A Realist Approach to Coaching at St George Illawarra
Shane Flanagan, the head coach of St George Illawarra, has openly acknowledged that he is under immense pressure to start winning games if he wants to keep his job. This season has been particularly challenging for the Dragons, as they remain the only team in the NRL without a win after Manly’s victory over the Dolphins. With the upcoming match against North Queensland at Kogarah, the pressure on Flanagan is at its highest point in his career.
The Red V have been competitive in all four matches this year, but they are now facing their longest losing streak since last August, with eight consecutive defeats. Despite signing a new two-year contract extending his tenure until 2028, Flanagan has admitted that he is aware of the reality of his situation.
“I fully understand it. If you’re going to coach at a big club we expect to win,” Flanagan told AAP at the Dragons’ new high-performance centre in Wollongong. “That’s the cut-throat nature we’re in in sport. You see it all over the world if you don’t win.”
Flanagan emphasized that while the club and its leadership have been supportive, he knows that results ultimately determine a coach’s future. “We can’t change our 30-man roster, I can’t sack 30 players. So guess what, it’s (on me).”
This season marks Flanagan’s 11th as a head coach, making him one of the few in the league who hasn’t faced this level of scrutiny before. He previously led Cronulla to six finals series and secured their first-ever premiership in 2016. However, an NRL ban forced him out of the club during an off-season, which shaped his coaching journey.
“I haven’t been in this position before (with this scrutiny), I’m pretty lucky with how long I’ve been doing it for,” Flanagan said. “But I’m confident in what I do and the staff that I’ve got and the players that I’ve got.”
Despite the pressure, Flanagan remains focused on his family and the well-being of his players. “I care more about my players, my wife, the kids and (son) Kyle and grandkids. I worry about the reaction that has on them. I’m not worried about myself.”
The Dragons have yet to end their seven-year finals drought under Flanagan’s leadership, but he has worked to develop several long-term forwards. However, the team has struggled to maintain leads in the second half of games, giving up advantages to Melbourne, Parramatta, and Gold Coast.
“You get ahead 14-12, the good sides put it to bed with a try. We need to find that try,” Flanagan said. “That’s probably an experience thing with young side. But we’re not looking for excuses, we’re looking for outcomes now.”
In other news, Flanagan confirmed that his son, Kyle, is recovering well from a recent concussion. The 5-eighth was taken to hospital after the injury, and there is no set timeline for his return. The mandatory 11-day stand-down period will expire before the next match against Manly.
Flanagan has turned to 20-year-old Lyhkan King-Togia at No.6, choosing not to debut highly-touted teenager Kade Reed. “It’s a matter of when for Kade,” he said. “I’m not saying he’s not ready but we’ve got to make sure that he is and that time will come.”
