Coastal ties still strong for Griffin
West Coast-bred assistant coach Slade Griffin knows first-hand the importance of the Warriors bringing NRL games to the South Island.
The 33-year-old former NRL hooker remembers being a young fan shivering in the crowd at Lancaster Park watching his boyhood idols.
“I grew up in Greymouth and I didn’t get to see a NRL game until I was about 16,’’ Griffin said ahead of the Warriors’ home game against the Canberra Raiders in Christchurch last night.
“There are a lot of rugby league tragics down here in the South Island, so it’s awesome bringing a game back to Christchurch.
“I remember being at the Warriors game here when the Warriors played the Roosters [in 2000] and Kevin Locke scored an amazing try. It was a typical South Island day, absolutely bucketing down and freezing, but they all turned up for the game still.”
The Warriors see themselves as a national team, and Griffin said they were excited to take the game around New Zealand.
There was a lot of sporting talent in the South Island in both rugby codes, he said, citing Griffin Neame “from the Coast’’ at the North Queensland Cowboys and Jordan Riki from Canterbury at the Brisbane Broncos.
He knows from his own experience how important it is to have a pathway to the NRL for South Islanders.
The Cobden Kohinoor junior left Greymouth High School to join the Melbourne Storm age-group system, eventually making his first grade debut in 2013.
At the Storm, legendary coach Craig Bellamy largely used the Kiwi rake as understudy to the NRL’s greatest all-time hooker, Cameron Smith. Knee injuries stalled Griffin’s career, but he did get an NRL winner’s ring in 2017, coming off the interchange bench in a grand final win over the Cowboys.
Griffin then switched to Newcastle, but after winning a Kiwis test cap against England in Denver in 2018, a third ACL rupture to his left knee prematurely ended his NRL career at 41 matches.
The Coaster came home to Aotearoa, joining the Warriors coaching staff in 2020.
Initially appointed as the Warriors’ NRL women’s team coach, he also served as a transitions coach, working with young players. In 2023, Griffin made a mark as head coach of the reserve grade team that finished third in the New South Wales Cup.
That earned him promotion as the NRL side’s forwards coach for 2024 after Justin Morgan joined the Cowboys.
Now Griffin gets to guide a seasoned pack with some of the best forwards in the NRL, including captain Tohu Harris, whom he played alongside at the Storm.
He regards it as a privilege to be working with elite players and serving under head coach Andrew Webster.
“I know it’s my first year with the forwards, but I’ve been around the NRL system for about five years. We’ve got real good continuity from last year, and I’m just trying to add my little touch on it by just sticking to how I like to coach.
“The boys are very good, they are an older experienced pack, good fellas who have a good time together.”
Griffin said while the Warriors pack were “very skilful and talented’’, they “work hard for each other as well, which is the pleasing part. We get to have a bit of fun with what we’re trying to work on.
“It’s a really well-respected pack. Mitch Barnett’s a hard worker and Dylan Walker, Bunty [Afoa] and Tommy [Ale] play their roles coming off the bench.”
At this stage of his career, Griffin, understandably, isn’t looking too far ahead. Asked if he aspires to be an NRL head coach one day, he said: “Possibly, but I’m in no rush. I love my job, I think Webby’s an awesome coach, I’m loving learning off him.
“I grew up supporting the Warriors so it’s just really cool being part of the club and wanting to help where I can, moving forward. And I love working with the forwards, it’s a really good role.”
While he’s been based in Australia and Auckland for the past 15 years, Griffin’s West Coast ties remain strong. He was looking forward to having “some family and friends from the Coast’’ in the stands for the Raiders game.
The Warriors’ travel and training schedules prevent him from making a quick flit across the alps himself this weekend, but his heart remains with the game in his hometown.
Like many Coasters, Griffin is excited about the Greymouth Greyhounds’ upcoming first season in the Canterbury club premiership and respects the dedication of players prepared to travel to and from Christchurch on top of their day jobs.