Dragons coach vows changes after 0-5 start to NRL season
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has hinted he will make wholesale changes to Friday’s must-win clash against Manly, ahead of a crucial month for both himself and the club.
The Dragons were booed by their own fans after their 32-0 defeat to North Queensland condemned them to a 0-5 start to the season and a ninth straight defeat if you factor in the four defeats they finished last season with.
Flanagan admitted ahead of the match that he needed to turn things around quickly to ease the pressure on both the club and his own position.
Club sources, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told this imprint on Sunday that Flanagan’s future had been informally discussed with the embattled coach, but no ultimatum or deadline had been set to bring the team back.
There have been no formal discussions about a possible coaching change by Dragons shareholders WIN Corporation or St George District RLFC.
Flanagan signed a two-year extension last August that will take him through the end of 2028. This decision has come under criticism, with the Dragons winning one in 10 games since then.
The experienced manager insisted on Sunday morning that he remains the best man to lead the club, but the next few weeks look crucial. The Dragons host a resurgent Manly on Friday, followed by games against traditional rivals South Sydney and the Roosters.
The Dragons have their first bye since facing the Tricolors on Anzac Day and continuing to lose in these fixtures will make Flanagan’s position almost untenable.
The club also told player representatives that all player contract discussions, including advanced negotiations with vice-captain Damien Cook, had been postponed due to uncertainty over Flanagan’s future and the squad in transition.
In addition to Cook’s one-year extension being suspended, negotiations with out-of-contract players such as Luciano Leilua, Tyrell Sloan, Christian Tuipulotu and Blake Lawrie have also been halted for now.
Flanagan will have to make do without co-captain Clint Gutherson, who will miss next week with a hamstring injury. There is also no guarantee that Daniel Atkinson will remain as a halfback after a lukewarm start to his career at the Red V.
“I’m 100 percent my best option, but I’m not worried about myself,” Flanagan told this imprint. “I’m moving on with life and chasing a win.
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, I know I can do it, it’s very difficult right now. Hard work doesn’t reflect on the field.”
“If I’m looking over my shoulder or worried about my job, I shouldn’t be doing it. We’re not good enough. The players need to step up… There will be some changes on Friday.”
Flanagan confirmed that Gutherson will undergo a scan on the hamstring injury he suffered against the Cowboys. Looks like he’ll miss the Sea Eagles game.
Tyrell Sloan is one option, while Flanagan said over the weekend that his club was aware of reports linking him with Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller but was unsure where the negotiations stood.
Fuller, 28, is free to leave the Dolphins if he can secure a starting spot elsewhere or secure a contract worth more money. The father of two is expecting a third child and is ready to move if the Dragons make a deal for 2027, which they haven’t done yet.
The Dolphins have stated they want to keep Fuller for 2027. There was even talk of Fuller taking out a short-term loan from the Dragons and returning to Redcliffe as the Origin franchise begins replacing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Dragons winger David Fale was charged with dangerous contact by the NRL match review committee on Sunday (he accidentally kicked Murray Taulagi in the head) and faces a one-match ban.
It remains to be seen whether creative but still underdog junior point guard Kade Reed will quickly transition to the majors; Flanagan confirmed last week that he did not want to play with the local youth player until he was ready.
Dan Walsh is sports correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
