Dragons coach says halves duo for Eels is deserved
Melissa Woods |
Shane Flanagan insists Dragons duo Lyhkan King-Togia and the coach’s son Kyle are the best halves in the club – and it’s not just him who thinks so.
Ahead of their clash with Parramatta at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on Saturday night, Flanagan has been under fire for ignoring the claims of in-form reserve grade pairing Lachlan Ilias and Jonah Glover.
While the Dragons’ NRL side has slumped to 11th on the ladder, their NSW Cup team, piloted by Ilias and Glover, have won their last eight straight to sit second.
Ilias and Kyle Flanagan started the season as the Dragons’ first-choice halves but the former was demoted after eight rounds, prompting criticism of favouritism due to the father-son link.
Wests Tigers are reportedly circling Glover while Canberra are interested in former Rabbitoh Ilias.
Flanagan was asked what those players needed to do to earn a call-up to first grade and he replied: “Play well, like everyone else.”
The coach said there were plenty of voices around the selection table that backed his starting side.
“We pick the best team for that first grade side; I’ve got good assistant coaches, I’ve got good people around me that will make sure that we put the best 13 that we think this weekend or the best 17 we think this weekend will get the job done,” he said.
“Without a doubt we’ve got that playing this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Jack de Belin will square off against his new club after the Dragons veteran announced this week he would join the Eels this season.
With his club sitting 15th, Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said he was looking forward to what the 34-year-old would bring to his line-up.
“Obviously he brings experience, he brings leg speed, he’s able to play the way that we want to play,” Ryles said.
“We’re looking forward to him coming and, yeah, he’s going to be a good addition to our squad.”
Ryles again has a new halves pairing with Dylan Brown back from suspension to partner Dean Hawkins, who has been wearing the No.7 jersey in place of the injured Mitch Moses.
Named on the bench this week, Joash Papalii started at five-eighth last week in an audition for a permanent spot with Brown Newcastle-bound.
“It was good to see Joash get the opportunity last week and Dean Hawkins has done a really good job for us when he’s come in so far as well so we’ve got some options there internally,” Ryles said.
“You just keep everything open at the moment but there’s certainly an opportunity there for someone to bed down that number six jersey.”
AAP
