When St George Illawarra seriously considered recruiting Shane Flanagan as coach last year, there was strong opposition to the joint venture from St George.It had less to do with Flanagan’s past at rivals Cronulla, including the 2011 supplements scandal, and more to do with his son Kyle. Some directors feared that if they signed the father, the son would soon follow.When Shane signed for the Dragons on a three-year deal in June, it obviously didn’t include a ‘No Kyle’ clause, as his son had also been signed for two years in September.At that point, it was clear that the Dragons board and management had given the head coach the key to do whatever he deemed necessary to flip the switch on this Dragons football team.
more frustrating. That’s why it was reassuring to hear what Flanagan had to say after a contentious session against Manly last week about his ambitions for the 2024 season. Last race all the way.
We will be a difficult team to beat and we will try not to beat ourselves.It’s different now: a coach admits before the season that he doesn’t expect much.
You might as well book that trip to the Maldives in September, Dragons fans. There’s not much to do at home.However, Flanagan’s candor is to be admired. This is the first year of the club’s major reconstruction. There aren’t many more to get before fans leave. Dragons bosses held on too long with Paul McGregor, missing the ball by a yard with their aerial swing from Anthony Griffin and are now relying on Flanagan to save their football club.
People are too quick to judge teams based on two things: their position in the table and the quality of the player they can sign.
Flanagan was criticized this offseason for failing to pluck a big name from the player market. He missed Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden and Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake in the span of one day in December.He couldn’t lure St Helens star Jack Welsby from Britain, and less than $1.2 million a season could even remotely interest Roosters center Joseph Manu.The Dragons signed Warriors attacking midfielder Ronald Volkman, but club doctors did not look under the bonnet before agreeing terms and he was let go due to an existing shoulder injury.
