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The Dragons reportedly approached Cameron Ciraldo just before the highly sought after Panthers assistant penned a deal with the Bulldogs.
According the Sydney Morning Herald, a St George Illawarra official approached Ciraldo but he knocked them back for the second time in three seasons and instead joined the Dogs on five-year deal.
Despite the rejection, the move spells bad news for the club’s current coach Athony Griffin amid plenty of turmoil at the embattled club.
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Premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan is working at the Dragons as the list manager but he’s made no secret of his desire to coach in the NRL again.
Griffin sacked his assistants Peter Gentle and Mathew Head last month, before the club also made the stunning decision to boot highly-respected former player James Graham.
This week they lowballed their best player and Dally M Medal contender Ben Hunt, offering the halfback a contract extension worth $350,000 less per season. Hunt reportedly baulked at the offer.
The recurring theme out of the Dragons is that all football decisions end with Griffin, but the lowball Hunt offer which would suggest the coach is no longer calling all the shots.
What’s more, according to the Sydney Morning Herald report, Hunt wants his future tied to Griffin who coached Hunt in the Broncos underage teams and is a huge fan of the classy No. 7.
Griffin was controversially extended until the end of 2023 before a ball was kicked this season, but now appears to be on the outer.
Griffin was signed on his reputation as a disciplinarian who could build culture and a rock-solid defence, but he hasn’t delivered on either.
St George Illawarra’s 2021 season nosedived after Paul Vaughan hosted a barbecue with almost half the squad in attendance in breach of Covid lockdown protocols.
They’ve also lacked discipline on the field this year, with Francis Molo and Moses Mbye suspended for the final two rounds of the season following high tackles last weekend.
Fox League’s James Hooper reported there was “unrest” within the Red V’s playing squad back in July.
Hooper said players had grown frustrated with Griffin’s perceived favouritism towards veterans.
That prompted Dragons officials to publicly lament players who leaked news to the media, explaining “you don’t go whinging and moaning”.
“The players that don’t want to stick together, well they’re not part of the team,” Dragons chairman Craig Young said to News Corp.
“The expectation at this club is that when things are tough and we find a way through it, to push through it to the other side.
“You don’t go whinging and moaning, you roll your sleeves up, work hard and get through it.
“You don’t go and whinge to whoever. We all have to stick together.”
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