Coach Anthony Griffin insists there was no extra pressure on St George Illawarra ahead of their first game of the year despite the highly-publicised off-season that preceded the 32-18 defeat of Gold Coast.
Criminal charges for two Dragons players, debate about Griffin's future, a player boycott of the club's awards night and an early-morning confrontation between teammates after the Charity Shield loss in Mudgee combined for a summer in the headlines.
