There's something about Anthony Griffin which makes you think he's been coaching in the NRL for years, rather than being a rookie first grade mentor in charge of a successful and powerful club.

Maybe it's the 44-year-old's Rockhampton upbringing, but there's a certain calmness and air of assuredness in how he goes about his business, which have many convinced that after just 12 games with Brisbane, he's headed for big things.

After a narrow first-up loss to North Queensland in his NRL debut, Griffin surprised everyone by producing seven straight wins from a team which contained many of his under-20 players from just a few years ago.

But his dream start has hit a wall.

Another loss to the lowly Cronulla on Friday night would have the knockers questioning his appointment.

Critics never worried Brisbane's former coach Wayne Bennett.

While Griffin has his own style and persona, you already know he won't be influenced or intimidated by public pressure or calls for his head should things get worse.

Bennett was never afraid to make the tough, unpopular calls, like sacking Wally Lewis as captain in his early years at the club.

Griffin has shown a similar mettle with his decision to rest stars Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday after representative games.

It's led to claims he is undermining Brisbane's premiership bid but again, like Bennett, he has stuck to his guns and backed his judgment.

That flicker of discontent could however turn into a flame should Brisbane lose again against the Sharks.

Griffin though was not showing any signs of wilting as the heat was turned up.

"It's important to us but it's not a defining time or whatever," he said when asked if Friday night's result was vital.

"We won seven in a row and people probably didn't expect that.

"If we go through a period where we lose a few in a row, it's just part of our season.

"The important thing for us is to concentrate on the big picture, keep putting in the hard work and everyone being honest and believing in the team."

Bennett used to say he learned more about his players and himself from a loss.

Griffin was the same.

"That's the thing with football and coaching and playing is you learn most when things aren't going well," he said.

"When everything is going well, everyone is patting you on the back and telling you how good things are travelling.

"As a team and coach and staff, the players need you the most when things aren't going quite so well and now's the time when we need to be at our best, coaches and players.

"The only way of getting out of losing a couple of games in a row is to work harder to win one.

"Every time you lose a game, you learn something.

"The important stuff is not to over-analyse it, not to over-coach and not to over-react."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP