Blake Lawrie says St George Illawarra’s players will continue to fight for coach Anthony Griffin as they look to arrest a six-match losing streak.
A 42-22 defeat at the hands of North Queensland on Saturday was the Dragons’ biggest loss in a slump stretching back to round six.
Despite the mounting pressure threatening Griffin’s future at the helm, Lawrie insisted the players remain right behind their embattled coach.
“One thousand per cent,” the forward told AAP.
“We’ve got a good group here. We’ve had six losses in a row but we can’t do anything about the past, we can only change the future.
“(Griffin) cares for all of us. He wants to win as much as everybody else and takes a lot of responsibility.
“He’s done a hell of a job and hasn’t changed the way he approaches anything in any way, shape or form. So credit to him.”
Before Saturday’s defeat, the Dragons had lost their previous five matches by a combined total of 13 points.
Those narrow margins have left the Red V languishing with a 2-8 record, second-last on the ladder and with difficult fixtures against the Sydney Roosters, the Dolphins, Penrith and South Sydney to come over the next four weeks.
Lawrie said his side must be willing to do more for each other if they are to end their horror run.
“If we do that we will get results, because we are putting in a lot of effort. You can’t fault it but it’s still not good enough, results are not going our way.
“We need to keep fighting, keep being persistent and hopefully things will turn.”