Gould 'surprised' as Dragons poised to appoint coach

Jason Ryles could be announced as the Dragons' new coach by the end of the week.The Sydney Morning Herald reports a board meeting could take place as early as Thursday night after their game against the Dolphins in Redcliff.The axing of Anthony Griffin saw assistant Ryan Carr promoted into the hot seat. He took the side to a thrilling last-minute victory against the Roosters last week.Ryles is asking for a five-year contract to turn the Dragons into a premiership-contending side. It's a similar deal to what Cameron Ciraldo was given at the Bulldogs.Former Red V players Ben Hornby and Dean Young are still thought to be in the picture.Carr is tipped to return to an assistant role regardless of who takes over as coach. He indicated on Wednesday he wasn't interested in taking on the top job full-time."That's not really for me to comment on; the club has asked me to do a job right now," he said."I'm going to try to do that to the best of my ability. Whatever happens next year, happens."All I'm worried about is the Dolphins … that's all I'm focused on. As soon as you look outside of things, there's no point spending energy on it because it's a waste of time."League great Phil Gould said he would be "very surprised" if Ryles ended up at the Dragons."I know they've all had it in print but I'd be very surprised," he said on Nine's 100% Footy.Nine's Danny Weidler said the Roosters are already eyeing three-time premiership player Jake Friend to take over Ryles' job, but that Ryles was only "50-50" to end up at the Dragons.But Gould disagreed."I don't even think it's (50-50). I don't think he's going to the Dragons," he said."I think Jason Ryles is probably a longer-term fix at the Melbourne Storm, if and when Craig Bellamy gives it away."

He's mad - Legend's pick to sort out Dragons mess

Brad Fittler has revealed the man he believes could rescue the Dragons from its current predicament as the club searches for a new coach.In the days leading up to Anthony Griffin's sacking, a representative of current Argentina rugby union coach Michael Cheika approached the Dragons about their interest in the Super Rugby winner - however, the Dragons have since indicated he's not a serious contender.Fittler believes Cheika - who coached Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup - could make an impact at the struggling NRL club."(If) Michael Cheika put up his hand, mate he'd be able to sort out a board," he told Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth."He's mad, got a bit of madness in him."Fittler, who has also previously coached Lebanon as well, believes Cheika's experience with the country could have him primed a joint-venture club like the Dragons."He understands politics because he's grown up with it his whole life through the nature of being Lebanese," he said. "It's unreal, I coached the team, it's hilarious, they're the best but it's tricky."Since the Dragons won the competition in 2010, the club has yet to see any premiership success.Wayne Bennett left in 2011 for the Knights with Steve Price, Paul McGregor, Dean Young (interim) and Griffin all coaching since his departure.The Dragons aren't the only joint venture club to struggle in recent years, with the Wests Tigers also falling on hard times.Rugby league great Andrew Johns said both clubs needed strong figures to take charge saying, "there needs to be a broom through the whole place" when referencing the Dragons."If you've got a strong coach that's the thing, there was probably politics that were going on there (Tigers in 2005) but when you're winning you don't hear from them," he said."The key is you've got to win."Wayne made the big decision (when starting at the Dragons), he said, 'Righto we're training at Wollongong' because before Wayne they used to train between Kogarah and Wollongong."That's what you need, someone to make those strong decisions."Fittler added the problems around the club's board - that's split between members from St George Leagues Club, WIN Corporation and the Illawarra Steelers - played a part when former coach Paul 'Mary' McGregor was sacked."I remember talking to Mary when he lost his job, he got to a top four position and 15 months later he couldn't pick his own team," he said. It's laughable."To think that a board can come in and think that they should be part of picking a team, it's hilarious."