Just for a moment, let’s all imagine that our employer approaches us on a Friday afternoon with some concerning information about our workplace futures.
Let’s pretend that the boss bids us a happy weekend with the news that at the completion of our current contract, our services shall not be required.
Essentially, the top brass like us, think we are a decent hard-working employee, yet also hold a collective belief that more efficiency and productivity could be achieved by employing someone else in the job.
The message is rather curiously delivered with something of a caveat -feel free to re-apply for your position, yet be aware we actually see the organisation’s future featuring someone else in the role.
Fundamentally, that is the situation in which St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin finds himself, with the entire rugby league community all well aware of the fact the club is looking for a new coach and is not particularly happy with his performance.
The messaging has been simply astonishing. The mental gymnastics required to navigate the Dragons’ approach to their coach hunt are challenging.
The personal toll on Anthony Griffin cannot be understated. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Should the re-application take place come season’s end, Griffin’s task will be to convince the board that he is indeed the man to take the Dragons forward into their next phase of success.
Yet, the suits have already rather bluntly suggested that he isn’t, by announcing the club will begin interviewing candidates for the position in the near future.
So let me get this straight. In essence, the board are quite publically indicating they are in active conversations with potential new head coaches, determined to find the best person for the job, yet will also reconsider Griffin’s resume should the quest turn up little of substance?
How on earth could Griffin be expected to accept such a new contract should the perfect fit not emerge, let alone continue to complete his current tasks without feeling completely undermined and undervalued in the current circumstances.
Effectively, the Dragons have created a workplace nightmare for the 56-year-old, one that no employee should have to endure.
The lack of dignity, grace and respect surrounding what has become a somewhat difficult saga to watch and follow, is simply an insult to a professional football coach attempting to do his job to the best of his ability.
Like many, I’ve been contracted to complete different periods of employment over the years. Usually things have gone well and every now and again, once the contracted time elapses, both parties have moved on.
Perhaps the employer achieved their goal, got the job done and moved on to the next challenge. Maybe, the job done was not quite what they had hoped for and the organisation then decided to go down another path.
Either way, there is simply no need to approach the contracted individual and effectively inform them that should another contract period be advertised, they would prefer to employ the services of another, yet would also be happy to reconsider them as a candidate should the other applicants not cut the mustard.
Frankly, you and I would most likely tell them to go and jump in the lake, or perhaps something far stronger, and seek out a position within a business that has at least some sense of decency and fairness.
Should Griffin consult a medical professional, acquire a certificate citing workplace stress and take immediate leave from his post, I would not be in the slightest bit surprised. The physical and personal toll must be immense and something he does not deserve.
Naturally, the club’s focus is on their own interests. Board member Peter Doust is reportedly proving to be a road block when it comes to the potential appointment of former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and Billy Slater has silenced any discussions before they begin, with a firm no delivered after his interest was gauged.
Shane Flanagan. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Should it all go pear-shaped for the Dragons and no suitable candidate emerge, Griffin’s ego will then be massaged by the club, lies will no doubt be told and an effort will be made to hoodwink fans, by suggesting that not doing the due diligence of seeking out the best coach’s on the market would have been a dereliction of Dragon duty.
In reality, St George Illawarra have treated Griffin like trash and with disdain.
For that, those pulling the strings, making the decisions and spinning the narrative, should be ashamed.
Redcap
Roar Guru
That wasn't a problem at Penrith when Gus was around. :happy:
KenW
Roar Rookie
Yes that was a different situation where the coach made the call to leave. Much more commonly though it's the club ditching the coach rather than the other way around.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
After reading many of the comments on here & thinking about the coach situation at any club. I think it’s fair to say that there is no very good way of getting rid of one coach, to replace them with another. Except the situation where the club has a fantastic coach that they wish to keep, who plans to retire. Then it’s easy, as they can employ a coach as an assistant for a few years before he gets the main job. However, how bad is it to get sacked as a coach? It’s much the same as an executive at a company being replaced. They’re usually on excellent pay & executives get a big pay out to leave. Most of these coaches are on very good contract money. If sacked early, they’re paid the rest of their contract money . If they coach until the end of any particular contract, they collect all the contract money. Then they can coach in the Super League, if not in the NRL . Or can be assistant coaches at many different clubs over time , if the right sought of coach. Just like John Cartwright. Don’t be too broken up about the high profile coaches losing their place at a club. Most will be just fine.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Tony, Napisan goes ok, a little on the stain and the rest in the wash.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
Probably money
Panthers
Roar Rookie
West’s with Ivan Cleary was a different situation. Yet they knew Cleary was going to Penrith after his then current contract had ended. So it wasn’t worth them keeping him around either.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Ive been thinking on this topic as more articles appear. Who of us knows what internal discussions have been held with Griffin? There is no orderly process to test the market and secure the best available coaching team for long term success that will not hit the media in the final year of the current coach contract, nor that will have zero impact on the current season. StG have to have an answer before the next recruitment period and now the inevitable task is how to go about minimising impact on the current season. I see criticiSm about the process and timing as ill informed media beat up. It’s the classic talkback radio shock-jock model in the mainstream NRL media: they don’t know or care what is really happening, their job is to speculate wildly in order to fabricate controversy about which they can get all hot and bothered and fill their show or column with easy to write opinion and further speculation. It’s not real, it’ is opinion not reporting, it is shameless soap opera and gossip. Shows like NRL 360 are just cheap-to-produce filler - you sit a bunch of self important and opinionated gasbags around a table and let them speculate and argue for an hour. Then their uninformed speculation feeds clickbait headlines for fluff piece articles on their employers online media sites… then they move on to a new “issue” when it suits them. The gossip/opinion media preference is to start death riding coaches prior to the beginning of each season, string this out to fill column after lazy column with criticism and speculation until someone is sacked. An orderly process that is conducted behind closed doors without leaks is the very last thing these media goons want, they don’t even get to claim “credit” for another “scalp”. The StG process looks like the most orderly process they could come up with to secure the best available coaching team for the future, timed to avoid uncertainty for the next recruitment window. I assume internal discussions were held with Griffin. He was already awarded a contract extension to demonstrate his worth and the current process appears to provide a framework for him to continue to the end of the current season. If we accept that there is NO perfect process… I ask what process would satisfy the critics who are proclaiming the current process is “disrespectful” and flawed?
