I think Griffin could probably be a decent first-grade coach... eventually. Unfortunately, he was pitchforked in before he was really ready and has been found wanting as a result.
I understand wanting to show loyalty to players and give them an opportunity to develop, but too many are under-performing and playing out of position. If either Hannant or Martin were to be dropped, you'd think it would be the latter since Martin has been playing worse and worse of late while Hannant has been improving, albeit slowly. Instead, Hannant was shuffled off to Queensland Cup. While we finally got Hala as a result, the team would have been better with Hannant instead. Not enough to win this game, but still better.
Stopgap solution at minimum has to be Martin out for Hala, Hoffman to Wing, Copely out, Granville to five-eighth. It's far from ideal, but pretty much anything would give us more firepower than we currently have.
For what it's worth, I bear Copely no ill will; he was pretty good as a centre earlier in the season, but just doesn't have the pace and positioning instincts to play wing. He's obviously a workhorse second-row or centre, which is why he goes and we keep Oates on the bench for impact.
Moving Hunt to halfback was, with the benefit of hindsight, a good choice. The problem is that's about the limit of Griffin's innovation.
Give him a year or two under Bennet and he could be a long-term head coach. As it is he may have to follow Walters' path through the wilderness to get back to the top.
