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‘Game of Thrones’ told the tale of the fictional kingdom of Westeros, where powerful royal families connived, plotted and backstabbed amongst themselves to improve their place on the Swords and Sandals Power Rankings and move to the top of the pile astride the very prickly looking Iron Throne.
The machinations included great families from the seven kingdoms and countless other influences from within and around Westeros, all vying to exert their will and influence.
While it seems like 2010 was the last time that the Dragons’ union of Illawarra and St George were able to spend an extended period outside the marriage counsellor’s office (they had the appointment immediately following the Wests Tigers), what is becoming increasingly clear is that dark and dangerous forces are at play. These forces are hatching a not-so-subtle plot to undermine any remaining authority vested in the current coach.
While few Dragons fans would profess satisfaction with the coach over the last two seasons, we should all beware of the way these forces are manipulating events until we hear that all-too-familiar announcement of ‘full support of the board’. Most Dragons fans want him gone but do we really believe that such blatant manipulation will result in a stronger club culture and a higher winning percentage?
Tyrell Sloan of the Dragons. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
While there has been a steady stream of ‘player dissatisfaction’ media stories throughout the 2022 season, mostly centered on Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan, the quantity of these has exploded over the past few weeks and particularly since the Hasler sacking came to a head.
However, the tone and credibility of these stories have reached peak ridiculousness.
Last week I was reading that Hook had lost the dressing room because George Burgess didn’t feel appreciated. Now, I hear that Jack Gosiewski feels he wasn’t treated fairly, and that Hook ruined his chance for a breakout year.
I will buy every day that Sullivan and Sloan went through periods of unhappiness and questioned their future at the club. It’s very clear that Hook and the entire football department have managed these young talents poorly and have fundamentally failed to communicate effectively. However, Burgess is a 30-year-old who retired after a hip replacement and a poor season in the English competition. Given a lifeline and a chance to prove himself on a one-year deal, he failed to impress after an injury stint before finding himself embroiled in sexual assault allegations.
Gosiewski fits every definition of journeyman and depth forward who, after stints with the Bunnies and Sea Eagles, he was released at the end of 2021 after just six first-grade appearances. 28-year-old edge forwards don’t have breakout years and the surprise about Burgess was that he was given a chance at all.
On the back of less-than-credible claims about the credentials of unwanted depth players, we also have Sloan’s change of heart after at least two release requests following a deep and meaningful with Craig Young and Ryan Webb. Further stories surface around the loss of a crop of Illawarra youngsters and the debacle of the Dragons award night no-shows. All these stories act to build an impression of a coach who has lost the support of the team, who is indifferent to having lost this support, and who is incapable of building a winning culture.
The political machinations at play within the Dragons are equal to a George RR Martin story, with any combination of media, player’s agents, St George faithful, Illawarra faithful, boardroom factions and the players themselves. While different threads can be tied to different parties – such as those from Illawarra having every right to be annoyed that next-generation players were allowed to be poached – the single prevailing theme is to build such a strong and overwhelming negative persona of Griffin to force the club to make an announcement of full support immediately prior to conducting an emergency board meeting.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It’s a very clear manipulation of the circumstances to force a situation where the club has no choice but to raise a ‘Vacancy: Coach Wanted’ sign.
I sit very amongst those that very much prefer that Hook was not the coach (at last count, approximately 97.5% of fans with 2% absentee). Even just a vague hint of an attacking plan more sophisticated than ‘Give it to Ben’ would have seen me give him the benefit of the doubt for another year. What worries me is that the approach being adopted to remove him will not create a stronger club culture or a more successful team.
Rather, it will act to reinforce the divides already present and reinforce the belief amongst some outside power brokers that they can manipulate the Dragons at will. This is a hallmark of a weak and indecisive club that does not have a united sense of purpose or vision for the future. It will reinforce a losing mentality in a club that has enough of a junior nursery that finals appearances should be a mandatory annual event.
My suspicion is that Hooks’ fate is already sealed: his departure is just a matter of time and most likely before Christmas. We will know this is the case if further hit pieces are released over the next few weeks: personally, I can’t wait to read Josh McGuire’s account that he feels reinvigorated from the healthy Warrington culture and Matt Dufty’s touching account of reuniting with Paul Vaughan.
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While I won’t be upset to see Hook depart, I am more disappointed that the Dragons are so weak to allow it to happen this way. I want to support a strong club that backs its team, particularly after another Shades of Mary (aka premature extension), and refuses to allow policy and decisions to be made by external forces.
In the meantime, those Dolphin memberships are looking mighty fine.
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