Sack Griffin

[Maddragon99]

The only reason Rava got caught as he was caught off balance when he broke the tackle and Naden was chasing at full tilt. Rava does take time to wind back up his top gear anyway

Lomax & Ravalawa are a genuine threat, I know some of Zac’s passes missed the mark but that was only his second game for months so you have to expect some rust. Zac’s pass for our first try was real class.

If Griffin is going to insist on playing Bird out of position then we need a left centre. Beale is costing 6-12 points a game. His defence against Penrith was pathetic.

I’m starting to resent Griffin & growing a complete destain for him.

 

[Maddragon99]

Way wrong about Fui, strong game again.
CC

Ford has definitely gone backwards this year, too many errors & missed tackles. Very unfortunate because he showed a lot of initial promise.

 

[SAP58]

Ford has definitely gone backwards this year, too many errors & missed tackles. Very unfortunate because he showed a lot of initial promise.

I agree amongst a lot of dissapointments this year he is definately one. I have been thinking a potential reason is his size, I think he needs to bulk up a bit as he doesnt impact the line with any great degree. So I looked up his stats, he is 95kg and in comparison Tariq is 106kg. That is a massive difference, another 5-6 kg in the off season could make a big difference to him in 2022. Another comparison to a running backrower Jaydn Su'A he is 100kg so I hope he bulk up a bit and regain some of his previous form as he is still only 23 and I would love to see him develop further.

 

[BBTB]

I agree amongst a lot of dissapointments this year he is definately one. I have been thinking a potential reason is his size, I think he needs to bulk up a bit as he doesnt impact the line with any great degree. So I looked up his stats, he is 95kg and in comparison Tariq is 106kg. That is a massive difference, another 5-6 kg in the off season could make a big difference to him in 2022. Another comparison to a running backrower Jaydn Su'A he is 100kg so I hope he bulk up a bit and regain some of his previous form as he is still only 23 and I would love to see him develop further.

Yes "Ford"has been very disappointing .Doesn't seem interested. You watch him plodding around in the back play.Got that miserable attitude, only just does what he has to......This attitude will
See him out the door...

 

[Coffs dragon]

Look I’m sure Griffin will see out his 2 year contract and deserves a clean slate in 2022. I’m not so sure about his assistants in Gentle & Elliot, they haven’t seem to added much in the skills development.
If I was the CEO of the Dragons, I’d be making a quiet & discreet play for Cameron Ciraldo to take over as head coach come 2023. He seems the next quality coach in waiting.

 

[Lovemedragons]

Blaming the referee is a sure sign of a desperate coach with no answers. Griffin only has himself to blame for the fiasco 2021 has become.

The Dragons need to be looking beyond Griffin he’s a fraud.

His sycophant with Corey Norman is indefensible, he’s consistently one the worst players every week. Corey is a rare player, he has far more try assists for the opposition than he does for the Dragons. He gave Penrith 2 last night.

We should have kept McGregor & made a big play for Fitzgibbon in 2022.

I have zero faith in Griffin, I think we’re in for a tough 2022. It’s a joke.

Blaming the refs was a desperate attempt to distract us all from the fact HIS chosen fullback dropped the ball returning a kick which led to a try. It wasn’t a shoulder charge, at least in historical terms, it was a player selected in the wrong position 2 weeks in a row making a fundamental mistake. Griffin is so far a major disappointment so no doubt he’ll get 5 more years with us.

 

[Trifili13]

Blaming the refs was a desperate attempt to distract us all from the fact HIS chosen fullback dropped the ball returning a kick which led to a try. It wasn’t a shoulder charge, at least in historical terms, it was a player selected in the wrong position 2 weeks in a row making a fundamental mistake. Griffin is so far a major disappointment so no doubt he’ll get 5 more years with us.

While it might not have been a shoulder charge in historical terms, I think it ticked all the boxes under the current laws that we are supposed to be playing under. Under historical laws we also only had 4 tackles at one stage, does that mean tries scored on the 5th and 6th tackles shouldn't count?

While it did not change the outcome, the teams that aren't part of the NRL favourites just want a fair go. It's hard enough playing with inferior quality players and to also have decisions go against you.

I like that Griffin had a go at the officials rather than just copping it on the chin. I think most of us Dragon's supporters are sick and tired of our club being bullied and not arking up. The Rooster's beat the Bronco's yet Robbo still had something to complain about that Radley was only trying to charge down the field goal even though the player was lucky he did not break his leg.

