With Griffin fighting for his future and coming off back-to-back defeats, the Dragons put in their most complete performance of the season at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.
Jacob Liddle starred in his first game as starting hooker for the Red V, while Ben Hunt scored a try and set up another in the crucial win.
Talatau Amone also set up one try on his return from off-field issues at five-eighth, with Jayden Sullivan out nursing a shoulder injury.
But the game wasn't without concern for the Dragons, with Jaydn Su'A suffering a calf problem.
Su'A, Mikaele Ravalawa and Jack de Belin also finished the game on report.
The Dolphins also have more injury concerns after Anthony Milford limped from the field early with a hamstring injury.
Already without halfback Sean O'Sullivan, Wayne Bennett is likely to have to throw Kodi Nikorima into the halves against North Queensland on Friday if fit after a concussion.
The effect of those injuries is now beginning to show after a second straight loss following a hot start to the season.
They scored the first try through Jamayne Isaako but were poor defensively after that as the Dragons broke their line nine times and were beaten through the middle.
The Dragons, at least for now, have less issues.
They will be relieved to finish Saturday in the top eight after senior player Moses Mbye admitted the Dragons' year was already at a crossroads this week.
With Griffin told the Dragons are considering their options for next year, he will have the chance to push his cause against Gold Coast, Canberra, the Sydney Roosters, Canterbury and Wests Tigers in the next five weeks.
After Liddle was moved to starting hooker, the former Tiger got the Dragons their first points when he darted over from dummy-half.
He was instrumental again in their next try, getting out of dummy-half and firing a ball for Blake Lawrie to barge over.
After the Dragons went to the break 12-8 up, it was the Ben Hunt show in the 25 minutes after halftime.
The fierce Griffin defender did it all himself when he charged over from close distance, running between Connelly Lemuelu and Ray Stone.
The halfback laid on another try when he fired a long pass for Mikaele Ravalawa to cross and put the game beyond doubt.
It was the first of two tries to Ravalawa, who finished off another effort on the right wing, while Zac Lomax and Tyrell Sloan also both bagged four-pointers.
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