St George Illawarra CEO Ryan Webb says he hopes the sacking of head coach Anthony Griffin will help the Dragons salvage their disappointing NRL season.
The club this morning confirmed the immediate termination of Griffin's contract which was set to expire at the end of the season.
Mr Webb said the board's hand was forced after the Dragons slumped to a sixth-straight defeat against North Queensland at the weekend.
"It unfolded fairly quickly, the last 24 hours, the board got together last night and came to the decision it was time to part ways with Anthony," he said.
"I don't think it was one actual point in time that you could point to.
"Just a culmination over the last month-and-a-half or so with the results not going our way and the six straight losses it got to a point where the board decided it was time."
Since arriving at the club in 2021, Griffin has coached 58 games with the club recording 22 wins and 36 defeats.
This morning Dragons back rower Jack De Belin said the players should take responsibility for Griffin's dismissal.
"It is disappointing. As players we control their fate and we have not done a good enough job," he said.
"At the end of the day it is a results driven business and we just have not got the results for him so it is disappointing on our end."
Fans not happy
Jack Clifton from members group Red V said fans had been unhappy with board and coaching decisions at the club for some time.
"I think fans are fed up dealing with mediocrity and poor performances, but also upset with what is happening off the field," he said.
"I think the board needs to be held accountable."
Mr Webb said while the sacking was not in response to fans' frustrations, he hoped it would appease supporters.
"It is just the lack of success in recent times that has triggered these actions," he said.
"It just so happens that these actions will appease not just us internally, but hopefully appease those fans and sponsors and members who want to see good things for the club."
Assistant Ryan Carr has been appointed interim coach while the club begins the search for a full-time replacement.
Carr captained the North Queensland Cowboys U20s squad in 2008 and played for the Redcliffe Dolphins before signing with the Rabbitohs in 2012 but has not played first grade NRL.
As a coach he has worked in support positions for the Rabbitohs, Cronulla, then in 2019 coached the Featherstone Rovers in England before returning to Australia as an assistant and NSW Cup coach with Parramatta.
Mr Webb hoped the change of leadership would help energise the playing group to climb off the bottom of the table.
"He is going to come in with some strong ideas and he has a clear direction he wants to take," he said.
"Hopefully he will get a response out of the players and maybe that new voice will be something that can spark them."
Griffin's successor
The Dragons have already started the search for Griffin's successor, considering a number of coaching prospects from within the club's ranks.
Former prop Jason Ryles, who has worked under Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and Sydney coach Trent Robinson, and South Sydney assistant and former Dragons skipper Ben Hornby are understood to be names on the list.
"As far as who we are looking at next year, there are a few names who are in the mix," Webb said.
"We are hoping to get that to a conclusion soon and make sure the next person is someone who can hopefully lead us for the next three, five years, seven, ten years.
"A few of those guys and ex-players are definitely some of the candidates we are looking at."
