St George Illawarra captain Cameron McInnes has lifted the lid on his shock move to Cronulla, signing a four-year deal at the Shire from 2022.

The NSW Blues squad member's future in Kogarah had been under question in the off-season as he entered the final year of his contract in the Red V, with reports suggesting McInnes and coach Anthony Griffin failed to see eye-to-eye.

Speaking on his relationship with Griffin, the Saints hooker told The Big Sports Breakfastย that it was "unfortunate" to read up on a suggested rift between the pair, stating he has enjoyed his time under the former Brisbane and Penrith coach.

โ€œHook (Griffin) has brought a real toughness in how he wants to play and I have really enjoyed it,โ€ McInnes said.

โ€œTo be honest it is probably less awkward now and I had a good chat with Hook yesterday and we are on the same page in terms of getting after this season.

โ€œI am 27 now and it feels like Iโ€™m getting on a bit, so I am not looking to waste a year thatโ€™s for sure.

โ€œHook said I will be playing hooker or No.13 this year, but it is just about getting better.

โ€œIt is unfortunate (the Griffin conjecture) and I donโ€™t put my head in the media too much, but I have seen a couple of things.โ€

Griffin took over the reigns at the Saints following on from a disappointing campaign under Paul McGregor in 2020, with McInnes stating his close relationship with 'Mary' perhaps played a part on developing the portrayed fracture with Griffin.

โ€œWhat you have got to remember when Mary (Paul McGregor) brought me to the club they were coming off a really poor season and they were under the pump, but he still gave me a chance and I was nowhere near established at that time," he said.

โ€œTo give this young kid a starting hooker role at a great club was a big risk by him, so I am forever going to be loyal and grateful to him for that and he will be a friend for life.

โ€œI was upset when Mary left because I am so close to him, but I understood a change needed to happen.

โ€œBut Iโ€™ve really enjoyed working with Hook and this is only my fourth week back after Christmas, so that was probably part of it, that I didnโ€™t get too meet too much with him before Christmas and build that relationship.

โ€œTo hear those things is disappointing because it is almost like you canโ€™t show loyalty to someone and then not have a relationship with someone else, so thatโ€™s the hardest part of it.โ€

McInnes added that while it was a disappointing outcome in leaving St George Illawarra, he was thankful for the Dragons' understanding.

โ€œIt was not an easy decision to leave the club,โ€ he said.

โ€œI think the Dragons made a statement yesterday that sums it up best that we had different time frames in terms of a deal.

โ€œI was pretty keen to get it sorted well before the season kicked off, where as understandably the club is going through a transition period and they need a little bit longer.

โ€œIt is unfortunate how it has worked out but I am really grateful to the club for being respectful and honest to me throughout the whole process and working with me.โ€

1 COMMENT

  1. Itโ€™s interesting that thereโ€™s already a suggestion, that a players not getting on with Griffin. Heโ€™s only just arrived!
    Whether thereโ€™s any truth in that or not & despite McInnes saying heโ€™s fine with Griffin . Griffin had a host of players wanting to leave Penrith & Brisbane, when he coached those two clubs.
    Usually, where thereโ€™s smoke thereโ€™s fire.

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