Shane Flanagan’s Future at the Dragons Remains Uncertain
Shane Flanagan is acutely aware that his future at the Dragons may be in doubt, but former player Andrew Johns believes that sacking him would not resolve the club’s deeper issues. A ninth consecutive loss in first grade has cast a dark shadow over the team, with fans booing the players from the field and demanding swift changes.
At the top of the list of potential changes is a new coach, following Flanagan’s apology to the Dragons faithful after a 32-0 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys on Saturday.
The Playing Group Faces Criticism
Damien Cook, a key player for the Dragons, told reporters that the responsibility lies with the playing group, while Flanagan refused to make excuses for their poor results. However, the eighth Immortal, Andrew Johns, does not see Flanagan as the main problem.
“Nothing is going to change (by sacking him),” Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. “Unfortunately, they just don’t have the players.”
Johns highlighted that a team consists of three key parts: the engine room, the strike players out wide, and the creative players. He pointed out that the Dragons’ performance in these areas was below par, particularly their kicking game. He also mentioned that Daniel Atkinson, who is an outright five-eighth, is being forced into a halfback role, which is too much to ask of him.
“Changing the coach won’t do anything for me,” Johns added. “They just need to find a genuine No.7; that is the key. Unfortunately, there are not many of them out there.”
Coaches Often Bear the Brunt of Blame
Billy Slater acknowledged that the easiest option for the Dragons board would be to part ways with Flanagan. However, he also agreed that the playing group is an issue.
“Unfortunately for coaches, they are the ones in the firing line,” Slater said. “They are the easiest to move on to get a reaction from the playing group. It is hard to move on 13 players in the middle of the season.”
Flanagan himself admitted that he could not recruit a new squad in the middle of the season when speaking to media earlier in the week.
Club Legend Calls for Immediate Changes
Mark Riddell, a club legend who now works as an NRLW and pathways recruitment lead, believes Flanagan needs to take bold action and release one junior star who could address the glaring issue in the halves.
“I know I am employed by the club, but they have to change now,” Riddell said on 2GB’s The Continuous Call Team on Sunday. “We can’t just keep the same thing and expect a different result. They have to make changes, give guys an opportunity and see what happens. We are at a really low point.”
Riddell pointed to Kade Reed as a potential solution. The 19-year-old has been training with the NRL team during pre-season for the past three years and was named in the reserves for the Dragons against the Cowboys in round five.
Kade Reed’s Potential
Reed re-signed with the club until the end of 2028 in November last year. He has shown promise as a genuine halfback, with his football skills being well-regarded. However, the club has concerns about his physical condition.
“I think the club and Flanno are just waiting to make sure that when they put him in he is ready to go and that he becomes a player that plays at the club for five or 10 years,” Riddell said. “With the situation they are in at the moment, with him being an out-and-out halfback, they just need to pull the trigger and give him an opportunity.”
Reed will be competing against Lyhkan King-Togia and Atkinson for a spot in the starting line-up for the Dragons’ round six match against Manly on Friday evening. His inclusion could be a crucial step in turning the team’s fortunes around.
