The Pressure on Shane Flanagan
St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan has acknowledged the immense pressure he’s facing as the team enters a crucial period in their 2026 season. The Dragons have struggled to find consistency, suffering four consecutive losses at the start of the year. Despite showing resilience in some matches, such as a strong first half against the Melbourne Storm and a valiant effort against the Canterbury Bulldogs, the club has regressed in both attack and defense over the past fortnight.
In a recent game against the Gold Coast Titans, the Dragons initially took the lead but failed to maintain their performance in the second half. Their defensive efforts were weak, and their ball handling was equally poor, allowing the Titans to gain momentum. This pattern of inconsistency continued with another disappointing loss to the Parramatta Eels.
Flanagan spoke with AAP ahead of the Round 5 clash against the North Queensland Cowboys, where he admitted that his position is under threat if the team doesn’t start winning games. He emphasized that the expectations for success are high at a major club like the Dragons.
“I fully understand it. If you’re going to coach at a big club we expect to win,” Flanagan told AAP. “That’s the cut-throat nature we’re in in sport. You see it all over the world if you don’t win. The club and CEO, chairman and board have been rock solid. But I am not silly enough to understand that if you don’t win, they’ve got to change something.”
Flanagan also highlighted that he can’t simply restructure the entire squad to fix the issues. “We can’t change our 30-man roster; I can’t sack 30 players. So guess what, it’s [on me].”
Upcoming Challenges
The Dragons face a tough schedule in the coming weeks. Their next match is against the Manly Sea Eagles in Wollongong, followed by home games against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on April 18 and the Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day. A series of losses could jeopardize Flanagan’s contract, putting him in a precarious position.
This season, Flanagan, who led Cronulla to a premiership in 2016, is now considered one of the most pressured coaches in the game. This comes after Manly’s decision to axe Kieran Foran mid-week and Todd Payten’s Cowboys securing two consecutive wins.
Team Selection Issues
One of the main challenges for the Dragons is team selection. Flanagan has been reluctant to make changes, especially in the halves, despite ongoing struggles in attack. Clint Gutherson, who plays at fullback, is also under pressure to perform consistently.
Shane Flanagan’s son, Kyle Flanagan, who plays as five-eighth, will miss this week’s game due to a concussion. However, Flanagan has chosen not to rush promising young player Kade Reed into the lineup. Instead, Lyhkan King-Togia will take his place, while Daniel Atkinson remains at halfback.
Looking Ahead
As the Dragons navigate through this challenging period, the focus will be on whether Flanagan can turn things around. With the right decisions and improvements in performance, there is still hope for a turnaround. However, the pressure is mounting, and every game could determine the future of the coaching staff and the team’s direction.
