Matty Johns makes staggering claim in Ben Hunt drama at Dragons

Matty Johns has weighed in on the dramas engulfing the Dragons, making the staggering claim that most of the team appears united behind a common cause after only three players showed up to the club's end-of-season awards night.

The Dragons' post-season plunged into further drama when 27 senior players reportedly didn't show up to an awards night, which captain Ben Hunt later described as 'disrespectful'.

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According to reports, Zac Lomax and Michael Molo were the only other players who were in attendance to see Hunt named the Dragons' player of the year.

The club has since put the mass absences down to the fact that the majority of players had booked end-of-season holidays.

Hunt initially said it was 'disappointing' that a number of teammates couldn't attend, before labelling it 'disrespectful' after being told that some players were reportedly in Sydney at the time but chose not to attend.

However, former rugby league player Johns has given a different take on the saga and said it might point towards the majority of players sticking together amid reports of unrest towards coach Anthony Griffin.

“I think we all know what’s happened here, the players are trying to send a message to the club,” Johns told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I know Ben Hunt has come as the captain and had a word to say, but what you’re seeing is the players are fairly united in whatever they’re protesting about.

“Whether it’s the way the club is being run, whether it’s the coach, whichever way, there’s so much going on at the club at the moment, this is symbolic of the trouble they’re in at the moment I don’t know how they get out of this.”

Dragons player drama continues

Speculation has been running wild about Griffin's position heading into the 2023 season.

Griffin is also without a contract in 2024 after a stuttering season that saw the Dragons fail to make the finals.

And this prompted reporter Julie Bishop to claim something 'stinks' within the club if reports turn out to be true that many chose not to attend the awards night.

“The whole thing stinks. The whole thing is telling me there’s massive dramas at the Dragons and players don’t want to be there," Bishop said on SEN.

"Especially if it is true that some players were a few suburbs away while three people were celebrating the year.”

Penrith great Greg Alexander claimed the whole saga reflects poorly on the Dragons and that Hunt could be 'filthy' behind close doors on how the incident unfolded.

Hunt is currently away with the Kangaroos at the rescheduled Rugby League World Cup in the UK.

The Origin hooker enjoyed one of his best years to date, making him a Dally M contender, but his club team languished in 10th spot.

Hunt said he would be looking to speak to some players when he gets back from international duty.

"A lot of players came to me when we found out about presentation night and mentioned they’d already booked holidays away," Hunt initially said.

“I did hear after it that there was a couple of guys that were in Sydney and I think that is pretty disrespectful.

“You’re part of the club, you’ve worked hard all year playing for them, you should come and celebrate the year.”

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