The Dragons have been criticised for “weak leadership” amid reports coach Anthony Griffin has been told he’ll need to reapply for his job and that the club will soon start interviewing potential coaches for 2024 and beyond.

The Nine papers report the under-fire coach has not yet convinced the club he’s the man to hold the job beyond this season, which is the third and final year of his current contract.

Griffin’s future was discussed at a board meeting on Tuesday and he has since agreed to fight for his future.

Despite the bizarre situation the Dragons still want to give Griffin time to prove he’s worthy of another contract, having missed the finals over the last two seasons.

“The Dragons believe they are being transparent with Griffin by informing him of their decision, rather than speaking to other coaches without his knowledge,” the report stated.

He has won 22 of his 53 games in charge of the club, a worse win percentage than predecessor Paul McGregor.

Roosters assistant and ex-Dragons player Jason Ryles is viewed as one of the frontrunners to become their next coach while the club will contact Craig Bellamy, as they did in 2012 when they tried to poach the Storm mastermind.

The Dragons won their opening game of the season over the Titans but collapsed late to lose badly to the Broncos this past weekend.

Reacting to the news on Fox League’s ‘NRL 360’, Paul Kent described the decision as a “real kick in the face” for Girffin.

“It’s not quite right… Griffin has been told that they are going to go out to market and start looking at other coaching possibilities,” Kent said.

“It is my understanding that Griffin won’t apply for the job.”

Braith Anasta said he believes the Dragons will make a “huge play” for Ryles, should it not work out with Griffin and that this is one way of kicking off that discussion early.

“The Dragons are thinking if we don’t go and get Ryles as soon as possible we will lose him,” added Anasta.

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio, meanwhile, said it was “weak leadership” from the Dragons to be considering such a move just a few weeks into the season.

“There was a board meeting held today, Griffin wasn’t there, but he was told earlier in the pre-season they would be scouring for options,” he said.

“The mere fact they told the coach that back then is ludicrous, it’s crazy. They had last year to make that call and start this year a fresh.

“Where is the strategy in recruitment when you have no idea who the coach is?”

Kent though said the topic of Griffin’s future at the Dragons is indicative of deeper issues at the club surrounding its identity.

“The problem with St George and the problem with the Tigers, is both teams more than 20 years into their life cycle now, are still being run as separate entities within their joint ventures,” Kent said.

“Both clubs need to become one club, there’s still basically a St George faction and an Illawarra Steelers faction.

“There’s like a jealous wariness of each other, one side doesn’t want to spend the money so the other won’t spend the money.

“Because of that they never have any success, they don’t plan, they are never pushing in the same direction together and this type of management is embarrassing.”

Paul Crawley, meanwhile, said that beyond the coaching there is also a need to address player development at the Dragons, declaring that the system “stinks”.

“They are two games into their season, they have performed pretty well in both games and here they have just pulled the rug straight from under his feet,” Crawley said.

“Because if you are going out to look for a new coach, you are looking for a new coach.

“I said it last week and I’ll say it again, we are yet to see St George Illawarra, in the current system, take a player and take him beyond what think.

“Look at clubs like South Sydney, Manly are doing it now, the Roosters, they are taking local juniors and turning them into out and out superstars.

“Dragons haven’t done it, they haven’t done it for years, the system stinks.”