Shane Flanagan’s Struggles and the Dragons’ Uncertain Future
Shane Flanagan stood on the sidelines on Friday night, watching every play unfold as uncertainty looms over his future at the Dragons. The under-fire coach opted for a different approach by sitting alongside general manager of football Ben Haran instead of staying in the usual coach’s box at WIN Stadium. His team suffered another loss, marking their 10th consecutive defeat since last season, this time against the resurgent Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles, led by Kieran Foran, reaped the rewards of a coaching change, putting on a strong performance that left the Dragons trailing 16-0 after just a quarter of the match. However, the Dragons showed some resilience, clawing back to take an 18-16 lead early in the second half.
Despite the rally, the Dragons once again struggled to maintain their momentum, ultimately falling 28-18 to Manly in front of frustrated home fans. The hosts had several chances to extend their lead or make a comeback late in the game, but their lack of execution and polish was evident.
Flanagan acknowledged the improvement in his team’s performance during the post-game press conference. “We competed really hard,” he said. “If a few things would have gone our way, we might have scraped home for a win. There was an opportunity for us to score a try just before half time, and we fumbled it. There was also an opportunity for Luch [Luciano Leilua] to kick the ball – if it sits up, we score, or if he passes it, we score.”
He also pointed out that confidence is low, which affects how opportunities are taken. “I think attitude and effort were there, but execution was probably down a touch.”
Flanagan was asked why he chose to watch from the bench instead of his usual spot in the grandstand with assistants Michael Ennis and Dean Young. “I don’t wanna hide in the coach’s box,” he replied. “I’m here to fight, I’m here to win, and I’m on the sideline with the team fighting. I didn’t wanna hide in the coach’s box and have cameras going up there – they could have got me for 80 minutes [on the sideline] if they wanted.”
The Dragons now sit at 0-6 to start the season, remaining the only team in the NRL without a victory. With tough upcoming matches against the Rabbitohs and Roosters, Flanagan’s job is on the line. When asked if he would make changes, his response suggested a similar lineup for the next game.
“The issue is with most NRL clubs, what are we gonna replace them with?” Flanagan said. “I’ve got 28 out of our top 30 signed, we’ve got some injuries. There’s not someone sitting there where I’m like ‘jump in there,’ so it’s a tricky one. If I had someone better out of the side, I would put them in, trust me.”
Jacob Halangahu and Loko Pasifiki Tonga are two of the game’s most highly-touted young forwards, but they have played a combined total of just 22 minutes this season. Similarly, halves Kade Reed and Lyhkan King-Togia are waiting in the wings.
Flanagan believes the halves pairing against Manly—his son Kyle and star recruit Daniel Atkinson—set things up well enough, but their teammates couldn’t capitalize. “They created moments—we created enough opportunities, we just didn’t finish them, which has been our story through the year.”
If the struggling Dragons lose their next two games in a row, Flanagan’s role as coach will be all-but over. However, captain Damien Cook doesn’t see it that way and believes the playing group need to dig the club out of the hole. “His rope should be long, because he [Flanagan] is not the issue,” Cook said.
