Dragons ‘promise’ Griffin departure following George Burgess blast

Just a week after criticism from George Burgess, reports in Australia suggest St George Illawarra Dragons are set to part with head coach Anthony Griffin following the conclusion of the 2023 season.

After he was released from his contract with the Dragons after just one season, Burgess hit out at Griffin’s approach during his time at the club.

“I just didn’t get along with Hook (Griffin) and he made it pretty clear to me, he pretty much wrote me off,” Burgess told The Daily Telegraph.

“I wasn’t too keen to go back to train under him to be honest. At the end of the day all you want is a coach to believe in you. There is no point me going back there if the coach doesn’t believe in me.

“I said if you don’t want me you are going to have to release me from my contract. We sort of came to an agreement.”

Following Burgess’ comments, another player, Jack Gosiewski, also blasted Griffin’s approach upon his exit from the club.

Gosiewski failed to make a single appearance from Round 12 onwards after he dropped out of the squad that week to be with his wife for the birth of their baby boy – something the player claims Griffin held against him.

Now it appears the club have acted after young guns Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan requested a release from their contracts due to a lack of first-team opportunities under Griffin.

The duo are highly-rated by the hierarchy at St George and after a conversation with the club’s powerbrokers, Sloan and Sullivan have reportedly been told 2023 will be Griffin’s last season at the club.

WWOS reports Sloan and Sullivan were ready to sign deals elsewhere until hearing of Griffin’s departure, with the young pair now prepared to stay knowing there will be a new coach at the helm.

It has been a period for the Dragons who, after a tough season on the pitch, only had three of their top 30 players turn out for the club’s season awards night.

The comments by Burgess and Gosiewski added further fuel to the fire that there is a culture problem at the club, with many believing Griffin to be a big part of the problem.