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Saints won't cop NRL bans being in vain

3 minute read

St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says the NRL must stay consistent with its crackdown, otherwise the carnage in Brisbane will be known as tragic round.

ANTHONY GRIFFIN.
 ANTHONY GRIFFIN. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Anthony Griffin doesn't want the bans of four St George Illawarra players to be in vain, warning last weekend will become "tragic round" if the NRL doesn't continue its crackdown on foul play.

The Dragons were the hardest hit club out of last weekend's carnage, with Josh McGuire, Tyrell Fuimaono, Mikaele Ravalawa and Tariq Sims suspended for a combined 13 games.

They have desperately tried to move on from the destruction, opting against challenging any of the bans and not discussing them in great detail publicly.

Griffin was not a fan of the sudden changes to the crackdown on high contact, but insists the NRL must now stay the course.

"What happened last weekend has happened. Personally I'd prefer it didn't happen but they're the rules and we've got to play by them," Griffin said in the lead up to the Dragons' clash with Cronulla on Friday night.

"The challenge for us as a game is going to be what happens from here on now.

"It needs to stay consistent now otherwise last weekend was tragic round.

"As long as they're the same rules every week now and for State of Origin and finals well then we're all on the same page."

Griffin in particular insisted he had no issue with the five games for Josh McGuire's hip drop on Josh Addo-Carr, after last weekend defending the tackle.

"Part of the reason he got five is because he's got a lot of carry overs," Griffin said.

"But if that tackle is going to be ruled out of the game, it's ruled out of the game.

"And as a coach I'm happy to go along with it."

Instead Griffin insisted the Dragons must see a silver lining out of the setback.

With Matt Dufty injured, Cody Ramsey will play fullback against the Sharks with the 21-year-old keen to one day claim the No.1 jersey.

Dufty has been great for the Dragons so far this year but is off contract at the end of this season.

Prop Jaiyden Hunt will debut from the bench, while the Dragons are set to wait a week before naming recruit Gerard Beale.

The 30-year-old Beale had retired from the NRL at the end of 2020 and was playing in the Queensland Cup.

He will play from outside of the Dragons' top-30 squad after being picked up this week.

"We can't be victims to this situation," Griffin said.

"There's a lot of things we're going to learn about ourselves positionally and emotionally over the next few weeks.

"And that'll only make us a stronger club."

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