 

[Lovemedragons]

While it might not have been a shoulder charge in historical terms, I think it ticked all the boxes under the current laws that we are supposed to be playing under. Under historical laws we also only had 4 tackles at one stage, does that mean tries scored on the 5th and 6th tackles shouldn't count?

While it did not change the outcome, the teams that aren't part of the NRL favourites just want a fair go. It's hard enough playing with inferior quality players and to also have decisions go against you.

I like that Griffin had a go at the officials rather than just copping it on the chin. I think most of us Dragon's supporters are sick and tired of our club being bullied and not arking up. The Rooster's beat the Bronco's yet Robbo still had something to complain about that Radley was only trying to charge down the field goal even though the player was lucky he did not break his leg.

Haven't heard much from him on Ravalawa and the injustices that have been dealt to him along with the inconsistencies in interpretations between his incidents and others? He didn't need the distraction then I suppose. Sorry, the guy continues to pick Norman, he is a moron.

 

[I'm Hornby]

Haven't heard much from him on Ravalawa and the injustices that have been dealt to him along with the inconsistencies in interpretations between his incidents and others? He didn't need the distraction then I suppose. Sorry, the guy continues to pick Norman, he is a moron.

Go back and actually watch the post match press conference, when he brings up the Cleary shoulder charge he says Ravalawa has been suspended for less where he has hit people around the belly button.

 

[Lovemedragons]

Go back and actually watch the post match press conference, when he brings up the Cleary shoulder charge he says Ravalawa has been suspended for less where he has hit people around the belly button.

4 weeks too late Hornby

 

[OneEyedDragon]

4 weeks too late Hornby

Mate, gotta get a bit more upbeat! I reckon we have got Hook for at least another full year, maybe more. Gotta hope the new signings in the forwards lift them to at least being competitive in all games. Gotta hope the young kids add spark, skill and enthusiasm to the backs so we can score tries. Gotta hope Hook and Co have worked out how to actually coach the cattle they have. Without hope, I've got nothing to look forward to next year and beyond! Being a dragon's supporter can be pretty miserable without hope!

 

[Lovemedragons]

Mate, gotta get a bit more upbeat! I reckon we have got Hook for at least another full year, maybe more. Gotta hope the new signings in the forwards lift them to at least being competitive in all games. Gotta hope the young kids add spark, skill and enthusiasm to the backs so we can score tries. Gotta hope Hook and Co have worked out how to actually coach the cattle they have. Without hope, I've got nothing to look forward to next year and beyond! Being a dragon's supporter can be pretty miserable without hope!

thanks mate, I have been very negative and I hope you are spot on and it all comes up roses in 2022

 

[Gippsy]

Look I’m sure Griffin will see out his 2 year contract and deserves a clean slate in 2022. I’m not so sure about his assistants in Gentle & Elliot, they haven’t seem to added much in the skills development.
If I was the CEO of the Dragons, I’d be making a quiet & discreet play for Cameron Ciraldo to take over as head coach come 2023. He seems the next quality coach in waiting.

Yep, happy for Hook to see out his contract. But whoever is the defensive coach has to go. This compressed defence doesn't work. At times there were two Penrith players standing outside our winger, so it is pretty easy for the good teams to get around us out wide, as we have seen all too often this year.

 

[Maddragon99]

Look I’m sure Griffin will see out his 2 year contract and deserves a clean slate in 2022. I’m not so sure about his assistants in Gentle & Elliot, they haven’t seem to added much in the skills development.
If I was the CEO of the Dragons, I’d be making a quiet & discreet play for Cameron Ciraldo to take over as head coach come 2023. He seems the next quality coach in waiting.

I was thinking if Griffin survives the inevitable post season review I think we need some younger assistants. The coaching group has a ‘dads army’ look to it. Our tactics are outdated & we’ve struggled to adjust to the new ruck rules.

Interesting choice in Cameron Ciraldo, I like it.

 

[Maddragon99]

I just spent a locked down Saturday afternoon rewatching the round 5 game versus the Eels. It was an interesting exercise with the hindsight of the last 20 rounds.

Lomax was massive in defence and Dufty made the team look 100% better in attack. The linespeed was slightly faster but there was a real intent at the point of contact that made all the difference. AM's dummy half service was a lot faster but he was already cooked by the second forty. Norman was doing his best to manage the Eels back into the game and when the team came out in the second half they were ill-disciplined and off the pace.

