Dragons loss to Raiders places additional warmth on Griffin

By Alex Mitchell in Canberra

PRESSURE is continuous to mount on under-fire St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin after the Dragons’ 20-14 NRL loss to Canberra.

Days earlier than an important board assembly that may form Griffin’s future on the membership, the Dragons took a 4-0 result in half time however have been unable to cease the Raiders within the second half.

It was removed from fairly by Canberra however an important victory nonetheless, with the membership successful consecutive video games for the primary time this season and transferring to 3-4 to maintain contact with the pack within the race for the highest eight.

A tackle-busting effort from Canberra centre Matt Timoko gave the Raiders the lead on 64 minutes, earlier than Hudson Younger sealed the take care of a exceptional length-of-the-field strive after a one-on-one strip.

The Dragons’ fourth loss in 5 outings couldn’t have come at a worse time for Griffin, who wants outcomes given his future will probably be determined within the subsequent month.

Griffin stated he wasn’t bothered when requested if the loss would impression his future, including his gamers’ need to battle for the jumper had by no means been a difficulty.

“I don’t actually have something to speak to you about that; I don’t create that, I’m simply extra nervous about our gamers, getting them over this and moving into the subsequent sport,” he stated, including he couldn’t query his gamers’ need.

“It’s a very powerful couple of weeks after we put ourselves ready to win two video games,” he stated.

“That’s by no means been a difficulty, we’ve simply acquired to play higher at important occasions, either side of the ball.

“They’ll flip it round, they’re workforce.”

Dragons captain Ben Hunt, who’s been vocal in his assist of Griffin, declared dedication to the trigger hadn’t wavered.

“For almost all of events, we’re taking part in fairly good footy… we’re simply costing ourselves,” he stated.

“We’ve been fairly dedicated for the previous couple of weeks… we’ve been scrambling laborious for one another however once more, simply foolish errors.”

After a dour first half, the Raiders got here to life early within the second with Seb Kris crossing by way of a slick move from halfback Jamal Fogarty, whereas highly effective centre Matt Timoko stormed over for 14-10 after Dragon Mat Feagai scored.

Younger’s herculean effort proved important, since winger Tautau Moga scored two minutes from time because the Dragons fired one final bullet in pursuit of the win.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart stated his aspect’s efficiency wasn’t the show he needed after their victory over Brisbane, declaring the one factor they’d backed up was amassing two factors.

“We weren’t good at present in quite a lot of areas of our sport, however the constructive is we get the 2 factors,” he stated.

“There’s been quite a lot of video games the place we’ve been excellent and we missed out ultimately.

“So many errors on sort out one… however to their credit score, they’ve a really wholesome need to win. These guys are aggressive bunch.”

It was a forgettable return to motion for winger Nick Cotric, re-aggravating a hamstring damage he suffered within the lead-up to spherical three and which had sidelined him since, and spending 10 minutes within the sin bin for a cynical sort out.

Fogarty continued a few of his finest type in inexperienced, pin-point kicking together with two compelled dropouts including to his slick help, whereas makeshift fullback Kris ran for a team-high 165m.