Shane Flanagan Faces Pressure to Win for St George Illawarra
Shane Flanagan, the head coach of St George Illawarra, has acknowledged the growing pressure he is under to start winning matches in order to secure his position at the club. This season has been particularly challenging for the Dragons, who are currently the only winless team in the National Rugby League (NRL). With a crucial match against North Queensland on the horizon, Flanagan is acutely aware of the stakes involved.
The Red V have participated in all four of their matches this year but are now facing the joint venture’s longest losing streak, which has stretched to eight consecutive defeats since August last year. Despite signing a new two-year contract that will keep him in charge until the end of 2028, Flanagan has admitted that his current situation is the most difficult he has faced in his coaching career.
Flanagan emphasized the need for results, stating that at a major club like St George Illawarra, success is expected. “If you’re going to coach at a big club, we expect to win,” he said during an interview with AAP at the Dragons’ new high-performance centre in Wollongong. He acknowledged the harsh reality of sports, where failure to win can lead to changes in leadership.
While the club’s management, including the CEO and board, has shown strong support, Flanagan understands that without wins, the situation could change. “We can’t change our 30-man roster, I can’t sack 30 players. So guess what, it’s on me.”
This is Flanagan’s 11th season as a head coach, and he is one of the few to not have faced such scrutiny before. His previous role with Cronulla saw the team reach six finals series and win their first premiership in 2016. However, an NRL ban forced him out of the club mid-season, which marked a significant turning point in his career.
Flanagan has expressed confidence in his staff and players, even though the pressure is mounting. “I haven’t been in this position before (with this scrutiny), I’m pretty lucky with how long I’ve been doing it for,” he said. “But I’m confident in what I do and the staff that I’ve got and the players that I’ve got.”
He also mentioned that while there may be emotional reactions to the situation, his primary concern is the well-being of his family, including his wife, children, and son Kyle. “I worry about the reaction that has on them. I’m not worried about myself.”
Despite the challenges, Flanagan has been working to develop young talent within the team. He has given several long-term forwards opportunities to step up, but the team has struggled to close out matches after taking leads. “You get ahead 14-12, the good sides put it to bed with a try. We need to find that try,” he said.
Flanagan has also spoken about the importance of finding outcomes rather than making excuses. “We’re not looking for excuses, we’re looking for outcomes now.”
In addition to the on-field challenges, Flanagan has been dealing with personal concerns. His son, Kyle, who plays as a five-eighth, is recovering from a recent heavy concussion that required hospitalization. There is no set timeline for his return, as the mandatory 11-day concussion stand down is set to expire before the next game against Manly.
Flanagan has opted to rely on 20-year-old Lyhkan King-Togia in the No.6 position, rather than bringing in 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.”
As the Dragons look to turn their season around, Flanagan remains focused on the task at hand, knowing that the path forward requires both resilience and results.