Fast forward back to the present and Dufty has been banished, AM was showing the fatigue of a full season and impact and intent in defence has vanished.

What hasn't changed though is Norman is still being Norman (with the coach's full support) and deflating halftime speeches have seemingly become Hook's trademark.

The point being, many of the issues so frustrating now were actually present early in the season - just that there were enough positives to paper over the cracks. Now that these positives have been lost (defence) or removed (Dufty), it's difficult to see what Hook has managed to improve over the course of the season.

I never believed he'd solve everything in a year but thus far I'm not convinced he's solved anything much in that year either. With this trajectory, I don't see a lot of upside for 2022.

Really good post Mr Gourley, I completely agree. I feel the same about 2022 I’m not sure where the improvement comes from either. Our forward pack is looking good but there are still plenty of gaps in the squad. Amone, Sullivan, Ramsey, Sloan & the twins will all be regular first graders next year & so many rookies will present it’s own issues. Is Griffin the coach to harness all the talent? I don’t know.

 

[I'm Hornby]

I was thinking if Griffin survives the inevitable post season review I think we need some younger assistants. The coaching group has a ‘dads army’ look to it. Our tactics are outdated & we’ve struggled to adjust to the new ruck rules.

Interesting choice in Cameron Ciraldo, I like it.

Cool your jets a bit mate. I wouldn't hold your breath that there will be a post season review in to the coaching staff.

The reality is its their first year in charge and there wasn't high expectations on the team to deliver much this year anyway.

If next season is equally or more so disappointing it is likely Hooks contract won't be extended but until then you will have to keep your pitchfork and stake in the shed.

 

[Dragon David]

Yep, happy for Hook to see out his contract. But whoever is the defensive coach has to go. This compressed defence doesn't work. At times there were two Penrith players standing outside our winger, so it is pretty easy for the good teams to get around us out wide, as we have seen all too often this year.

I think we need to get rid of Gentle and possibly Elliott as well. Gentle's compressed methods in defence are not working and Elliott's attacking moves have not worked for ages. Hook needs guys who have been assistants in the NRL consistently for the past few years, not one who has been out for a while and one who had a hand in the last few games at the Broncos when Seibold got booted.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Griffin has lost me as a fan as I was really hoping he would have a great season to prove his critics wrong but he seems to be justifying their thoughts. He had Saints playing well and seemed to have found the right spot for players especially Bird. He and Lomax were the ideal centre combo. Since then he has had suspensions no doubt since Anzac game but when he can put a decent squad on the paddock he seems to get away from what was going well in the early rounds. The defence has dropped off, attack is non-existent and there is no heart at all. These guys are going through the motions. They clocked off ages ago. That is terrible signs from a coach and the club should really address this by getting rid of him asap. Maybe get that selections committee going again like they did with Mary. Both these coaches put their faith in Norman by picking him week in week out (Actually Mary dropped him once so he is ahead on Griffin in that regard). Next season will be no different. He definitely appears to have lost the dressing room. As soon as that happens then the board should act asap.

 

[BLM01]

Griffin has lost me as a fan as I was really hoping he would have a great season to prove his critics wrong but he seems to be justifying their thoughts. He had Saints playing well and seemed to have found the right spot for players especially Bird. He and Lomax were the ideal centre combo. Since then he has had suspensions no doubt since Anzac game but when he can put a decent squad on the paddock he seems to get away from what was going well in the early rounds. The defence has dropped off, attack is non-existent and there is no heart at all. These guys are going through the motions. They clocked off ages ago. That is terrible signs from a coach and the club should really address this by getting rid of him asap. Maybe get that selections committee going again like they did with Mary. Both these coaches put their faith in Norman by picking him week in week out (Actually Mary dropped him once so he is ahead on Griffin in that regard). Next season will be no different. He definitely appears to have lost the dressing room. As soon as that happens then the board should act asap.

I disagree vehemently about not playing with heart (team) and Griffin has lost the dressing room
I see effort every week but I understand their is a disconnect in communication as attack and defence execution has been below par for a while
There is a few other reasons you could look to first before going to the worst and last reasons and yes the coaching staff are partly to blame

 

[BLM01]

I think we need to get rid of Gentle and possibly Elliott as well. Gentle's compressed methods in defence are not working and Elliott's attacking moves have not worked for ages. Hook needs guys who have been assistants in the NRL consistently for the past few years, not one who has been out for a while and one who had a hand in the last few games at the Broncos when Seibold got booted.

Which assistants do you suggest that are better and looking for a gig?