‘Unfair’: Flanagan’s take on future, wantaway Dragons
George Clarke |
The fire service were called to St George Illawarra’s new centre of excellence after an emergency alarm was accidentally activated on Friday.
Which is a fitting analogy for under-pressure Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who is fighting blazes on all fronts as he seeks to lift the Red V out of their worst run of form in the club’s history – and save his job.
The Dragons are winless in their past 10 starts and are 0-6 to begin the season heading into Saturday’s clash with South Sydney at Accor Stadium.
Flanagan was spared the axe after last week’s defeat to Manly but the hits have continued to come for the ex-Cronulla coach.
In the hours after last Friday’s 28-18 loss to the Sea Eagles, Queensland State of Origin back-rower Jaydn Su’A indicated he would not take up an option in his contract and would leave the Dragons at the end of this season.
Adding to the inferno of uncertainty engulfing Flanagan, the management of 10-gamer Loko Pasifiki Tonga, 20, asked for a release and publicly accused the Dragons of halting the prop’s development.
Flanagan labelled such criticisms as “unfair” after the front-rower, who made a return in NSW Cup last week, had sat out the early rounds of the season with a neck injury.
“I signed and re-signed Loko and have a high opinion of him,” Flanagan told reporters in Wollongong on Friday.
“Some of the commentary around it was pretty unfair on the club because at the club we value him.
“There’s so much outside noise at the moment but the playing group have been really good.
“They’ve been solid, they understand what’s going on and understand to stop the noise, you need to go and win a football game.”
Adding to the setbacks for the Dragons was news of Su’A’s defection, with the Samoan international linked with a move to Parramatta for 2027.
“We are not saying we are just going to move on, we’re disappointed that he’s gone,” Flanagan said.
“These things happen in rugby league, it’s not great timing but it happens.”
The Dragons coach was reluctant to discuss the club’s reported pursuit of North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater.
Flanagan, who has won four of his 16 games against Souths coach Wayne Bennett, has faced plenty of criticism from the Dragons’ supporter base for the club’s wretched run.
A small section of fans have launched a campaign called ‘Save Our Saints’
The Dragons have not made finals since 2018.
“The real Dragons fans have stayed rock solid and they are disappointed just as much as we are,” Flanagan said.
“Nobody’s happy with what’s happened. We are not trying to cover over it – I know how passionate the Dragons fans are.
“We’re trying to fight our way out of a hole at the moment and we need them behind us.”
AAP