Gus O
Roar Rookie
You have to think StG had their reasons, maybe they wanted to resign Hunt first, maybe they wanted to know for certain that Hook isn’t the right man for the job, or maybe they just kicked the can down the road until they worked out their best process for securing the best available option.
peeeko
Roar Guru
“ Frankly, you and I would most likely tell them to go and jump in the lake, or perhaps something far stronger, and seek out a position within a business that has at least some sense of decency and fairness.” You really think there are similar jobs out there for Hook? Clubs are interested in him ? As for mental anguish - he’s being considered for the job along with others because they aren’t happy with the performance. If he can’t handle that then he shouldn’t be a coach .
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Not directed at this article or author, but It would be laughable for gossip mongers in the media to claim disrespect towards Hook when they had already begun death riding him before the season even began. Disrespecting and death riding coaches is an annual sport for these pretenders.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
the kiddies would come from far & wide to see the great man immortalized.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Under what circumstance was the hunt for a new coach not going to hit the media? The media had begun death-riding Hook before season 2023 even began, and everyone knew his contract expires end of season. Noone knows what internal discussions have been held with Hook, I agree that Hook and the current season deserve respect, but this article presumes disrespect and i find that disrespectful.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Why would the board of any club feel pressured by the self serving speculation of stooges in the media? Any club that does is literally foolish. Hunt has a contract with StG regardless of who is on the coaching team. Look at how it just worked at Manly, senior players were making supportive statements wanting Des to stay… right up to the moment he was sacked. Shortly after Siebold was contracted senior players began making supportive statements about working together for the future under Siebold. Hunt must say publicly that he supports Hook, the senior players must be saying this to the entire squad - it’s the only way they can encourage the team to continue to work together and respect the coach for this current 2023 season. What else can Hunt do? But the ridiculous boneheads in the media elevate this to gormless hysterical speculation that Hunt will leave if Hook doesn’t get another contract extension. Please… I note that DCE and the entire Trbojevic extended family remain at Manly. There has been no exodus of players from Manly, nor was there from Cronulla in 2021 through their horrible process with John Morris. And… StG still need to be actively working on a long term replacement for the aging Ben Hunt, who should be mentoring the next generation through the final years of his playing career.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
Some stains are almost impossible to get rid of
KenW
Roar Rookie
Yes, they apparently did a 'good' coaching transition that time. Knifed Mary mid-week late in the season, appointed an interim coach that wanted the lead role, then signed Hook a few weeks later because they decided they needed experience and he was pretty much the only guy available that fit the bill. Is it any surprise they are trying to do it differently this time?
KenW
Roar Rookie
The trouble with transposing that to NRL coaches is the media attention. Even picking up the phone and sounding out a prospective coach gets you in the newspaper.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Seems a fairly out-there scenario. Hunt's original 5 year contract was ending this year, he signed a 2 year extension in the off-season. When he signed that extension the Dragons were apparently wooden spoon favourites and Hook was odds-on to be the first coach fired in 2023. Why would he change his mind now that the Dragons don't appear headed for the spoon and Hook seems likely to see out the year?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Maybe instead of a statue they build a Dufty Speedbump in the carpark? They could name it the Bumpty Dufty.
Jamo
Roar Rookie
Looks like Peter Doust has his fingers in the pot again. Didn't we get rid of him? He is a toxic stain on our club and should get no say in the day to day running of it he tarnished our name when he was CEO and now he's at it again. Get rid of him!!!
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
True, but who are they going to buy? The current recruitment team could probably waste that in a week