadn't extended his contract it would only have added to the whispers and undermined him completely. A statement like "we wanted see how he does this year" is tantamount to a vote of no confidence. Players can smell blood and the rumours would have escalated, as would the dissent. In fact, I think we would have struggled to make the eight this year. As I have said before, this scenario has been repeated many times in many other sports. The board threw everything in and decided to back him. In my view, they should have backed him or finished him up early, there are no half measures. They made the right choice. They gave him an extension, they gave him additional coaching resources. He had everything he needed to take the next step.
Nothing that has happened since changes that decision. His record is now 3 for 3 and he has had us as high as first with a horrific injury toll and the youngest roster in the NRL. He doesn't deserve the vitriol and hate spewed at him from you and others just because you don't like how the team plays. Even media commentators were acknowledging that his results are better than most coaches who still have jobs and it seems harsh. However, they also acknowledged that he has probably squeezed all the juice out of the lemon and he had got them as far as he can. The team is not playing good football, even if it is winning.
We know know with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight that Griffin couldn't make the next step in spite of the support and resources, so near, 3 for 3, yet so far.
