Anthony Seibold’s exit as head coach of Manly has sparked discussions surrounding Shane Flanagan at St George Illawarra, who is currently under immense pressure. The Dragons find themselves winless after four matches and sitting at the bottom of the ladder, leading to growing scrutiny of Flanagan’s management since he took over at the beginning of the 2024 season.
Despite initial hopes for improvement, results have not only stagnated but seemingly deteriorated. In Flanagan’s first season, the Dragons missed a golden opportunity for finals football and subsequently lost their star players, Zac Lomax and Ben Hunt. The previous year showcased frustrating narrow losses, including three by just a single point, culminating in four consecutive defeats.
The team’s early-season woes have persisted, exemplified by a narrow defeat to Canterbury and an inability to capitalise on leads against Melbourne, coupled with a lacklustre performance against Parramatta. The latest setback against fellow low-performers Gold Coast has intensified the critique of Flanagan’s leadership, raising alarm bells over the team’s trajectory.
League great Josh Morris highlighted that Flanagan’s tenure may be in jeopardy if performances don’t improve, despite his prior success at Cronulla. He expressed that passionate Dragons fans expect results, and further losses would amplify calls for change. Flanagan does have a relatively young squad, but the need for a turnaround is urgent.
Over the last decade, the Dragons have been disappointing, making the finals only once in 2018. The club has sought to restructure off the field, including new upper management aimed at elevating the team’s prospects. Nonetheless, as veteran journalist Andrew Webster noted, discussions surrounding Flanagan’s position will gain momentum if results don’t trend positively soon.
Upcoming fixtures against the Cowboys and Sea Eagles present crucial opportunities for the Dragons. With Kyle Flanagan sidelined due to concussion, the performance of promising teenager Kade Reed will be closely watched. Reed showed potential in trials and could inject vigour into the team, though questions remain about his readiness for the NRL.
There are calls, including from Luke Keary, to risk playing Reed, suggesting that the club should embrace the future despite uncertainties. As the urgency for success mounts, Flanagan’s decisions in the coming weeks could define his future at the club and impact the trajectory of the Dragons’ season.