League legend Andrew Johns has put St George Illawarra on blast for the baffling decision to extend coach Anthony Griffin’s contract prematurely.
The Dragons announced a contract extension for Griffin before a ball had been kicked this year, despite the lack of competition for the coach’s signature.
After five rounds they have one win next to their name. The Red V have won one of their last 13 games under Griffin.
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Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth, Johns questioned why the Dragons felt the need to add a year on to the coach’s contract before the season had started.
“I have no idea, absolutely no idea why they would extend,” Johns said.
“You would have to talk to people on the board, people at the club. But from the outside looking in, you would say was there anyone looking to buy Anthony Griffin? You would say no.
“So I have no idea, couldn’t give you an answer.
“So their decision is purely to stop people publicly speculating who’s going to be coach… if that is the reason they extended him, they need their head read.”
The Sydney Morning Herald last week reported the Dragons will need to pay Griffin $475,000 if they sack him mid-season, while Paul Gallen wrote in his column for Wide World of Sports on Monday that it was “harsh” to have his head on the chopping block so soon after the Dragons extended them.
Gallen added that Shane Flanagan, who is on the Dragons’ staff, would be the ideal replacement should Griffin get the chop.
He is one of the lowest paid head coaches in the NRL.
The Dragons face the Knights on Easter Sunday.
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